skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Regulation of Lignin Biosynthesis and Its Role in Growth-Defense Tradeoffs

Journal Article · · Frontiers in Plant Science
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Plant growth-defense tradeoffs are fundamental for optimizing plant performance and fitness in a changing biotic/abiotic environment. This process is thought to involve readjusting resource allocation to different pathways. It has been frequently observed that among secondary cell wall components, alteration in lignin biosynthesis results in changes in both growth and defense. How this process is regulated, leading to growth or defense, remains largely elusive. In this article, we review the canonical lignin biosynthesis pathway, the recently discovered tyrosine shortcut pathway, and the biosynthesis of unconventional C-lignin. We summarize the current model of the hierarchical transcriptional regulation of lignin biosynthesis. Moreover, the interface between recently identified transcription factors and the hierarchical model are also discussed. We propose the existence of a transcriptional co-regulation mechanism coordinating energy allowance among growth, defense and lignin biosynthesis.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1474522
Journal Information:
Frontiers in Plant Science, Vol. 9, Issue N/A; ISSN 1664-462X
Publisher:
Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 139 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (79)

Elicitor-induced transcription factors for metabolic reprogramming of secondary metabolism in Medicago truncatula journal January 2008
Lignin Biosynthesis journal June 2003
A polymer of caffeyl alcohol in plant seeds journal January 2012
Expansion and Diversification of the Populus R2R3-MYB Family of Transcription Factors journal December 2008
Current Models for Transcriptional Regulation of Secondary Cell Wall Biosynthesis in Grasses journal April 2018
Growth-defense tradeoffs for two major anti-herbivore traits of the common milkweed Asclepias syriaca journal February 2015
An ethylene response-related factor, GbERF1-like, from Gossypium barbadense improves resistance to Verticillium dahliae via activating lignin synthesis journal March 2016
Novel seed coat lignins in the Cactaceae: structure, distribution and implications for the evolution of lignin diversity journal November 2012
The MYB46 Transcription Factor Is a Direct Target of SND1 and Regulates Secondary Wall Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis journal September 2007
Caffeoyl Shikimate Esterase (CSE) Is an Enzyme in the Lignin Biosynthetic Pathway in Arabidopsis journal August 2013
Both caffeoyl Coenzyme A 3-O-methyltransferase 1 and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase 1 are involved in redundant functions for lignin, flavonoids and sinapoyl malate biosynthesis in Arabidopsis journal June 2007
The Phenylpropanoid Pathway in Arabidopsis journal January 2011
Down-regulation of hydroxycinnamoyl CoA: Shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase in transgenic alfalfa affects lignification, development and forage quality journal June 2007
Transcriptional Activation of Secondary Wall Biosynthesis by Rice and Maize NAC and MYB Transcription Factors journal September 2011
Salicylic acid mediates the reduced growth of lignin down-regulated plants journal November 2011
NAC-MYB-based transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis in land plants journal May 2015
miR156-Regulated SPL Transcription Factors Define an Endogenous Flowering Pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana journal August 2009
A NAC domain protein family contributing to the regulation of wood formation in poplar: NAC domain protein family regulates wood formation journal June 2011
Improving wood properties for wood utilization through multi-omics integration in lignin biosynthesis journal April 2018
Tyrosine and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Activities during Shoot Initiation in Tobacco Callus Cultures journal July 1985
Mutation of WRKY transcription factors initiates pith secondary wall formation and increases stem biomass in dicotyledonous plants journal December 2010
A Battery of Transcription Factors Involved in the Regulation of Secondary Cell Wall Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis journal October 2008
Transcriptional repression by AtMYB4 controls production of UV-protecting sunscreens in Arabidopsis journal November 2000
Selective lignin downregulation leads to constitutive defense response expression in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) journal January 2011
Genome-wide association studies and expression-based quantitative trait loci analyses reveal roles of HCT2 in caffeoylquinic acid biosynthesis and its regulation by defense-responsive transcription factors in Populus journal July 2018
LACCASE Is Necessary and Nonredundant with PEROXIDASE for Lignin Polymerization during Vascular Development in Arabidopsis journal October 2013
The genetic control of lignin deposition during plant growth and development: Tansley review journal July 2004
The NAC Transcription Factors NST1 and NST2 of Arabidopsis Regulate Secondary Wall Thickenings and Are Required for Anther Dehiscence journal October 2005
On–Off Switches for Secondary Cell Wall Biosynthesis journal March 2012
Silencing CAFFEOYL SHIKIMATE ESTERASE Affects Lignification and Improves Saccharification in Poplar journal September 2017
Fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass journal November 2012
AtMYB32 is required for normal pollen development in Arabidopsis thaliana journal December 2004
The class III peroxidase PRX17 is a direct target of the MADS-box transcription factor AGAMOUS-LIKE15 (AGL15) and participates in lignified tissue formation journal August 2016
Value-adding to cellulosic ethanol: Lignin polymers journal March 2011
Coexistence but Independent Biosynthesis of Catechyl and Guaiacyl/Syringyl Lignin Polymers in Seed Coats journal July 2013
A Genomics Approach to Deciphering Lignin Biosynthesis in Switchgrass journal November 2013
SND1, a NAC Domain Transcription Factor, Is a Key Regulator of Secondary Wall Synthesis in Fibers of Arabidopsis journal November 2006
Transcription switches for protoxylem and metaxylem vessel formation journal August 2005
A 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate 3-Phosphate Synthase Functions as a Transcriptional Repressor in Populus journal June 2018
