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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0International Journal of Molecular Sciences

A Regulatory Network of Transcription and Hormones Controls PCD and Autophagy in Grape Seed Abortion

  • Ying Wang1
  • Pengcheng Zhao2
  • Xuxian Xuan1
  • Qiqi Wu1
  • Ruiqiang Chao1
  • Yan Zhong1
  • Haitao Chen1
  • Yuxuan Song1
  • Lianshuang Liang1
  • Leyi He1
  • Hui Zhou1
  • Zhenqiang Xie1
1 more authors
  • Chen Wang1
  1. 1College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 211800, China
  2. 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Institute of Pomology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
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Abstract

The seedless trait in grapes primarily arises from pseudo-parthenocarpy, driven by early seed abortion involving programmed cell death (PCD) and autophagy. However, the specific regulatory networks governing these pathways remain poorly defined. To address this, we systematically characterized the PCD-related (vacuolar processing enzyme [VPE] and metacaspase [MC]) and autophagy-related (ATG) gene families in the seedless cultivar ‘Jingkejing’ utilizing comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, spatiotemporal transcriptomic profiling, and transient expression assays. We identified three VPE, six MC, and 33 ATG genes, whose promoters were significantly enriched in hormone-responsive and transcription factor (TF)-binding motifs. Transcriptomic profiling across critical seed abortion stages highlighted VvγVPE and VvMC9 as key differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction predictions indicated extensive crosstalk among PCD/ATG proteins, kinases, and ubiquitin system components. Notably, transient expression assays confirmed that two core transcription factors, VvWRKY46 and VvERF71, specifically regulate downstream PCD-related targets, supporting a proposed multi-hormonal and TF-mediated regulatory network during seed abortion. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying pseudo-parthenocarpy, providing essential candidate gene resources for the marker-assisted breeding of seedless grapes.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wang2026regulatory,
  title = {{A Regulatory Network of Transcription and Hormones Controls PCD and Autophagy in Grape Seed Abortion}},
  author = {Ying Wang and Pengcheng Zhao and Xuxian Xuan and Qiqi Wu and Ruiqiang Chao and Yan Zhong and Haitao Chen and Yuxuan Song and Lianshuang Liang and Leyi He and Hui Zhou and Zhenqiang Xie and Chen Wang},
  journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.3390/ijms27188353},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/18/8353},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - A Regulatory Network of Transcription and Hormones Controls PCD and Autophagy in Grape Seed Abortion
AU  - Ying Wang
AU  - Pengcheng Zhao
AU  - Xuxian Xuan
AU  - Qiqi Wu
AU  - Ruiqiang Chao
AU  - Yan Zhong
AU  - Haitao Chen
AU  - Yuxuan Song
AU  - Lianshuang Liang
AU  - Leyi He
AU  - Hui Zhou
AU  - Zhenqiang Xie
AU  - Chen Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/19
JO  - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO  - 10.3390/ijms27188353
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/18/8353
AB  - The seedless trait in grapes primarily arises from pseudo-parthenocarpy, driven by early seed abortion involving programmed cell death (PCD) and autophagy. However, the specific regulatory networks governing these pathways remain poorly defined. To address this, we systematically characterized the PCD-related (vacuolar processing enzyme [VPE] and metacaspase [MC]) and autophagy-related (ATG) gene families in the seedless cultivar ‘Jingkejing’ utilizing comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, spatiotemporal transcriptomic profiling, and transient expression assays. We identified three VPE, six MC, and 33 ATG genes, whose promoters were significantly enriched in hormone-responsive and transcription factor (TF)-binding motifs. Transcriptomic profiling across critical seed abortion stages highlighted VvγVPE and VvMC9 as key differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction predictions indicated extensive crosstalk among PCD/ATG proteins, kinases, and ubiquitin system components. Notably, transient expression assays confirmed that two core transcription factors, VvWRKY46 and VvERF71, specifically regulate downstream PCD-related targets, supporting a proposed multi-hormonal and TF-mediated regulatory network during seed abortion. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying pseudo-parthenocarpy, providing essential candidate gene resources for the marker-assisted breeding of seedless grapes.
SN  - 1422-0067
ER  -