Heterodimers of the MADS transcription factors GhAGL1 and GhAGL4 modulate cotton fiber initiation and elongation.
Sun M, Xiao Y, Liu X, Liu Y, Zheng M
Crispr
PubMedEvery cotton T-shirt, towel, and pair of jeans depends on the length and abundance of fibers grown on cotton seeds, and this discovery hands breeders a new genetic dial to turn up fiber quality.
Cotton fibers are actually single cells that grow out of the seed's surface, and their length and number determine how soft and strong the final fabric will be. Researchers found two proteins that team up like a two-key lock to switch on the genes needed for those fibers to sprout and grow. By disabling both proteins using gene editing, cotton plants grew far fewer and shorter fibers, while boosting them could do the opposite.
Key Findings
Knocking out both GhAGL1 and GhAGL4 using CRISPR gene editing caused a stronger reduction in fiber number and length than knocking out either gene alone, confirming they work as a team.
The protein pair activates a downstream gene (a CCCH zinc finger factor) that in turn switches on cell-wall-loosening enzymes (XTH16 and XTH23) required for fiber elongation.
A known fiber regulator, GhMYB25-like, amplifies the activity of the GhAGL1–GhAGL4 protein complex, placing this duo within a broader regulatory network controlling fiber development from the very start.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists identified two proteins that work together to control how many fibers grow on cotton seeds and how long those fibers become, revealing a new molecular switch that could be used to breed higher-quality cotton.
Abstract Preview
The initial number of fibers and fiber length affect fiber yield and quality in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). The mechanism of fiber initiation centers on the transcription factor GhMYB25-like, and ...
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Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose and may contain minor percentages of waxes, fats, pectins, and water. Under natural condi...