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Wang J, Singer SD, Chen G. Biotechnological advances in the production of unusual fatty acids in transgenic plants and recombinant microorganisms. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 76:108435. [PMID: 39214484 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Certain plants and microorganisms can produce high amounts of unusual fatty acids (UFAs) such as hydroxy, conjugated, cyclic, and very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have distinct physicochemical properties and significant applications in the food, feed, and oleochemical industries. Since many natural sources of UFAs are not ideal for large-scale agricultural production or fermentation, it is attractive to produce them through synthetic biology. Although several UFAs have been commercially or pre-commercially produced in transgenic plants and microorganisms, their contents in transgenic hosts are generally much lower than in natural sources. Moreover, reproducing this success for a wider spectrum of UFAs has remained challenging. This review discusses recent advancements in our understanding of the biosynthesis, accumulation, and heterologous production of UFAs, and addresses the challenges and potential strategies for achieving high UFA content in engineered plants and microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juli Wang
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 116 St and 85 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Stacy D Singer
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 116 St and 85 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada.
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Bai X, Tang M, Hu X, Huang P, Wu Y, Chen T, He H, Xu ZF. Comparative transcriptome analysis of Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus with contrasting oil contents in tubers defines genes and regulatory networks involved in oil accumulation. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 348:112230. [PMID: 39154894 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Plant vegetative organs present great potential for lipid storage, with tubers of Cyperus esculentus as a unique example. To investigate the genome and transcriptomic features of C. esculentus and related species, we sequenced and assembled the C. esculentus genome at the contig level. Through a comparative study of high-quality transcriptomes across 36 tissues from high-oil and intermediate-oil C. esculentus and low-oil Cyperus rotundus, we identified potential genes and regulatory networks related to tuber oil accumulation. First, we identified tuber-specific genes in two C. esculentus cultivars. Second, genes involved in fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis, triacylglycerol synthesis, and TAG packaging presented increased activity in the later stages of tuber development. Notably, tubers with high oil contents presented higher levels of these genes than those with intermediate oil contents did, whereas tubers with low oil contents presented minimal gene expression. Notably, a large fragment of the FA biosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme-encoding gene BCCP1 was missing from the C. rotundus transcript, which might be responsible for blocking FA biosynthesis in its tubers. WGCNA pinpointed a gene module linked to tuber oil accumulation, with a coexpression network involving the transcription factors WRI1, MYB4, and bHLH68. The ethylene-related genes in this module suggest a role for ethylene signaling in oil accumulation, which is supported by the finding that ethylene (ETH) treatment increases the oil content in C. esculentus tubers. This study identified potential genes and networks associated with tuber oil accumulation in C. esculentus, highlighting the role of specific genes, transcription factors, and ethylene signaling in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mingyong Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla 666303, China.
| | - Xiaodi Hu
- Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Ping Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuan Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Tao Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Huiying He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Zeng-Fu Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
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Li Y, Xiao L, Cao H, Cao Y, Zhang L. Phylogenomics and functional analysis of Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase (GPAT) Genes: A critical role in lipid biosynthesis. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14509. [PMID: 39210744 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The tung tree (Vernicia fordii Hemsl.), an economically important woody plant, is widely planted for the production of high-quality tung oil. Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs), the rate-limiting enzymes in triacylglycerol synthesis, play an important role in seed oil biosynthesis. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of VfGPATs. A total of 9 VfGPATs were identified from the whole tung genome, and phylogenetic analysis divided the VfGPATs into three major clades: clade II (VfGPAT9), clade III (VfATS1) and clade IV (VfGPAT1 ~ 8). Subcellular localization analysis revealed that five VfGPATs (1, 5, 6, 8, and 9) are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, and four VfGPATs (3-1, 3-2, 3-3, and ATS1) are localized in the chloroplast. Overexpression of VfGPATs in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that the oil content in VfGPAT8- and VfGPAT9-transgenic plants were significantly increased by 26.60 and 55.94% compared to the wild-type. Transient expression of VfGPAT8 + VfFADX and VfGPAT9 + VfFADX could promote the synthesis of α-eleostearic acid and enhance the accumulation of lipid droplets in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves. We further tested the enzymatic activities of VfGPAT8 and VfGPAT9 with the yeast double mutant strain ZAFU1. The results showed that VfGPAT8 complemented the phosphatidate biosynthetic defect in the double mutant, while VfGPAT9 could not, suggesting that VfGPAT8 has a high acetyltransferase activity. However, altering serine (S) residue at position 113 of VfGPAT9 to threonine (T) could restore its enzymatic activity. This study provided important insights into the evolutionary history of VfGPATs and will promote the genetic improvement of tung trees and related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Li
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lichuan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Heping Cao
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yunpeng Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Straube J, Hurtado G, Zeisler-Diehl V, Schreiber L, Knoche M. Cuticle deposition ceases during strawberry fruit development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:623. [PMID: 38951751 PMCID: PMC11218262 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05327-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ideally, the barrier properties of a fruit's cuticle persist throughout its development. This presents a challenge for strawberry fruit, with their rapid development and thin cuticles. The objective was to establish the developmental time course of cuticle deposition in strawberry fruit. RESULTS Fruit mass and surface area increase rapidly, with peak growth rate coinciding with the onset of ripening. On a whole-fruit basis, the masses of cutin and wax increase but on a unit surface-area basis, they decrease. The decrease is associated with marked increases in elastic strain. The expressions of cuticle-associated genes involved in transcriptional regulation (FaSHN1, FaSHN2, FaSHN3), synthesis of cutin (FaLACS2, FaGPAT3) and wax (FaCER1, FaKCS10, FaKCR1), and those involved in transport of cutin monomers and wax constituents (FaABCG11, FaABCG32) decreased until maturity. The only exceptions were FaLACS6 and FaGPAT6 that are presumably involved in cutin synthesis, and FaCER1 involved in wax synthesis. This result was consistent across five strawberry cultivars. Strawberry cutin consists mainly of C16 and C18 monomers, plus minor amounts of C19, C20, C22 and C24 monomers, ω-hydroxy acids, dihydroxy acids, epoxy acids, primary alcohols, carboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids. The most abundant monomer is 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid. Waxes comprise mainly long-chain fatty acids C29 to C46, with smaller amounts of C16 to C28. Wax constituents are carboxylic acids, primary alcohols, alkanes, aldehydes, sterols and esters. CONCLUSION The downregulation of cuticle deposition during development accounts for the marked cuticular strain, for the associated microcracking, and for their high susceptibility to the disorders of water soaking and cracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannis Straube
- Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Fruit Science Section, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, Hannover, 30419, Germany
| | - Grecia Hurtado
- Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Fruit Science Section, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, Hannover, 30419, Germany
| | - Viktoria Zeisler-Diehl
- Department of Ecophysiology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany (IZMB), University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, Bonn, 53115, Germany
| | - Lukas Schreiber
- Department of Ecophysiology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany (IZMB), University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, Bonn, 53115, Germany
| | - Moritz Knoche
- Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Fruit Science Section, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, Hannover, 30419, Germany.
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Clews AC, Ulch BA, Jesionowska M, Hong J, Mullen RT, Xu Y. Variety of Plant Oils: Species-Specific Lipid Biosynthesis. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 65:845-862. [PMID: 37971406 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Plant oils represent a large group of neutral lipids with important applications in food, feed and oleochemical industries. Most plants accumulate oils in the form of triacylglycerol within seeds and their surrounding tissues, which comprises three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. Different plant species accumulate unique fatty acids in their oils, serving a range of applications in pharmaceuticals and oleochemicals. To enable the production of these distinctive oils, select plant species have adapted specialized oil metabolism pathways, involving differential gene co-expression networks and structurally divergent enzymes/proteins. Here, we summarize some of the recent advances in our understanding of oil biosynthesis in plants. We compare expression patterns of oil metabolism genes from representative species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Ricinus communis (castor bean), Linum usitatissimum L. (flax) and Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) to showcase the co-expression networks of relevant genes for acyl metabolism. We also review several divergent enzymes/proteins associated with key catalytic steps of unique oil accumulation, including fatty acid desaturases, diacylglycerol acyltransferases and oleosins, highlighting their structural features and preference toward unique lipid substrates. Lastly, we briefly discuss protein interactomes and substrate channeling for oil biosynthesis and the complex regulation of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C Clews
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Brandon A Ulch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Monika Jesionowska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jun Hong
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Robert T Mullen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Yang C, Ma J, Qi C, Ma Y, Xiong H, Duan R. Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, Evolutionary Analysis, and Expression Pattern of the GPAT Gene Family in Barley and Functional Analysis of HvGPAT18 under Abiotic Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6101. [PMID: 38892304 PMCID: PMC11172788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Glycerol-3-phosphoacyltransferase (GPAT) is an important rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG), which is of great significance for plant growth, development, and response to abiotic stress. Although the characteristics of GPAT have been studied in many model plants, little is known about its expression profile and function in barley, especially under abiotic stress. In this study, 22 GPAT genes were identified in the barley genome and divided into three groups (I, II, III), with the latter Group III subdivided further into three subgroups based on the phylogenetic analysis. The analyses of conserved motifs, gene structures, and the three-dimensional structure of HvGPAT proteins also support this classification. Through evolutionary analysis, we determined that HvGPATs in Group I were the earliest to diverge during 268.65 MYA, and the differentiation of other HvGPATs emerged during 86.83-169.84 MYA. The tissue expression profile showed that 22 HvGPAT genes were almost not expressed in INF1 (inflorescence 1). Many functional elements related to stress responses and hormones in cis-element analysis, as well as qRT-PCR results, confirm that these HvGPAT genes were involved in abiotic stress responses. The expression level of HvGPAT18 was significantly increased under abiotic stress and its subcellular localization indicated its function in the endoplasmic reticulum. Various physiological traits under abiotic stress were evaluated using transgenic Arabidopsis to gain further insight into the role of HvGPAT18, and it was found that transgenic seedlings have stronger resistance under abiotic stress than to the wild-type (WT) plants. Overall, our results provide new insights into the evolution and function of the barley GPAT gene family and enable us to explore the molecular mechanism of functional diversity behind the evolutionary history of these genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglan Yang
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (C.Y.); (J.M.); (C.Q.); (Y.M.)
| | - Jianzhi Ma
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (C.Y.); (J.M.); (C.Q.); (Y.M.)
| | - Cunying Qi
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (C.Y.); (J.M.); (C.Q.); (Y.M.)
| | - Yinhua Ma
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (C.Y.); (J.M.); (C.Q.); (Y.M.)
| | - Huiyan Xiong
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China;
| | - Ruijun Duan
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (C.Y.); (J.M.); (C.Q.); (Y.M.)
