Suberin is a lipid and phenolic cell wall heteropolymer found in the roots and other organs of all vascular plants. Suberin plays a critical role in plant water relations and in protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. Here we describe a transcription factor, AtMYB41 (At4g28110), that can activate the steps necessary for aliphatic suberin synthesis and deposition of cell wall-associated suberin-like lamellae in both Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. Overexpression of AtMYB41 increased the abundance of suberin biosynthetic gene transcripts by orders of magnitude and resulted in the accumulation of up to 22 times more suberin-type than cutin-type aliphatic monomers in leaves. Overexpression of AtMYB41 also resulted in elevated amounts of monolignols in leaves and an increase in the accumulation of phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthetic gene transcripts. Surprisingly, ultrastructural data indicated that overexpression led to the formation of suberin-like lamellae in both epidermal and mesophyll cells of leaves. We further implicate AtMYB41 in the production of aliphatic suberin under abiotic stress conditions. These results provide insight into the molecular-genetic mechanisms of the biosynthesis and deposition of a ubiquitous cell wall-associated plant structure and will serve as a basis for discovering the transcriptional network behind one of the most abundant lipid-based polymers in nature.

 
Dylan K Kosma, Jhadeswar Murmu, Fakhria M Razeq, Patricia Santos, Richard Bourgault, Isabel Molina, Owen Rowland 2014, AtMYB41 activates ectopic suberin synthesis and assembly in multiple plant species and cell types, The Plant Journal 80 (2): 216–229

Extension Associated Contacts

 

Also of Interest:

 
Extension Master Gardener Annual Report (2024)
The full report for the 2024 Extension Master Gardener year.
Brinkerhoff, K. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Handbook
This document is intended to be an operational guide and reference tool for Extension professionals and volunteers involved in the Extension Master Gardener program to help accomplish the mission and values of the program and Extension through the outreach within our Nevada commu...
Brinkerhoff, K. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Extension Master Gardener Introduction/Elevator Speech Example Andrews, A., Brinkerhoff, K. 2022, University of Nevada, Reno Extension
purslane
"The Good Weed Series: Purslane (Portulaca oleraceav), Desert Gardening in Southern Nevada, Blog Posts 21-01
The Master Gardener Volunteers of Southern Nevada provides horticultural information on gardens, landscapes, plants and other related topics. This blog post is one of many resources of information available to the public to help accomplish this mission.
Deever, D. 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Extension Master Gardener Photo and Video Release Signage Andrews, A., Brinkerhoff, K. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno