Cotton Pectate Lyase GhPEL48_Dt Promotes Fiber Initiation Mediated by Histone Acetylation

<i>GhPEL48_Dt</i>, a Pectate lyase (PEL, EC4.2.2.2), is a crucial enzyme involved in cell-wall modification and pectin degradation. Studies have shown that the <i>GhPEL48_Dt</i> also plays a significant role in cotton-fiber development; however, the specific function and regulatory mechanism of <i>GhPEL48_Dt</i> in cotton-fiber development are still not fully understood. Here, we found that the histone deacetylase inhibitor-Trichostatin A significantly reduces the transcript levels of <i>GhPEL48_Dt</i> and its enzyme activity. Further, silencing of <i>GhPEL48_Dt</i> significantly inhibits the initiation and elongation of cotton fibers by promoting pectin degradation, and the heterologous expression of GhPEL48_Dt promotes the development of trichomes and root hairs in Arabidopsis, which suggests that <i>GhPEL48_Dt</i> plays a positive and conserved role in single cell i.e., fiber, root hair, and leaf trichome development. Collectively, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental characteristics and functions of GhPEL48_Dt in fiber development, including the regulatory role of histone acetylation on GhPEL48_Dt, which contributes to the understanding of pectin degradation pathways and establishes a theoretical foundation for elucidating its regulatory mechanism.