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Zhang X, Gao H, Liu Y, Zhao H, Lü S. Function identification of Arabidopsis GPAT4 and GPAT8 in the biosynthesis of suberin and cuticular wax. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 339:111933. [PMID: 38036221 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Surface lipids in plants include cutin, cuticular wax and suberin. sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs) facilitate the acylation of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) utilizing a fatty acyl group from acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) or acyl-acyl carrier protein (acyl-ACP) as substrates for the biosynthesis of plant extracellular lipids such as suberin and cutin. Here we found that Arabidopsis GPAT4 and GPAT8 are specifically expressed in endodermis cells of roots where suberin was accumulated. GPAT4 mutation significantly decreased the amounts of the C16 and C18 ω-oxidized suberin monomers, whereas the mutation of GPAT8 had little effect on the suberin production, and the functions of both were not redundant. Root suberin phenotype analysis of gpat4-1 and gpat6-1 single or double mutant revealed that GPAT4 and GPAT6 play redundant functions. Interestingly, the gpat4-1 gpat8-1 double mutant displayed a glossy stem phenotype since fewer wax crystals were accumulated. This phenotype was not shown in either parent. Further study showed that the amounts of most wax components were significantly decreased. Taken together, our findings revealed that GPAT4 has an additive effect with GPAT6 in the root suberin biosynthesis, and plays a redundant role in wax production with GPAT8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Huani Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Huayan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Shiyou Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Liu H, Zhu J, Zhang B, Li Q, Liu C, Huang Q, Cui P. The functional divergence of homologous GPAT9 genes contributes to the erucic acid content of Brassica napus seeds. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:69. [PMID: 38262947 PMCID: PMC10807112 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04734-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The early allopolyploid Brassica napus was a hybrid of two Brassica species, that had undergone a whole genome duplication event followed by genome restructuring, including deletions and small scale duplications. A large number of homologous genes appeared functional divergence during species domestication. Due to the high conservation of de novo glycerolipid biosynthesis, multiple homologues of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs) have been found in B. napus. Moreover, the functional variances among these homologous GPAT-encoding genes are unclear. RESULTS In this study, four B. napus homologous genes encoding glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 9 (BnaGPAT9) were characterized. Although a bioinformatics analysis indicated high protein sequence similarity, the homologues demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns and functional divergence. Yeast genetic complementation assays revealed that BnaGPAT9-A1/C1 homologues but not BnaGPAT9-A10/C9 homologues encoded functional GPAT enzymes. Furthermore, a single nucleotide polymorphism of BnaGPAT9-C1 that occurred during the domestication process was associated with enzyme activity and contributed to the fatty acid composition. The seed-specific expression of BnGPAT9-C11124A increased the erucic acid content in the transformant seeds. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that BnaGPAT9 gene homologues evolved into functionally divergent forms with important roles in erucic acid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Jinbo Zhu
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Bingxin Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Qingyang Li
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Cui Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Institute of Crop Science and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Peng Cui
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China.
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9
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Gong W, Chen W, Gao Q, Qian L, Yuan X, Tang S, Hong Y. Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase GPAT9 Enhanced Seed Oil Accumulation and Eukaryotic Galactolipid Synthesis in Brassica napus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16111. [PMID: 38003299 PMCID: PMC10671787 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase GPAT9 catalyzes the first acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), a committed step of glycerolipid synthesis in Arabidopsis. The role of GPAT9 in Brassica napus remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified four orthologs of GPAT9 and found that BnaGPAT9 encoded by BnaC01T0014600WE is a predominant isoform and promotes seed oil accumulation and eukaryotic galactolipid synthesis in Brassica napus. BnaGPAT9 is highly expressed in developing seeds and is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Ectopic expression of BnaGPAT9 in E. coli and siliques of Brassica napus enhanced phosphatidic acid (PA) production. Overexpression of BnaGPAT9 enhanced seed oil accumulation resulting from increased 18:2-fatty acid. Lipid profiling in developing seeds showed that overexpression of BnaGPAT9 led to decreased phosphatidylcholine (PC) and a corresponding increase in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), implying that BnaGPAT9 promotes PC flux to storage triacylglycerol (TAG). Furthermore, overexpression of BnaGPAT9 also enhanced eukaryotic galactolipids including monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), with increased 36:6-MGDG and 36:6-DGDG, and decreased 34:6-MGDG in developing seeds. Collectively, these results suggest that ER-localized BnaGPAT9 promotes PA production, thereby enhancing seed oil accumulation and eukaryotic galactolipid biosynthesis in Brassica napus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yueyun Hong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (W.G.); (W.C.); (Q.G.); (L.Q.); (X.Y.); (S.T.)
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10
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Zhou Y, Huang X, Hu T, Chen S, Wang Y, Shi X, Yin M, Li R, Wang J, Jia X. Genome-Wide Analysis of Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase (GPAT) Family in Perilla frutescens and Functional Characterization of PfGPAT9 Crucial for Biosynthesis of Storage Oils Rich in High-Value Lipids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15106. [PMID: 37894786 PMCID: PMC10606570 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) catalyzes the first step in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis. However, GPAT members and their functions remain poorly understood in Perilla frutescens, a special edible-medicinal plant with its seed oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (mostly α-linolenic acid, ALA). Here, 14 PfGPATs were identified from the P. frutescens genome and classified into three distinct groups according to their phylogenetic relationships. These 14 PfGPAT genes were distributed unevenly across 11 chromosomes. PfGPAT members within the same subfamily had highly conserved gene structures and four signature functional domains, despite considerable variations detected in these conserved motifs between groups. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR combined with dynamic analysis of oil and FA profiles during seed development indicated that PfGPAT9 may play a crucial role in the biosynthesis and accumulation of seed oil and PUFAs. Ex vivo enzymatic assay using the yeast expression system evidenced that PfGPAT9 had a strong GPAT enzyme activity crucial for TAG assembly and also a high substrate preference for oleic acid (OA, C18:1) and ALA (C18:3). Heterogeneous expression of PfGPAT9 significantly increased total oil and UFA (mostly C18:1 and C18:3) levels in both the seeds and leaves of the transgenic tobacco plants. Moreover, these transgenic tobacco lines exhibited no significant negative effect on other agronomic traits, including plant growth and seed germination rate, as well as other morphological and developmental properties. Collectively, our findings provide important insights into understanding PfGPAT functions, demonstrating that PfGPAT9 is the desirable target in metabolic engineering for increasing storage oil enriched with valuable FA profiles in oilseed crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Zhou
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Xusheng Huang
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Ting Hu
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Shuwei Chen
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Yao Wang
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Xianfei Shi
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Miao Yin
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Runzhi Li
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Jiping Wang
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
| | - Xiaoyun Jia
- College of Agronomy/Institute of Molecular Agriculture & Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.W.); (X.J.)
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
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11
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Hu W, Ma J, Zhang H, Miu X, Miao X, Deng Y. Integrated lipidomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals diacylglycerol accumulation in olive of Longnan (China). PeerJ 2023; 11:e15724. [PMID: 37583911 PMCID: PMC10424668 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Olive (Olea europaea L.) oil accumulate more diacylglycerols (DAG) than mostly vegetable oils. Unsaturated fatty acids-enriched DAG consumption enhanced wellness in subjects. However, the mechanism of DAG accumulation is not yet fully understood. Methods In this study, gene network of DAG accumulation and fatty acid composition in the two olive mesocarps ("Chenggu 32" (CG) and "Koroneiki" (QJ)) were investigated by integrating lipidome and transcriptome techniques. Results A total of 1,408 lipid molecules were identified by lipidomic analysis in olive mesocarp, of which DAG (DAG36:3, DAG36:4 and DAG36:5) showed higher content, and triacylglycerols (TAG54:3, TAG54:4) exhibited opposite trend in CG. Specifically, DAG was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially C18:2) at the sn-2 position, which was inconsistent with TAG at the same positions (Primarily C18:1). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that phospholipase C (NPC, EC 3.1.4.3) were up-regulated relative to QJ, whereas diacylglycerol kinase (ATP) (DGK, EC 2.7.1.107), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20), and phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT, EC 2.3.1.158) were down-regulated. Conclusion We speculated that the non-acyl coenzyme A pathway played a significant role in DAG biosynthesis. Additionally, fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase B (FATB, EC 3.1.2.14), stearoyl [acyl-carrier-protein] 9-desaturase (SAD, EC 1.14.19.2) and omega-6 fatty acid desaturase (FAD2, EC 1.14.19.6) were highly expressed in CG and may be involved in regulating fatty acid composition. Meanwhile, phospholipase A1 (LCAT, EC 3.1.1.32) involved in the acyl editing reaction facilitated PUFA linkage at the sn-2 position of DAG. Our findings provide novel insights to increase the DAG content, improve the fatty acid composition of olive oil, and identify candidate genes for the production of DAG-rich oils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Hu
- College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Junyi Ma
- College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xin Miu
- College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xin Miao
- College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Institute of Olive, Longnan Academy of Economic Forestry, Wudu, Gansu, China
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12
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Deslandes-Hérold G, Zanella M, Solhaug E, Fischer-Stettler M, Sharma M, Buergy L, Herrfurth C, Colinas M, Feussner I, Abt MR, Zeeman SC. The PRK/Rubisco shunt strongly influences Arabidopsis seed metabolism and oil accumulation, affecting more than carbon recycling. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:808-826. [PMID: 36454674 PMCID: PMC9940875 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The carbon efficiency of storage lipid biosynthesis from imported sucrose in green Brassicaceae seeds is proposed to be enhanced by the PRK/Rubisco shunt, in which ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) acts outside the context of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle to recycle CO2 molecules released during fatty acid synthesis. This pathway utilizes metabolites generated by the nonoxidative steps of the pentose phosphate pathway. Photosynthesis provides energy for reactions such as the phosphorylation of ribulose 5-phosphate by phosphoribulokinase (PRK). Here, we show that loss of PRK in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) blocks photoautotrophic growth and is seedling-lethal. However, seeds containing prk embryos develop normally, allowing us to use genetics to assess the importance of the PRK/Rubisco shunt. Compared with nonmutant siblings, prk embryos produce one-third less lipids-a greater reduction than expected from simply blocking the proposed PRK/Rubisco shunt. However, developing prk seeds are also chlorotic and have elevated starch contents compared with their siblings, indicative of secondary effects. Overexpressing PRK did not increase embryo lipid content, but metabolite profiling suggested that Rubisco activity becomes limiting. Overall, our findings show that the PRK/Rubisco shunt is tightly integrated into the carbon metabolism of green Arabidopsis seeds, and that its manipulation affects seed glycolysis, starch metabolism, and photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Deslandes-Hérold
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martina Zanella
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erik Solhaug
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michaela Fischer-Stettler
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mayank Sharma
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Léo Buergy
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maite Colinas
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Melanie R Abt
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel C Zeeman
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Shen Y, Shen Y, Liu Y, Bai Y, Liang M, Zhang X, Chen Z. Characterization and functional analysis of AhGPAT9 gene involved in lipid synthesis in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1144306. [PMID: 36844041 PMCID: PMC9950565 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1144306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
GPAT enzymes (glycerol-3-phosphate 1-O-acyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.15) catalyze the initial and rate-limiting step of plant glycerolipid biosynthesis for membrane homeostasis and lipid accumulation, yet little research has been done on peanuts. By reverse genetics and bioinformatics analyses, we have characterized an AhGPAT9 isozyme, of which the homologous product is isolated from cultivated peanut. QRT-PCR assay revealed a spatio-temporal expression pattern that the transcripts of AhGPAT9 accumulating in various peanut tissues are highly expressed during seed development, followed by leaves. Green fluorescent protein tagging of AhGPAT9 confirmed its subcellular accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum. Compared with the wild type control, overexpressed AhGPAT9 delayed the bolting stage of transgenic Arabidopsis, reduced the number of siliques, and increased the seed weight as well as seed area, suggesting the possibility of participating in plant growth and development. Meanwhile, the mean seed oil content from five overexpression lines increased by about 18.73%. The two lines with the largest increases in seed oil content showed a decrease in palmitic acid (C16:0) and eicosenic acid (C20:1) by 17.35% and 8.33%, respectively, and an increase in linolenic acid (C18:3) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3) by 14.91% and 15.94%, respectively. In addition, overexpressed AhGPAT9 had no significant effect on leaf lipid content of transgenic plants. Taken together, these results suggest that AhGPAT9 is critical for the biosynthesis of storage lipids, which contributes to the goal of modifying peanut seeds for improved oil content and fatty acid composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Shen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yonghui Liu
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing, China
| | - Man Liang
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuyao Zhang
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhide Chen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
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14
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Bioengineering of Soybean Oil and Its Impact on Agronomic Traits. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032256. [PMID: 36768578 PMCID: PMC9916542 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Soybean is a major oil crop and is also a dominant source of nutritional protein. The 20% seed oil content (SOC) of soybean is much lower than that in most oil crops and the fatty acid composition of its native oil cannot meet the specifications for some applications in the food and industrial sectors. Considerable effort has been expended on soybean bioengineering to tailor fatty acid profiles and improve SOC. Although significant advancements have been made, such as the creation of high-oleic acid soybean oil and high-SOC soybean, those genetic modifications have some negative impacts on soybean production, for instance, impaired germination or low protein content. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the bioengineering of soybean oil and its effects on agronomic traits.
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15
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Chen G, Harwood JL, Lemieux MJ, Stone SJ, Weselake RJ. Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase: Properties, physiological roles, metabolic engineering and intentional control. Prog Lipid Res 2022; 88:101181. [PMID: 35820474 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2022.101181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) catalyzes the last reaction in the acyl-CoA-dependent biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG). DGAT activity resides mainly in membrane-bound DGAT1 and DGAT2 in eukaryotes and bifunctional wax ester synthase-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WSD) in bacteria, which are all membrane-bound proteins but exhibit no sequence homology to each other. Recent studies also identified other DGAT enzymes such as the soluble DGAT3 and diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (EaDAcT), as well as enzymes with DGAT activities including defective in cuticular ridges (DCR) and steryl and phytyl ester synthases (PESs). This review comprehensively discusses research advances on DGATs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes with a focus on their biochemical properties, physiological roles, and biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review begins with a discussion of DGAT assay methods, followed by a systematic discussion of TAG biosynthesis and the properties and physiological role of DGATs. Thereafter, the review discusses the three-dimensional structure and insights into mechanism of action of human DGAT1, and the modeled DGAT1 from Brassica napus. The review then examines metabolic engineering strategies involving manipulation of DGAT, followed by a discussion of its therapeutic applications. DGAT in relation to improvement of livestock traits is also discussed along with DGATs in various other eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2P5, Canada.
| | - John L Harwood
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - M Joanne Lemieux
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Membrane Protein Disease Research Group, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Scot J Stone
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2P5, Canada
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16
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Wallis JG, Bengtsson JD, Browse J. Molecular Approaches Reduce Saturates and Eliminate trans Fats in Food Oils. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:908608. [PMID: 35720592 PMCID: PMC9205222 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.908608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Vegetable oils composed of triacylglycerols (TAG) are a major source of calories in human diets. However, the fatty acid compositions of these oils are not ideal for human nutrition and the needs of the food industry. Saturated fatty acids contribute to health problems, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can become rancid upon storage or processing. In this review, we first summarize the pathways of fatty acid metabolism and TAG synthesis and detail the problems with the oil compositions of major crops. Then we describe how transgenic expression of desaturases and downregulation of the plastid FatB thioesterase have provided the means to lower oil saturates. The traditional solution to PUFA rancidity uses industrial chemistry to reduce PUFA content by partial hydrogenation, but this results in the production of trans fats that are even more unhealthy than saturated fats. We detail the discoveries in the biochemistry and molecular genetics of oil synthesis that provided the knowledge and tools to lower oil PUFA content by blocking their synthesis during seed development. Finally, we describe the successes in breeding and biotechnology that are giving us new, high-oleic, low PUFA varieties of soybean, canola and other oilseed crops.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Browse
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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17
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Kouhen M, García-Caparrós P, Twyman RM, Abdelly C, Mahmoudi H, Schillberg S, Debez A. Improving environmental stress resilience in crops by genome editing: insights from extremophile plants. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2022; 43:559-574. [PMID: 35606905 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2042481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In basic and applied sciences, genome editing has become an indispensable tool, especially the versatile and adaptable CRISPR/Cas9 system. Using CRISPR/Cas9 in plants has enabled modifications of many valuable traits, including environmental stress tolerance, an essential aspect when it comes to ensuring food security under climate change pressure. The CRISPR toolbox enables faster and more precise plant breeding by facilitating: multiplex gene editing, gene pyramiding, and de novo domestication. In this paper, we discuss the most recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9 and alternative CRISPR-based systems, along with the technical challenges that remain to be overcome. A revision of the latest proof-of-concept and functional characterization studies has indeed provided more insight into the quantitative traits affecting crop yield and stress tolerance. Additionally, we focus on the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in regard to extremophile plants, due to their significance on: industrial, ecological and economic levels. These still unexplored genetic resources could provide the means to harden our crops against the threat of climate change, thus ensuring food security over the next century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Kouhen
- Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.,Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, Italy
| | - Pedro García-Caparrós
- Agronomy Department of Superior School Engineering, University of Almeria, CIAIMBITAL, Almería, Spain
| | | | - Chedly Abdelly
- Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
| | - Henda Mahmoudi
- International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Academic City, Near Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stefan Schillberg
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ahmed Debez
- Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
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18
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Lunn D, Wallis JG, Browse J. A multigene approach secures hydroxy fatty acid production in Arabidopsis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2875-2888. [PMID: 35560203 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A central goal of green chemistry is to produce industrially useful fatty acids in oilseed crops. Although genes encoding suitable fatty acid-modifying enzymes are available from more than a dozen wild species, progress has been limited because expression of these enzymes in transgenic plants produces only low yields of the desired products. For example, fatty acid hydroxylase 12 (FAH12) from castor (Ricinus communis) produces only 17% hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) when expressed in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), compared with 90% HFAs in castor seeds. The transgenic plants also have reduced oil content and seed vigor. Here, we review experiments that have provided for steady increased HFA accumulation and oil content. This research has led to exciting new discoveries of enzymes and regulatory processes in the pathways of both seed oil synthesis and lipid metabolism in other parts of the plant. Recent investigations have revealed that HFA-accumulating seeds are unable to rapidly mobilize HFA-containing triacylglycerol (TAG) storage lipid after germination to provide carbon and energy for seedling development, resulting in reduced seedling establishment. These findings present a new opportunity to investigate a different, key area of lipid metabolism-the pathways of TAG lipolysis and β-oxidation in germinating seedlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lunn
- Institute of Biology Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6340, USA
| | - James G Wallis
- Institute of Biology Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6340, USA
| | - John Browse
- Institute of Biology Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6340, USA
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19
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Transgenic manipulation of triacylglycerol biosynthetic enzymes in B. napus alters lipid-associated gene expression and lipid metabolism. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3352. [PMID: 35233071 PMCID: PMC8888550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07387-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is an important crop that is cultivated for the oil (mainly triacylglycerol; TAG) it produces in its seeds. TAG synthesis is controlled mainly by key enzymes in the Kennedy pathway, such as glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT), lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (LPAT) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) but can also be produced from phosphoglycerides such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) by the activity of the enzyme phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT). To evaluate the potential for these enzymes to alter oil yields or composition, we analysed transgenic B. napus lines which overexpressed GPAT, LPAT or PDAT using heterologous transgenes from Arabidopsis and Nasturtium and examined lipid profiles and changes in gene expression in these lines compared to WT. Distinct changes in PC and TAG abundance and spatial distribution in embryonic tissues were observed in some of the transgenic lines, together with altered expression of genes involved generally in acyl-lipid metabolism. Overall our results show that up-regulation of these key enzymes differentially affects lipid composition and distribution as well as lipid-associated gene expression, providing important information which could be used to improve crop properties by metabolic engineering.