The Poplar MYB Transcription Factors, PtrMYB3 and PtrMYB20, are Involved in the Regulation of Secondary Wall Biosynthesis journal April 2010
The Poplar MYB Master Switches Bind to the SMRE Site and Activate the Secondary Wall Biosynthetic Program during Wood Formation journal July 2013
ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE19/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN30 and ASL20/LBD18 Regulate Tracheary Element Differentiation in Arabidopsis journal December 2008
Lignin content in natural Populus variants affects sugar release journal March 2011
Rewiring of jasmonate and phytochrome B signalling uncouples plant growth-defense tradeoffs journal August 2016
NMR Characterization of C3H and HCT Down-Regulated Alfalfa Lignin journal October 2009
Simultaneously disrupting AtPrx2 , AtPrx25 and AtPrx71 alters lignin content and structure in Arabidopsis stem : Lignin alteration by simultaneous disruption of journal March 2015
Role of bifunctional ammonia-lyase in grass cell wall biosynthesis journal May 2016
Modifying lignin to improve bioenergy feedstocks: strengthening the barrier against pathogens?† journal January 2013
Disruption of LACCASE4 and 17 Results in Tissue-Specific Alterations to Lignification of Arabidopsis thaliana Stems journal March 2011
Arabidopsis MYB26/MALE STERILE35 Regulates Secondary Thickening in the Endothecium and Is Essential for Anther Dehiscence journal February 2007
EgMYB2, a new transcriptional activator from Eucalyptus xylem, regulates secondary cell wall formation and lignin biosynthesis journal July 2005
NAC domain function and transcriptional control of a secondary cell wall master switch: NST1 function and regulation journal October 2011
Multiple Classes of Transcription Factors Regulate the Expression of VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN7, a Master Switch of Xylem Vessel Differentiation journal September 2014
Expression of the Floral Repressor miRNA156 is Positively Regulated by the AGAMOUS-like Proteins AGL15 and AGL18 journal January 2015
Differential Regulation of β-1,3-Glucanase Messenger RNAs in Response to Pathogen Infection journal June 1991
MYB46 and MYB83 Bind to the SMRE Sites and Directly Activate a Suite of Transcription Factors and Secondary Wall Biosynthetic Genes journal December 2011
Characterisation of a pine MYB that regulates lignification journal December 2003
NAC Transcription Factors, NST1 and NST3, Are Key Regulators of the Formation of Secondary Walls in Woody Tissues of Arabidopsis journal January 2007
Flavonoid Accumulation in Arabidopsis Repressed in Lignin Synthesis Affects Auxin Transport and Plant Growth journal January 2007
Enhanced disease resistance to Botrytis cinerea in myb46 Arabidopsis plants is associated to an early down-regulation of CesA genes journal June 2011
Challenging/interesting lignin times journal August 2016
Insect Herbivores Drive Real-Time Ecological and Evolutionary Change in Plant Populations journal October 2012
Identification of direct targets of transcription factor MYB46 provides insights into the transcriptional regulation of secondary wall biosynthesis journal May 2014
Molecular Phenotyping of the pal1 and pal2 Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana Reveals Far-Reaching Consequences on Phenylpropanoid, Amino Acid, and Carbohydrate Metabolism journal September 2004
An Arabidopsis gene regulatory network for secondary cell wall synthesis journal December 2014
Disruption of Mediator rescues the stunted growth of a lignin-deficient Arabidopsis mutant journal March 2014
An essential role of caffeoyl shikimate esterase in monolignol biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula journal June 2016
Lignin engineering journal June 2008
The cell biology of lignification in higher plants journal April 2015
CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE-C and -D Are the Primary Genes Involved in Lignin Biosynthesis in the Floral Stem of Arabidopsis journal June 2005
MYB58 and MYB63 Are Transcriptional Activators of the Lignin Biosynthetic Pathway during Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Arabidopsis journal January 2009
Arabidopsis miR156 Regulates Tolerance to Recurring Environmental Stress through SPL Transcription Factors journal April 2014
A Systems Biology View of Responses to Lignin Biosynthesis Perturbations in Arabidopsis journal September 2012
Major latex protein-like encoding genes contribute to Rhizoctonia solani defense responses in sugar beet journal October 2020
Lignin content in natural Populus variants affects sugar release text January 2011
Studies on Tyrosine Ammonia Lyase Activity in Castor Bean Endosperm journal February 1976
REF4 and RFR1, Subunits of the Transcriptional Coregulatory Complex Mediator, Are Required for Phenylpropanoid Homeostasis in Arabidopsis journal December 2011
Multi-site genetic modulation of monolignol biosynthesis suggests new routes for formation of syringyl lignin and wall-bound ferulic acid in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) journal October 2006
NAC transcription factors NST1 and NST3 regulate pod shattering in a partially redundant manner by promoting secondary wall formation after the establishment of tissue identity journal December 2008

Cited By (7)

Lignin biosynthesis genes play critical roles in the adaptation of Arabidopsis plants to high-salt stress journal May 2019
The TuMYB46LTuACO3 module regulates ethylene biosynthesis in einkorn wheat defense to powdery mildew journal December 2019
Combining loss of function of FOLYLPOLYGLUTAMATE SYNTHETASE1 and CAFFEOYL-COA 3-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE1 for lignin reduction and improved saccharification efficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana journal May 2019
Root Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Global Changes Induced by Systemic Infection of Solanum lycopersicum with Mild and Severe Variants of Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid journal October 2019
The Progression of Xylem Vessel Cell Differentiation is Dependent on the Activity Level of VND7 in Arabidopsis thaliana journal December 2019
The Arabidopsis Proteins AtNHR2A and AtNHR2B Are Multi-Functional Proteins Integrating Plant Immunity With Other Biological Processes journal March 2020
Metabolomics as an Emerging Tool for the Study of Plant–Pathogen Interactions journal January 2020