Kyung Hee University · 生化学・遺伝学・分子生物学
Professor Jae-Heung Ko's research lab focuses on the molecular and genetic regulation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis and xylem development in vascular plants, particularly in Arabidopsis and poplar. The lab investigates key transcription factors such as MYB46, ANAC012, and PtaHB1, along with their regulatory networks, to understand how these factors control the formation of wood and vascular tissues. Using integrative approaches including transcriptomics, gene expression analysis, and functional genomics, the lab aims to decipher the signaling and transcriptional programs underlying secondary growth and stress responses in plants. Their work also explores the role of plant hormones and mechanical signals in cambium differentiation and xylem development.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
RING (really interesting new gene) zinc-finger proteins have important regulatory roles in the development of a variety of organisms. The XERICO gene encodes a small protein (162 amino acids) with an N-terminal trans-membrane domain and a RING-H2 zinc-finger motif located at the C-terminus. In silico gene-expression analysis indicated that XERICO is induced by salt and osmotic stress. Compared with wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis plants, transgenic plants overexpressing XERICO (35S::XERICO) exhibited
MYB46 functions as a transcriptional switch that turns on the genes necessary for secondary wall biosynthesis. Elucidating the transcriptional regulatory network immediately downstream of MYB46 is crucial to our understanding of the molecular and biochemical processes involved in the biosynthesis and deposition of secondary walls in plants. To gain insights into MYB46-mediated transcriptional regulation, we first established an inducible secondary wall thickening system in Arabidopsis by express
Vascular plants evolved to have xylem that provides physical support for their growing body and serves as a conduit for water and nutrient transport. In a previous study, we used comparative-transcriptome analyses to select a group of genes that were upregulated in xylem of Arabidopsis plants undergoing secondary growth. Subsequent analyses identified a plant-specific NAC-domain transcription factor gene (ANAC012) as a candidate for genetic regulation of xylem formation. Promoter-GUS analyses sh
Wood is an important raw material and environmentally cost-effective renewable source of energy. However, the molecular biology of wood formation (i.e. secondary growth) is surprisingly understudied. A novel experimental system was employed to study the molecular regulation of secondary xylem formation in Arabidopsis. First, we demonstrate that the weight carried by the stem is a primary signal for the induction of cambium differentiation and the plant hormone, auxin, is a downstream carrier of
MYB46 is a unique transcription factor in that it directly regulates the biosynthesis genes for all of the three major components of the secondary wall as well as the transcription factors in the biosynthesis pathway. As such, MYB46 may offer a useful means for pathway-specific manipulation of secondary wall biosynthesis. However, realization of this potential requires additional information on the 'MYB46-mediated transcriptional regulatory programme', such as downstream direct targets, upstream
In contrast to our knowledge of the shoot apical meristem, our understanding of cambium meristem differentiation and maintenance is limited. Class III homeodomain leucine-zipper (HD-Zip) proteins have been shown to play a regulatory role in vascular differentiation. The hybrid aspen (Populus tremulaxPopulus alba) class III HD-Zip transcription factor (PtaHB1) and microRNA 166 (Pta-miR166) family were cloned from hybrid aspen using a combination of in silico and polymerase chain reaction methods.
Woody biomass has gained popularity as an environmentally friendly, renewable and sustainable resource for liquid fuel production. Here, we demonstrate biotechnological improvement of the quantity and quality of woody biomass by employing developing xylem (DX)-preferential production of gibberellin (GA), a phytohormone that positively regulates stem growth. First, for the proof of concept experiment, we produced transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing GA20-oxidase, a key enzyme in the productio
An Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutant that results in complete loss-of-function of the COBRA gene has been identified. The COBRA gene encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that modulates cellulose deposition and oriented cell expansion in roots. The loss-of-function mutant allele (named "cob-5") exhibits abnormal cell growth throughout the entire plant body and accumulates massive amounts of stress response chemicals such as anthocyanins and callose. To gain furt
AtC3H14 (At1 g66810) is a plant-specific tandem CCCH zinc-finger (TZF) protein that belongs to the 68-member CCCH family in Arabidopsis thaliana. In animals, TZFs have been shown to bind and recruit target mRNAs to the cytoplasmic foci where mRNA decay enzymes are active. However, it is not known whether plant TZF proteins such as AtC3H14 function. So far, no mRNA targets of plant TZFs have been identified. We have obtained several lines of experimental evidence in support of our hypothesis that
Plant biotechnology offers a means to create novel phenotypes. However, commercial application of biotechnology in crop improvement programmes is severely hindered by the lack of utility promoters (or freedom to operate the existing ones) that can drive gene expression in a tissue-specific or temporally controlled manner. Woody biomass is gaining popularity as a source of fermentable sugars for liquid fuel production. To improve the quantity and quality of woody biomass, developing xylem (DX)-sp
With the exponential growth of the human population and industrial developments, research on renewable energy resources is required to alleviate environmental and economic impacts caused by the consumption of fossil fuels. In this study, we present a synthetic biological application of a wood forming tissue-specific bicistronic gene expression system to improve both the quantity and quality of woody biomass to minimize undesirable growth penalties. Our transgenic poplars, designed to express bot
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