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20
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Cheng K, Pan YF, Liu LM, Zhang HQ, Zhang YM. Integrated Transcriptomic and Bioinformatics Analyses Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms for the Differences in Seed Oil and Starch Content Between Glycine max and Cicer arietinum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:743680. [PMID: 34764968 PMCID: PMC8576049 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.743680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The seed oil and starch content of soybean are significantly different from that of chickpea. However, there are limited studies on its molecular mechanisms. To address this issue, we conducted integrated transcriptomic and bioinformatics analyses for species-specific genes and acyl-lipid-, starch-, and carbon metabolism-related genes. Among seven expressional patterns of soybean-specific genes, four were highly expressed at the middle- and late oil accumulation stages; these genes significantly enriched fatty acid synthesis and carbon metabolism, and along with common acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) highly expressed at soybean middle seed development stage, common starch-degrading enzyme beta-amylase-5 (BAM5) was highly expressed at soybean early seed development stage and oil synthesis-related genes ACCase, KAS, KAR, ACP, and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (LACS) were co-expressed with WRI1, which may result in high seed oil content and low seed starch content in soybean. The common ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) was highly expressed at chickpea middle seed development stage, along with more starch biosynthesis genes co-expressed with four-transcription-factor homologous genes in chickpea than in soybean, and the common WRI1 was not co-expressed with oil synthesis genes in chickpea, which may result in high seed starch content and low seed oil content in chickpea. The above results may be used to improve chickpea seed oil content in two ways. One is to edit CaWRI1 to co-express with oil synthesis-related genes, which may increase carbon metabolites flowing to oil synthesis, and another is to increase the expression levels of miRNA159 and miRNA319 to inhibit the expression of MYB33, which may downregulate starch synthesis-related genes, making more carbon metabolites flow into oil synthesis. Our study will provide a basis for future breeding efforts to increase the oil content of chickpea seeds.
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21
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Singer SD, Jayawardhane KN, Jiao C, Weselake RJ, Chen G. The effect of AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE 7 over-expression on seed fatty acid biosynthesis, storage oil accumulation and the transcriptome in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2021; 40:1647-1663. [PMID: 34215912 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02715-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
AIL7 over-expression modulates fatty acid biosynthesis and triacylglycerol accumulation in Arabidopsis developing seeds through the transcriptional regulation of associated genes. Seed fatty acids (FAs) and triacylglycerol (TAG) contribute to many functions in plants, and seed lipids have broad food, feed and industrial applications. As a result, an enormous amount of attention has been dedicated towards uncovering the regulatory cascade responsible for the fine-tuning of the lipid biosynthetic pathway in seeds, which is regulated in part through the action of LEAFY COTYLEDON1, ABSCISSIC ACID INSENSITIVE 3, FUSCA3 and LEC2 (LAFL) transcription factors. Although AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE 7 (AIL7) is involved in meristematic function and shoot phyllotaxy, its effect in the context of lipid biosynthesis has yet to be assessed. Here, we generated AIL7 seed-specific over-expression lines and found that they exhibited significant alterations in FA composition and decreased total lipid accumulation in seeds. Seeds and seedlings from transgenic lines also exhibited morphological deviations compared to wild type. Correspondingly, RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that the expression of many genes related to FA biosynthesis and TAG breakdown were significantly altered in developing siliques from transgenic lines compared to wild-type plants. The seed-specific over-expression of AIL7 also altered the expression profiles of many genes related to starch metabolism, photosynthesis and stress response, suggesting further roles for AIL7 in plants. These findings not only advance our understanding of the lipid biosynthetic pathway in seeds, but also provide evidence for additional functions of AIL7, which could prove valuable in downstream breeding and/or metabolic engineering endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy D Singer
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada.
| | - Kethmi N Jayawardhane
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Chen Jiao
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.
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22
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Production of the infant formula ingredient 1,3-olein-2-palmitin in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds. Metab Eng 2021; 67:67-74. [PMID: 34091040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In human milk fat, palmitic acid (16:0) is esterified to the middle (sn-2 or β) position on the glycerol backbone and oleic acid (18:1) predominantly to the outer positions, giving the triacylglycerol (TG) a distinctive stereoisomeric structure that is believed to assist nutrient absorption in the infant gut. However, the fat used in most infant formulas is derived from plants, which preferentially esterify 16:0 to the outer positions. We have previously showed that the metabolism of the model oilseed Arabidopsis thaliana can be engineered to incorporate 16:0 into the middle position of TG. However, the fatty acyl composition of Arabidopsis seed TG does not mimic human milk, which is rich in both 16:0 and 18:1 and is defined by the high abundance of the TG molecular species 1,3-olein-2-palmitin (OPO). Here we have constructed an Arabidopsis fatty acid biosynthesis 1-1 fatty acid desaturase 2 fatty acid elongase 1 mutant with around 20% 16:0 and 70% 18:1 in its seeds and we have engineered it to esterify more than 80% of the 16:0 to the middle position of TG, using heterologous expression of the human lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase isoform AGPAT1, combined with suppression of LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID ACYLTRANSFERASE 2 and PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE:DIACYLGLYCEROL CHOLINEPHOSPHOTRANSFERASE. Our data show that oilseeds can be engineered to produce TG that is rich in OPO, which is a structured fat ingredient used in infant formulas.
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Bao W, Ao D, Wang L, Ling Z, Chen M, Bai Y, Wuyun TN, Chen J, Zhang S, Li F. Dynamic transcriptome analysis identifies genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis in the seeds of Prunus pedunculata Pall. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:152. [PMID: 33761884 PMCID: PMC7992973 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-02921-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prunus pedunculata Pall, the deciduous shrub of Amygdalus subgenus in Rosaceae, is a new kind of desert oil-bearing tree. It has a long story of being planted in the West and North of China for sand fixation and desert control. In addition, the seeds of P. pedunculata are rich of oil, especially the monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of oil accumulation during the seed development of P. pedunculata. RESULTS The seeds of P. pedunculata from three independent plants at 10, 18, 24, 31, 39, 45, 59 and 73 days after flowering (DAF) were obtained and the oil compositions were evaluated. It showed that oleic acid was the dominant type of oil content in the mature seeds (from 32.724% at 10DAF to 72.06% at 73DAF). Next, transcriptome sequencing for the developing seeds produced 988.795 million high quality reads and TRINITY assembled 326,271 genes for the first transcriptome for P. pedunculata. After the assembled transcriptome was evaluated by BUSCO with 85.9% completeness, we identified 195,342, 109,850 and 121,897 P. pedunculata genes aligned to NR, GO and KEGG pathway databases, respectively. Then, we predicted 23,229 likely proteins from the assembled transcriptome and identified 1917 signal peptides and 5512 transmembrane related proteins. In the developing seeds we detected 91,362 genes (average FPKM > 5) and correlation analysis indicated three possible development stages - early (10 ~ 24DAF), middle (31 ~ 45DAF) and late (59 ~ 73DAF). We next analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the developing seeds. Interestingly, compared to 10DAF the number of DEGs was increased from 4406 in 18DAF to 27,623 in 73DAF. Based on the gene annotation, we identified 753, 33, 8 and 645 DEGs related to the fatty acid biosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis, oil body and transcription factors. Notably, GPAT, DGD1, LACS2, UBC and RINO were highly expressed at the early development stage, ω6-FAD, SAD, ACP, ACCA and AHG1 were highly expressed at the middle development stage, and LACS6, DGD1, ACAT1, AGPAT, WSD1, EGY2 and oleosin genes were highly expressed at the late development stage. CONCLUSIONS This is the first time to study the developing seed transcriptome of P. pedunculata and our findings will provide a valuable resource for future studies. More importantly, it will improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms of oil accumulation in P. pedunculata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenquan Bao
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Dun Ao
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Lin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Non-timber Forest Research and Development Center, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| | - Zhihao Ling
- Chengdu Jiyu Technology, Chengdu, 610213, Sichuan, China
| | - Maoshan Chen
- Australian Center for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Yue Bai
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Ta-Na Wuyun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Non-timber Forest Research and Development Center, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Junxing Chen
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Shuning Zhang
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Fengming Li
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
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24
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Bai Y, Shen Y, Zhang Z, Jia Q, Xu M, Zhang T, Fang H, Yu X, Li L, Liu D, Qi X, Chen Z, Wu S, Zhang Q, Liang C. A GPAT1 Mutation in Arabidopsis Enhances Plant Height but Impairs Seed Oil Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020785. [PMID: 33466786 PMCID: PMC7829857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs) play an important role in glycerolipid biosynthesis, and are mainly involved in oil production, flower development, and stress response. However, their roles in regulating plant height remain unreported. Here, we report that Arabidopsis GPAT1 is involved in the regulation of plant height. GUS assay and qRT-PCR analysis in Arabidopsis showed that GPAT1 is highly expressed in flowers, siliques, and seeds. A loss of function mutation in GPAT1 was shown to decrease seed yield but increase plant height through enhanced cell length. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR data revealed that the expression levels of genes related to gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and signaling, as well as those of cell wall organization and biogenesis, were significantly upregulated. These led to cell length elongation, and thus, an increase in plant height. Together, our data suggest that knockout of GPAT1 impairs glycerolipid metabolism in Arabidopsis, leading to reduced seed yield, but promotes the biosynthesis of GA, which ultimately enhances plant height. This study provides new evidence on the interplay between lipid and hormone metabolism in the regulation of plant height.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.S.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China;
| | - Qianru Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Q.J.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Mengyuan Xu
- College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.X.); (S.W.)
