Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40846785›Full record

ArticlePlant cell reports2025

The role of PagC3H3 in lignin biosynthesis and insect resistance in Populus alba × Populus glandulosa.

Erqin Fan, Caixia Liu, Yaru Liu, Pengyue Fu, Yuhang Liu, Chuanping Yang, Junhui Wang, Guanzheng Qu

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Plant cell reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Progress in Molecular Plant Science (2023-2025).Current issues in molecular biology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Erqin FanState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7387-2895
Caixia LiuState Key Laboratory of Utilization of Woody Oil Resource, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Yaru LiuState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
Pengyue FuState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
Yuhang LiuState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
Chuanping YangState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
Junhui WangState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China.
Guanzheng QuState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China. gzqu@nefu.edu.cn.

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities 2572023CT19National Key Research and Development Program of China 2021YFD2200203
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

key messagePagC3H3, encoding a p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase, catalyzes a critical step in lignin biosynthesis and confers enhanced insect resistance in poplar. Its overexpression increases lignin deposition, enhancing physical barrier formation against arthropod herbivory (e.g., reduced gypsy moth larval consumption). This provides a genetic engineering strategy for improving wood properties and biotic stress resilience. Lignin, a complex phenolic polymer crucial for structural integrity and biotic stress resistance in poplar, critically influences wood processing efficiency and ecological resilience. Targeted genetic manipulation of key enzymes like p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) remains underexplored in commercial hybrids. In this study, we investigated the role of PagC3H3 in lignin biosynthesis in the hybrid poplar Populus alba × Populus glandulosa (clone 84K). Through the overexpression and suppression of PagC3H3 in poplar 84K, we observed that elevated PagC3H3 expression significantly increases lignin content and enhances resistance to insect pests by enhancing physical barrier formation against arthropod herbivory, whereas RNAi-suppression lines exhibited reduced lignin and compromised growth. RNA-seq results showed that the expression of genes related to secondary cell wall components changed significantly, and 985 differentially expressed genes were co-regulated in the two transgenic lines, involving key transcription factors and structural genes for lignin synthesis and cell wall development. The results revealed the key role of PagC3H3 in regulating lignin synthesis and cell wall development, and provided a new strategy for improving the wood properties and insect resistance of trees. This study not only improves the understanding of the molecular mechanism of lignin synthesis, but also provides a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of poplar.

Indexed as

LigninMixed Function OxygenasesPlant ProteinsPopulusAnimalsCell WallGene Expression Regulation, PlantHerbivoryInsectaMothsPlants, Genetically ModifiedWoodLigninMixed Function OxygenasesPlant ProteinsInsect resistanceLignin biosynthesisPagC3H3Populus alba × Populus glandulosaRNA-seq

Identifiers

PMID40846785

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.