Characterization of HbWRKY1, a WRKY transcription factor from Hevea brasiliensis that negatively regulates HbSRPP

• HbWRKY1 was cloned from rubber tree.
• HbWRKY1 binds the HbSRPP promoter and activated transcription in yeast.
• HbWRKY1 significantly suppressed the HbSRPP promoter in transgenic tobacco.
• HbWRKY1 is likely a negatively transcription regulator of the HbSRPP, participating NR biosynthesis in rubber tree.

Small rubber particle protein (SRPP) is a major component of Hevea brasiliensis (H. brasiliensis) latex, which is involved in natural rubber (NR) biosynthesis. However, little information is available on the regulation of SRPP gene (HbSRPP) expression. To study the transcriptional regulation of HbSRPP, the yeast one-hybrid experiment was performed to screen the latex cDNA library using the HbSRPP promoter as bait. One cDNA that encodes the WRKY transcription factor, designated as HbWRKY1, was isolated from H. brasiliensis. HbWRKY1 contains a 1437 bp open reading frame that encodes 478 amino acids. The deduced HbWRKY1 protein was predicted to possess two conserved WRKY domains and a C2H2 zinc-finger motif. HbWRKY1 was expressed at different levels, with the highest transcription in the flower, followed by the bark, latex, and leaf. Furthermore, the co-expression of pHbSRP::GUS with CaMV35S::HbWRKY1 significantly decreased the GUS activity in transgenic tobacco, indicating that HbWRKY1 significantly suppressed the HbSRPP promoter. These results suggested that HbWRKY1 maybe a negative transcription regulator of HbSRPP involved in NR biosynthesis in H. brasiliensis.