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Hailing Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xu Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Li Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Dongmei Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xiwu Qi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Zhide Chen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.S.); (Z.C.)
| | - Shuang Wu
- College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.X.); (S.W.)
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Q.J.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Chengyuan Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China; (Y.B.); (T.Z.); (H.F.); (X.Y.); (L.L.); (D.L.); (X.Q.)
- The Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm, Nanjing 210014, China
- Correspondence:
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Chen GQ, Kim WN, Johnson K, Park ME, Lee KR, Kim HU. Transcriptome Analysis and Identification of Lipid Genes in Physaria lindheimeri, a Genetic Resource for Hydroxy Fatty Acids in Seed Oil. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020514. [PMID: 33419225 PMCID: PMC7825617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) have numerous industrial applications but are absent in most vegetable oils. Physaria lindheimeri accumulating 85% HFA in its seed oil makes it a valuable resource for engineering oilseed crops for HFA production. To discover lipid genes involved in HFA synthesis in P. lindheimeri, transcripts from developing seeds at various stages, as well as leaf and flower buds, were sequenced. Ninety-seven percent clean reads from 552,614,582 raw reads were assembled to 129,633 contigs (or transcripts) which represented 85,948 unique genes. Gene Ontology analysis indicated that 60% of the contigs matched proteins involved in biological process, cellular component or molecular function, while the remaining matched unknown proteins. We identified 42 P. lindheimeri genes involved in fatty acid and seed oil biosynthesis, and 39 of them shared 78-100% nucleotide identity with Arabidopsis orthologs. We manually annotated 16 key genes and 14 of them contained full-length protein sequences, indicating high coverage of clean reads to the assembled contigs. A detailed profiling of the 16 genes revealed various spatial and temporal expression patterns. The further comparison of their protein sequences uncovered amino acids conserved among HFA-producing species, but these varied among non-HFA-producing species. Our findings provide essential information for basic and applied research on HFA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Q. Chen
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
- Correspondence: (G.Q.C.); (H.U.K.)
| | - Won Nyeong Kim
- Department of Bioindustry and Bioresource Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
| | - Kumiko Johnson
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
| | - Mid-Eum Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
| | - Kyeong-Ryeol Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54974, Korea;
| | - Hyun Uk Kim
- Department of Bioindustry and Bioresource Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
- Correspondence: (G.Q.C.); (H.U.K.)
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26
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Xu Y, Caldo KMP, Singer SD, Mietkiewska E, Greer MS, Tian B, Dyer JM, Smith M, Zhou XR, Qiu X, Weselake RJ, Chen G. Physaria fendleri and Ricinus communis lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-like phospholipases selectively cleave hydroxy acyl chains from phosphatidylcholine. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 105:182-196. [PMID: 33107656 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Production of hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) in transgenic crops represents a promising strategy to meet our demands for specialized plant oils with industrial applications. The expression of Ricinus communis (castor) OLEATE 12-HYDROXYLASE (RcFAH12) in Arabidopsis has resulted in only limited accumulation of HFAs in seeds, which probably results from inefficient transfer of HFAs from their site of synthesis (phosphatidylcholine; PC) to triacylglycerol (TAG), especially at the sn-1/3 positions of TAG. Phospholipase As (PLAs) may be directly involved in the liberation of HFAs from PC, but the functions of their over-expression in HFA accumulation and distribution at TAG in transgenic plants have not been well studied. In this work, the functions of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-like PLAs (LCAT-PLAs) in HFA biosynthesis were characterized. The LCAT-PLAs were shown to exhibit homology to LCAT and mammalian lysosomal PLA2 , and to contain a conserved and functional Ser/His/Asp catalytic triad. In vitro assays revealed that LCAT-PLAs from the HFA-accumulating plant species Physaria fendleri (PfLCAT-PLA) and castor (RcLCAT-PLA) could cleave acyl chains at both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of PC, and displayed substrate selectivity towards sn-2-ricinoleoyl-PC over sn-2-oleoyl-PC. Furthermore, co-expression of RcFAH12 with PfLCAT-PLA or RcLCAT-PLA, but not Arabidopsis AtLCAT-PLA, resulted in increased occupation of HFA at the sn-1/3 positions of TAG as well as small but insignificant increases in HFA levels in Arabidopsis seeds compared with RcFAH12 expression alone. Therefore, PfLCAT-PLA and RcLCAT-PLA may contribute to HFA turnover on PC, and represent potential candidates for engineering the production of unusual fatty acids in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Kristian Mark P Caldo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Stacy D Singer
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Elzbieta Mietkiewska
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Michael S Greer
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Bo Tian
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resource and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - John M Dyer
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Mark Smith
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Xue-Rong Zhou
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Xiao Qiu
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
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27
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Characterization of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 9 (AhGPAT9) genes, their allelic polymorphism and association with oil content in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Sci Rep 2020; 10:14648. [PMID: 32887939 PMCID: PMC7474056 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71578-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
GPAT, the rate-limiting enzyme in triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis, plays an important role in seed oil accumulation. In this study, two AhGPAT9 genes were individually cloned from the A- and B- genomes of peanut, which shared a similarity of 95.65%, with 165 site differences. The overexpression of AhGPAT9 or the knock-down of its gene expression increased or decreased the seed oil content, respectively. Allelic polymorphism analysis was conducted in 171 peanut germplasm, and 118 polymorphic sites in AhGPAT9A formed 64 haplotypes (a1 to a64), while 94 polymorphic sites in AhGPAT9B formed 75 haplotypes (b1 to b75). The haplotype analysis showed that a5, b57, b30 and b35 were elite haplotypes related to high oil content, whereas a7, a14, a48, b51 and b54 were low oil content types. Additionally, haplotype combinations a62/b10, a38/b31 and a43/b36 were associated with high oil content, but a9/b42 was a low oil content haplotype combination. The results will provide valuable clues for breeding new lines with higher seed oil content using hybrid polymerization of high-oil alleles of AhGPAT9A and AhGPAT9B genes.
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28
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Subedi U, Jayawardhane KN, Pan X, Ozga J, Chen G, Foroud NA, Singer SD. The Potential of Genome Editing for Improving Seed Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition in Oilseed Crops. Lipids 2020; 55:495-512. [PMID: 32856292 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A continuous rise in demand for vegetable oils, which comprise mainly the storage lipid triacylglycerol, is fueling a surge in research efforts to increase seed oil content and improve fatty acid composition in oilseed crops. Progress in this area has been achieved using both conventional breeding and transgenic approaches to date. However, further advancements using traditional breeding methods will be complicated by the polyploid nature of many oilseed crops and associated time constraints, while public perception and the prohibitive cost of regulatory processes hinders the commercialization of transgenic oilseed crops. As such, genome editing using CRISPR/Cas is emerging as a breakthrough breeding tool that could provide a platform to keep pace with escalating demand while potentially minimizing regulatory burden. In this review, we discuss the technology itself and progress that has been made thus far with respect to its use in oilseed crops to improve seed oil content and quality. Furthermore, we examine a number of genes that may provide ideal targets for genome editing in this context, as well as new CRISPR-related tools that have the potential to be applied to oilseed plants and may allow additional gains to be made in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udaya Subedi
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, T1J 4B1, AB, Canada.,Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, AB, Canada
| | - Kethmi N Jayawardhane
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, AB, Canada
| | - Xue Pan
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, AB, Canada
| | - Jocelyn Ozga
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, AB, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, AB, Canada
| | - Nora A Foroud
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, T1J 4B1, AB, Canada
| | - Stacy D Singer
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, T1J 4B1, AB, Canada
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29
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Kang H, Jia C, Liu N, Aboagla AAA, Chen W, Gong W, Tang S, Hong Y. Plastid Glycerol-3-phosphate Acyltransferase Enhanced Plant Growth and Prokaryotic Glycerolipid Synthesis in Brassica napus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155325. [PMID: 32727046 PMCID: PMC7432870 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastid-localized glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (ATS1) catalyzes the first-step reaction in glycerolipid assembly through transferring an acyl moiety to glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) to generate lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an intermediate in lipid metabolism. The effect of ATS1 overexpression on glycerolipid metabolism and growth remained to be elucidated in plants, particularly oil crop plants. Here, we found that overexpression of BnATS1 from Brassica napus enhanced plant growth and prokaryotic glycerolipid biosynthesis. BnATS1 is localized in chloroplasts and an in vitro assay showed that BnATS1 had acylation activity toward glycerol 3-phosphate to produce LPA. Lipid profiling showed that overexpression of BnATS1 led to increases in multiple glycerolipids including phosphatidylglycerol (PG), monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylinositol (PI), with increased polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, increased MGDG was attributed to the elevation of 34:6- and 34:5-MGDG, which were derived from the prokaryotic pathway. These results suggest that BnATS1 promotes accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in cellular membranes, thus enhances plant growth under low-temperature conditions in Brassica napus.
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30
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Jayawardhane KN, Singer SD, Ozga JA, Rizvi SM, Weselake RJ, Chen G. Seed-specific down-regulation of Arabidopsis CELLULOSE SYNTHASE 1 or 9 reduces seed cellulose content and differentially affects carbon partitioning. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2020; 39:953-969. [PMID: 32314045 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-020-02541-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Seed-specific down-regulation of AtCESA1 and AtCESA9, which encode cellulose synthase subunits, differentially affects seed storage compound accumulation in Arabidopsis. High amounts of cellulose can negatively affect crop seed quality, and, therefore, diverting carbon partitioning from cellulose to oil, protein and/or starch via molecular breeding may improve seed quality. To determine the effect of seed cellulose content reduction on levels of storage compounds, Arabidopsis thaliana CELLULOSE SYNTHASE1 (AtCESA1) and AtCESA9 genes, which both encode cellulose synthase subunits, were individually down-regulated using seed-specific intron-spliced hairpin RNA (hpRNAi) constructs. The selected seed-specific AtCESA1 and AtCESA9 Arabidopsis RNAi lines displayed reduced cellulose contents in seeds, and exhibited no obvious visual phenotypic growth defects with the exception of a minor effect on early root development in AtCESA1 RNAi seedlings and early hypocotyl elongation in the dark in both types of RNAi line. The seed-specific down-regulation of AtCESA9 resulted in a reduction in seed weight compared to empty vector controls, which was not observed in AtCESA1 RNAi lines. In terms of effects on carbon partitioning, AtCESA1 and AtCESA9 RNAi lines exhibited distinct effects. The down-regulation of AtCESA1 led to a ~ 3% relative increase in seed protein content (P = 0.04) and a ~ 3% relative decrease in oil content (P = 0.02), but caused no alteration in soluble glucose levels. On the contrary, AtCESA9 RNAi lines did not display a significant reduction in seed oil, protein or soluble glucose content. Taken together, our results indicate that the seed-specific down-regulation of AtCESA1 causes alterations in seed storage compound accumulation, while the effect of AtCESA9 on carbon partitioning is absent or minor in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kethmi N Jayawardhane
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Stacy D Singer
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Jocelyn A Ozga
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Syed Masood Rizvi
- Corteva Agriscience, Site 600, RR #6, PO Box 12, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3J9, Canada
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.
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Xu Y, Caldo KMP, Falarz L, Jayawardhane K, Chen G. Kinetic improvement of an algal diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 via fusion with an acyl-CoA binding protein. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:856-871. [PMID: 31991039 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microalgal oils in the form of triacylglycerols (TAGs) are broadly used as nutritional supplements and biofuels. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the final step of acyl-CoA-dependent biosynthesis of TAG, and is considered a key target for manipulating oil production. Although a growing number of DGAT1s have been identified and over-expressed in some algal species, the detailed structure-function relationship, as well as the improvement of DGAT1 performance via protein engineering, remain largely untapped. Here, we explored the structure-function features of the hydrophilic N-terminal domain of DGAT1 from the green microalga Chromochloris zofingiensis (CzDGAT1). The results indicated that the N-terminal domain of CzDGAT1 was less disordered than those of the higher eukaryotic enzymes and its partial truncation or complete removal could substantially decrease enzyme activity, suggesting its possible role in maintaining enzyme performance. Although the N-terminal domains of animal and plant DGAT1s were previously found to bind acyl-CoAs, replacement of CzDGAT1 N-terminus by an acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) could not restore enzyme activity. Interestingly, the fusion of ACBP to the N-terminus of the full-length CzDGAT1 could enhance the enzyme affinity for acyl-CoAs and augment protein accumulation levels, which ultimately drove oil accumulation in yeast cells and tobacco leaves to higher levels than the full-length CzDGAT1. Overall, our findings unravel the distinct features of the N-terminus of algal DGAT1 and provide a strategy to engineer enhanced performance in DGAT1 via protein fusion, which may open a vista in generating improved membrane-bound acyl-CoA-dependent enzymes and boosting oil biosynthesis in plants and oleaginous microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Kristian Mark P Caldo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Lucas Falarz
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Kethmi Jayawardhane
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada
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The Role of Triacylglycerol in Plant Stress Response. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9040472. [PMID: 32276473 PMCID: PMC7238164 DOI: 10.3390/plants9040472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Vegetable oil is mainly composed of triacylglycerol (TAG), a storage lipid that serves as a major commodity for food and industrial purposes, as well as an alternative biofuel source. While TAG is typically not produced at significant levels in vegetative tissues, emerging evidence suggests that its accumulation in such tissues may provide one mechanism by which plants cope with abiotic stress. Different types of abiotic stress induce lipid remodeling through the action of specific lipases, which results in various alterations in membrane lipid composition. This response induces the formation of toxic lipid intermediates that cause membrane damage or cell death. However, increased levels of TAG under stress conditions are believed to function, at least in part, as a means of sequestering these toxic lipid intermediates. Moreover, the lipid droplets (LDs) in which TAG is enclosed also function as a subcellular factory to provide binding sites and substrates for the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds that protect against insects and fungi. Though our knowledge concerning the role of TAG in stress tolerance is expanding, many gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms driving these processes are still evident. In this review, we highlight progress that has been made to decipher the role of TAG in plant stress response, and we discuss possible ways in which this information could be utilized to improve crops in the future.
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33
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Wang J, Singh SK, Geng S, Zhang S, Yuan L. Genome-wide analysis of glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase gene family and functional characterization of two cutin group GPATs in Brassica napus. PLANTA 2020; 251:93. [PMID: 32246349 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-020-03384-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide identification, spatio-temporal expression analysis and functional characterization of selected Brassica napus GPATs highlight their roles in cuticular wax biosynthesis and defense against fungal pathogens. Glycerol-3-phosphate 1-O-acyltransferase (GPAT) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of glycerolipids, a major component of cellular membranes and extracellular protective layers, such as cuticles in plants. Brassica napus is an economically important crop and cultivated worldwide mostly for its edible oil. The B. napus GPATs (BnGPATs) are insufficiently characterized. Here, we performed genome-wide analysis to identify putative GPATs in B. napus and its diploid progenitors B. rapa and B oleracea. The 32 B. napus BnGPATs are phylogenetically divided into three major groups, cutin, suberin, and diverse ancient groups. Analysis of transcriptomes of different tissues and seeds at different developmental stages revealed the spatial and temporal expression profiles of BnGPATs. The yield and oil quality of B. napus are adversely affected by the necrotrophic fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. We showed that several BnGPATs, including cutin-related BnGPAT19 and 21, were upregulated in the S. sclerotiorum resistant line. RNAi-mediated suppression of BnGPAT19 and 21 in B. napus resulted in thinner cuticle, leading to rapid water and chlorophyll loss in toluidine blue staining and leaf bleaching assays. In addition, the RNAi plants also developed severe necrotic lesions following fungal inoculation compared to the wild-type plants, indicating that BnGPAT19 and 21 are likely involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis that is critical for initial pathogen defense. Taken together, we provided a comprehensive account of GPATs B. napus and characterized BnGPAT19 and 21 for their potential roles in cuticular wax biosynthesis and defense against fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxue Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
| | - Sanjay Kumar Singh
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Siyu Geng
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Ling Yuan
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.
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Huang L, Yu L, Li Z, Li Y, Yoon KS, Hu Q, Yuan L, Han D. Microalgal plastidial lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase interacts with upstream glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase and defines its substrate selectivity via the two transmembrane domains. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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35
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He M, Qin CX, Wang X, Ding NZ. Plant Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Biosynthesis and Regulation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:390. [PMID: 32425958 PMCID: PMC7212373 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In most plants, major unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) are three C18 species, namely, oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and α-linolenic (18:3) acids. These simple compounds play multiple crucial roles in planta and are also important economic traits of oil crops. The enzymatic steps of C18 UFA biosynthesis have been well established. However, the associated FA/lipid trafficking between the plastid and the endoplasmic reticulum remains largely unclear, as does the regulation of the expression and activities of the involved enzymes. In this review, we will revisit the biosynthesis of C18 UFAs with an emphasis on the trafficking, and present an overview of the key enzymes and their regulation. Of particular interest is the emerging regulatory network composed of transcriptional factors and upstream signaling pathways. The review thereby provides the promise of using physical, biochemical and/or genetic means to manipulate FA composition and increase oil yield in crop improvement.
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36
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Lin Y, Chen G, Mietkiewska E, Song Z, Caldo KMP, Singer SD, Dyer J, Smith M, McKeon T, Weselake RJ. Castor patatin-like phospholipase A IIIβ facilitates removal of hydroxy fatty acids from phosphatidylcholine in transgenic Arabidopsis seeds. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 101:521-536. [PMID: 31549344 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-019-00915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Castor patatin-like phospholipase A IIIβ facilitates the exclusion of hydroxy fatty acids from phosphatidylcholine in developing transgenic Arabidopsis seeds. Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) are industrial useful, but their major natural source castor contains toxic components. Although expressing a castor OLEATE 12-HYDROXYLASE in Arabidopsis thaliana leads to the synthesis of HFAs in seeds, a high proportion of the HFAs are retained in phosphatidylcholine (PC). Thus, the liberation of HFA from PC seems to be critical for obtaining HFA-enriched seed oils. Plant phospholipase A (PLA) catalyzes the hydrolysis of PC to release fatty acyl chains that can be subsequently channeled into triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis or other metabolic pathways. To further our knowledge regarding the function of PLAs from HFA-producing plant species, two class III patatin-like PLA cDNAs (pPLAIIIβ or pPLAIIIδ) from castor or Physaria fendleri were overexpressed in a transgenic line of A. thaliana producing C18-HFA, respectively. Only the overexpression of RcpPLAIIIβ resulted in a significant reduction in seed HFA content with concomitant changes in fatty acid composition. Reductions in HFA content occurred in both PC and TAG indicating that HFAs released from PC were not incorporated into TAG. These results suggest that RcpPLAIIIβ may catalyze the removal of HFAs from PC in the developing seeds synthesizing these unusual fatty acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyu Lin
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.
| | - Elzbieta Mietkiewska
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
- Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF), 410 Downey Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 4N1, Canada
| | - Ziliang Song
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Kristian Mark P Caldo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Stacy D Singer
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - John Dyer
- USDA-ARS, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, 21881 North Cardon Lane, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Mark Smith
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Thomas McKeon
- USDA-ARS, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan St, Albany, CA, 94710, USA
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.
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Karki N, Johnson BS, Bates PD. Metabolically Distinct Pools of Phosphatidylcholine Are Involved in Trafficking of Fatty Acids out of and into the Chloroplast for Membrane Production. THE PLANT CELL 2019; 31:2768-2788. [PMID: 31511316 PMCID: PMC6881139 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.19.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The eukaryotic pathway of galactolipid synthesis involves fatty acid synthesis in the chloroplast, followed by assembly of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and then turnover of PC to provide a substrate for chloroplast galactolipid synthesis. However, the mechanisms and classes of lipids transported between the chloroplast and the ER are unclear. PC, PC-derived diacylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, and lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) have all been implicated in ER-to-chloroplast lipid transfer. LPC transport requires lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) activity at the chloroplast to form PC before conversion to galactolipids. However, LPCAT has also been implicated in the opposite chloroplast-to-ER trafficking of newly synthesized fatty acids through PC acyl editing. To understand the role of LPC and LPCAT in acyl trafficking we produced and analyzed the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) act1 lpcat1 lpcat2 triple mutant. LPCAT1 and LPCAT2 encode the major lysophospholipid acyltransferase activity of the chloroplast, and it is predominantly for incorporation of nascent fatty acids exported form the chloroplast into PC by acyl editing. In vivo acyl flux analysis revealed eukaryotic galactolipid synthesis is not impaired in act1 lpcat1 lpcat2 and uses a PC pool distinct from that of PC acyl editing. We present a model for the eukaryotic pathway with metabolically distinct pools of PC, suggesting an underlying spatial organization of PC metabolism as part of the ER-chloroplast metabolic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nischal Karki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406
| | - Brandon S Johnson
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164
| | - Philip D Bates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164
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38
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Liu N, Chen J, Wang T, Li Q, Cui P, Jia C, Hong Y. Overexpression of WAX INDUCER1/SHINE1 Gene Enhances Wax Accumulation under Osmotic Stress and Oil Synthesis in Brassica napus. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4435. [PMID: 31505838 PMCID: PMC6771042 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
WAX INDUCER1/SHINE1 (WIN1) belongs to the AP2/EREBP transcription factor family and plays an important role in wax and cutin accumulation in plants. Here we show that BnWIN1 from Brassica napus (Bn) has dual functions in wax accumulation and oil synthesis. Overexpression (OE) of BnWIN1 led to enhanced wax accumulation and promoted growth without adverse effects on oil synthesis under salt stress conditions. Lipid profiling revealed that BnWIN1-OE plants accumulated more waxes with elevated C29-alkanes, C31-alkanes, C28-alcohol, and C29-alcohol relative to wild type (WT) under salt stress. Moreover, overexpression of BnWIN1 also increased seed oil content under normal growth conditions. BnWIN1 directly bound to the promoter region of genes encoding biotin carboxyl carrier protein 1 (BCCP1), glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 9 (GPAT9), lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 5 (LPAT5), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) involved in the lipid anabolic process. Overexpression of BnWIN1 resulted in upregulated expression of numerous genes involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis, wax accumulation, and oil production. The results suggest that BnWIN1 is a transcriptional activator to regulate the biosynthesis of both extracellular and intracellular lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Jie Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Tiehu Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Qing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Pengpeng Cui
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Chengxi Jia
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Yueyun Hong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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39
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Yang SU, Kim J, Kim H, Suh MC. Functional Characterization of Physcomitrella patens Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase 9 and an Increase in Seed Oil Content in Arabidopsis by Its Ectopic Expression. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E284. [PMID: 31412690 PMCID: PMC6724121 DOI: 10.3390/plants8080284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Since vegetable oils (usually triacylglycerol [TAG]) are extensively used as food and raw materials, an increase in storage oil content and production of valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in transgenic plants is desirable. In this study, a gene encoding glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 9 (GPAT9), which catalyzes the synthesis of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) from a glycerol-3-phosphate and acyl-CoA, was isolated from Physcomitrella patens, which produces high levels of very-long-chain PUFAs in protonema and gametophores. P. patens GPAT9 shares approximately 50%, 60%, and 70% amino acid similarity with GPAT9 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Klebsormidium nitens, and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively. PpGPAT9 transcripts were detected in both the protonema and gametophores. Fluorescent signals from the eYFP:PpGPAT9 construct were observed in the ER of Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermal cells. Ectopic expression of PpGPAT9 increased the seed oil content by approximately 10% in Arabidopsis. The levels of PUFAs (18:2, 18:3, and 20:2) and saturated FAs (16:0, 18:0, and 20:0) increased by 60% and 43%, respectively, in the storage oil of the transgenic seeds when compared with the wild type. The transgenic embryos with increased oil content contained larger embryonic cells than the wild type. Thus, PpGPAT9 may be a novel genetic resource to enhance storage oil yields from oilseed crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Ui Yang
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Juyoung Kim
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Korea
| | - Mi Chung Suh
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Korea.
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40
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Aulakh K, Durrett TP. The Plastid Lipase PLIP1 Is Critical for Seed Viability in diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 Mutant Seed. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 180:1962-1974. [PMID: 31221730 PMCID: PMC6670099 DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In developing Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds, the synthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) is mediated primarily by the acyl-CoA-dependent enzyme diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 (DGAT1). In the absence of DGAT1 activity, phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT1) plays an important role in TAG synthesis, consistent with the higher-than-expected oil content and altered fatty acid composition of dgat1 seed. Transcript profiling of developing wild type (Columbia-0) and dgat1-1 mutant seed identified 602 differentially expressed genes. Expression of genes important for the formation of phosphatidylcholine, including LYSOPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE ACYLTRANSFERASE2, and REDUCED OLEATE DESATURATION1 were strongly upregulated, consistent with increased substrate supply for PDAT1. In addition, several genes lacking a defined role in TAG biosynthesis were also upregulated, including the α/β-hydrolase family gene PLIP1, which encodes a plastid-localized lipase. In most tissues, PLIP1 was expressed at equivalent levels in wild-type and dgat1 plants, except for developing seed, where transcript levels were higher in the dgat1 mutant. Seeds from plip1 mutant plants possessed a 20% reduction in oil content and were smaller than seed from wild-type plants. Crosses between dgat1 and plip1 failed to generate double-homozygous mutant plants. Reciprocal crossing with wild-type plants demonstrated that both male and female gametophytes could transmit the dgat1 plip1 double-mutant genotype. Double-homozygous dgat1 plip1 seed formed but was green and failed to germinate. The synthetic lethal phenotype of dgat1 with plip1 indicates an important role for PLIP1 in the absence of DGAT1 activity, likely by supplying polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates for PDAT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karanbir Aulakh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
| | - Timothy P Durrett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
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41
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Lipidomic studies of membrane glycerolipids in plant leaves under heat stress. Prog Lipid Res 2019; 75:100990. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2019.100990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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42
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Jung SH, Kim RJ, Kim KJ, Lee DH, Suh MC. Plastidial and Mitochondrial Malonyl CoA-ACP Malonyltransferase is Essential for Cell Division and Its Overexpression Increases Storage Oil Content. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:1239-1249. [PMID: 30796840 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Malonyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a key building block for the synthesis of fatty acids, which are important components of cell membranes, storage oils and lipid-signaling molecules. Malonyl CoA-ACP malonyltransferase (MCAMT) catalyzes the production of malonyl-ACP and CoA from malonyl-CoA and ACP. Here, we report that MCAMT plays a critical role in cell division and has the potential to increase the storage oil content in Arabidopsis. The quantitative real-time PCR and MCAMT promoter:GUS analyses showed that MCAMT is predominantly expressed in shoot and root apical meristems, leaf hydathodes and developing embryos. The fluorescent signals of MCAMT:eYFP were observed in both chloroplasts and mitochondria of tobacco leaf protoplasts. In particular, the N-terminal region (amino acid residues 1-30) of MCAMT was required for mitochondrial targeting. The Arabidopsis mcamt-1 and -2 mutants exhibited an embryo-lethal phenotype because of the arrest of embryo development at the globular stage. The transgenic Arabidopsis expressing antisense MCAMT RNA showed growth retardation caused by the defects in cell division. The overexpression of MCAMT driven by the promoter of the senescence-associated 1 (SEN1) gene, which is predominantly expressed in developing seeds, increased the seed yield and storage oil content of Arabidopsis. Taken together, the plastidial and mitochondrial MCAMT is essential for Arabidopsis cell division and is a novel genetic resource useful for enhancing storage oil content in oilseed crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seh Hui Jung
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ryeo Jin Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kook Jin Kim
- Genomine Inc. Venture Bldg 306, Pohang TechnoPark, 394 Jigok-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hee Lee
- Genomine Inc. Venture Bldg 306, Pohang TechnoPark, 394 Jigok-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Chung Suh
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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43
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Reynolds KB, Cullerne DP, El Tahchy A, Rolland V, Blanchard CL, Wood CC, Singh SP, Petrie JR. Identification of Genes Involved in Lipid Biosynthesis through de novo Transcriptome Assembly from Cocos nucifera Developing Endosperm. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:945-960. [PMID: 30608545 PMCID: PMC6498750 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cocos nucifera (coconut), a member of the Arecaceae family, is an economically important woody palm that is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions. The coconut palm is well known for its ability to accumulate large amounts of oil, approximately 63% of the seed weight. Coconut oil varies significantly from other vegetable oils as it contains a high proportion of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA; 85%). The unique composition of coconut oil raises interest in understanding how the coconut palm produces oil of a high saturated MCFA content, and if such an oil profile could be replicated via biotechnology interventions. Although some gene discovery work has been performed there is still a significant gap in the knowledge associated with coconut's oil production pathways. In this study, a de novo transcriptome was assembled for developing coconut endosperm to identify genes involved in the synthesis of lipids, particularly triacylglycerol. Of particular interest were thioesterases, acyltransferases and oleosins because of their involvement in the processes of releasing fatty acids for assembly, esterification of fatty acids into glycerolipids and protecting oils from degradation, respectively. It is hypothesized that some of these genes may exhibit a strong substrate preference for MCFA and hence may assist the future development of vegetable oils with an enriched MCFA composition. In this study, we identified and confirmed functionality of five candidate genes from the gene families of interest. This study will benefit future work in areas of increasing vegetable oil production and the tailoring of oil fatty acid compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle B Reynolds
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Department of Primary Industries, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional Grains, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Darren P Cullerne
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna El Tahchy
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Vivien Rolland
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christopher L Blanchard
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional Grains, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Craig C Wood
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Surinder P Singh
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - James R Petrie
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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44
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Lunn D, Wallis JG, Browse J. Tri-Hydroxy-Triacylglycerol Is Efficiently Produced by Position-Specific Castor Acyltransferases. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 179:1050-1063. [PMID: 30610110 PMCID: PMC6393782 DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.01409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the biochemistry of triacylglycerol (TAG) assembly is critical in tailoring seed oils to produce high-value products. Hydroxy-fatty acid (HFA) is one such valuable modified fatty acid, which can be produced at low levels in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seed through transgenic expression of the castor (Ricinus communis) hydroxylase. The resulting plants have low seed oil content and poor seedling establishment, indicating that Arabidopsis lacks efficient metabolic networks for biosynthesis and catabolism of hydroxy-containing TAG. To improve utilization of such substrates, we expressed three castor acyltransferase enzymes that incorporate HFA at each stereochemical position during TAG synthesis. This produced abundant tri-HFA TAG and concentrated 44% of seed HFA moieties into this one TAG species. Ricinoleic acid was more abundant than any other fatty acid in these seeds, which had 3-fold more HFA by weight than that in seeds following simple hydroxylase expression, the highest yet measured in a nonnative plant. Efficient utilization of hydroxy-containing lipid substrates increased the rate of TAG synthesis 2-fold, leading to complete relief of the low-oil phenotype. Partition of HFA into specific TAG molecules increased the storage lipid available for mobilization during seedling development, resulting in a 1.9-fold increase in seedling establishment. Expression of a complete acyltransferase pathway to efficiently process HFA establishes a benchmark in the quest to successfully produce modified oils in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lunn
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340
| | - James G Wallis
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340
| | - John Browse
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340
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Vanhercke T, Dyer JM, Mullen RT, Kilaru A, Rahman MM, Petrie JR, Green AG, Yurchenko O, Singh SP. Metabolic engineering for enhanced oil in biomass. Prog Lipid Res 2019; 74:103-129. [PMID: 30822461 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The world is hungry for energy. Plant oils in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) are one of the most reduced storage forms of carbon found in nature and hence represent an excellent source of energy. The myriad of applications for plant oils range across foods, feeds, biofuels, and chemical feedstocks as a unique substitute for petroleum derivatives. Traditionally, plant oils are sourced either from oilseeds or tissues surrounding the seed (mesocarp). Most vegetative tissues, such as leaves and stems, however, accumulate relatively low levels of TAG. Since non-seed tissues constitute the majority of the plant biomass, metabolic engineering to improve their low-intrinsic TAG-biosynthetic capacity has recently attracted significant attention as a novel, sustainable and potentially high-yielding oil production platform. While initial attempts predominantly targeted single genes, recent combinatorial metabolic engineering strategies have focused on the simultaneous optimization of oil synthesis, packaging and degradation pathways (i.e., 'push, pull, package and protect'). This holistic approach has resulted in dramatic, seed-like TAG levels in vegetative tissues. With the first proof of concept hurdle addressed, new challenges and opportunities emerge, including engineering fatty acid profile, translation into agronomic crops, extraction, and downstream processing to deliver accessible and sustainable bioenergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vanhercke
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - John M Dyer
- USDA-ARS, US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, USA
| | - Robert T Mullen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Aruna Kilaru
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
| | - Md Mahbubur Rahman
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
| | - James R Petrie
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Folear, Goulburn, NSW, Australia
| | - Allan G Green
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Olga Yurchenko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Surinder P Singh
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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46
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Cui Y, Ma J, Liu G, Wang N, Pei W, Wu M, Li X, Zhang J, Yu J. Genome-Wide Identification, Sequence Variation, and Expression of the Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase (GPAT) Gene Family in Gossypium. Front Genet 2019; 10:116. [PMID: 30842789 PMCID: PMC6391866 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cotton is an economically important crop grown for natural fiber and seed oil production. Cottonseed oil ranks third after soybean oil and colza oil in terms of edible oilseed tonnage worldwide. Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) genes encode enzymes involved in triacylglycerol biosynthesis in plants. In the present study, 85 predicted GPAT genes were identified from the published genome data in Gossypium. Among them, 14, 16, 28, and 27 GPAT homologs were identified in G. raimondii, G. arboreum, G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that a total of 108 GPAT genes from cotton, Arabidopsis and cacao could be classified into three groups. Furthermore, through comparison, the gene structure analyses indicated that GPAT genes from the same group were highly conserved between Arabidopsis and cotton. Segmental duplication could be the major driver for GPAT gene family expansion in the four cotton species above. Expression patterns of GhGPAT genes were diverse in different tissues. Most GhGPAT genes were induced or suppressed after salt or cold stress in Upland cotton. Eight GhGPAT genes were co-localized with oil and protein quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions. Thirty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected from 12 GhGPAT genes, sixteen of which in nine GhGPAT genes were classified as synonymous, and sixteen SNPs in ten GhGPAT genes non-synonymous. Two SNP markers of the GhGPAT16 and GhGPAT26 genes were significantly correlated with cotton oil content in one of the three field tests. This study shed lights on the molecular evolutionary properties of GPAT genes in cotton, and provided reference for improvement of cotton response to abiotic stress and the genetic improvement of cotton oil content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yupeng Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Jianjiang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Guoyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Nuohan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Wenfeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Man Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Xingli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
| | - Jinfa Zhang
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Jiwen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Anyang, China
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47
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Gao J, Li Q, Wang N, Tao B, Wen J, Yi B, Ma C, Tu J, Fu T, Li Q, Zou J, Shen J. Tapetal Expression of BnaC.MAGL8.a Causes Male Sterility in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:763. [PMID: 31249581 PMCID: PMC6582705 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) hydrolyzes monoacylglycerol, producing free fatty acid and glycerol. Although this enzyme has been shown to play important roles in mammal, its potential function in plants remains poorly understood. In a survey of the MAGL genes in Brassica napus, we found tapetal expression of BnaC.MAGL8.a, a homolog of AtMAGL8, results in male sterility in Arabidopsis thaliana. Retarded tapetal PCD and defective pollen wall were observed in the transgenic plants. The tapetal cells became vacuolated at stage 9, and then degenerated at stage 11. Most microspores degenerated with the tapetal cells, and only few pollen grains with an irregular-shaped exine layer were produced in the transgenic plants. Transcriptome analysis identified 398 differentially expressed genes. Most of them are involved in pollen development and stress response. ABORTED MICROSPORES and its downstream pollen wall biosynthesis genes were down-regulated, but genes related with reactive oxygen species homeostasis and jasmonates signaling were up-regulated in the transgenic plants. These results suggest that expression of BnaC.MAGL8.a in tapetum invokes stress response and impairs pollen development. The apparent phenotypic similarity between atgpat1 mutant and BnA9::BnaC.MAGL8.a transgenic plants lead us to propose a role for monoacylglycerol (MAG) in pollen development in Arabidopsis. Our study provides insights on not only the biological function of plant MAGL genes but also the role of MAG in pollen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qun Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Baolong Tao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Yi
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaozhi Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinxing Tu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingdong Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jitao Zou
- National Research Council Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jitao Zou,
| | - Jinxiong Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Rapeseed, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Jinxiong Shen,
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48
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Maraschin FDS, Kulcheski FR, Segatto ALA, Trenz TS, Barrientos-Diaz O, Margis-Pinheiro M, Margis R, Turchetto-Zolet AC. Enzymes of glycerol-3-phosphate pathway in triacylglycerol synthesis in plants: Function, biotechnological application and evolution. Prog Lipid Res 2019; 73:46-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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49
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Barkla BJ, Garibay-Hernández A, Melzer M, Rupasinghe TWT, Roessner U. Single cell-type analysis of cellular lipid remodelling in response to salinity in the epidermal bladder cells of the model halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2018; 41:2390-2403. [PMID: 29813189 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Salt stress causes dramatic changes in the organization and dynamic properties of membranes, however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms involved. Modified trichomes, known as epidermal bladder cells (EBC), on the leaves and stems of the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum can be successfully exploited as a single-cell-type system to investigate salt-induced changes to cellular lipid composition. In this study, alterations in key molecular species from different lipid classes highlighted an increase in phospholipid species, particularly those from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid (PA), where the latter is central to the synthesis of membrane lipids. Triacylglycerol (TG) species decreased during salinity, while there was little change in plastidic galactolipids. EBC transcriptomic and proteomic data mining revealed changes in genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism and the upregulation of transcripts for PIPKIB, PI5PII, PIPKIII, and phospholipase D delta suggested the induction of signalling processes mediated by phosphoinositides and PA. TEM and flow cytometry showed the dynamic nature of lipid droplets in these cells under salt stress. Altogether, this work indicates that the metabolism of TG might play an important role in EBC response to salinity as either an energy reserve for sodium accumulation and/or driving membrane biosynthesis for EBC expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn J Barkla
- Southern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adriana Garibay-Hernández
- Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Seeland, Germany
| | - Michael Melzer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Seeland, Germany
| | - Thusitha W T Rupasinghe
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Metabolomics Australia, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ute Roessner
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Metabolomics Australia, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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50
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Zhao Y, Wang Y, Huang Y, Cui Y, Hua J. Gene network of oil accumulation reveals expression profiles in developing embryos and fatty acid composition in Upland cotton. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 228:101-112. [PMID: 29886195 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cottonseed oil accumulated dramatically from 20 days post-anthesis (DPA) to 30 DPA in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). To reveal the gene network of oil accumulation and fatty acid composition in developing embryos, embryos at 10, 20 and 30 DPA in cottonseed were sampled and used for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). In total, 8629, 7891, and 12,555 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the comparison sets of '20 DPA vs 10 DPA', '30 DPA vs 20 DPA', and '30 DPA vs 10 DPA', respectively. The gene network highlighted the dynamic expression profiles of oil accumulation in fatty acid (FA) synthesis, FA desaturation, and triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis. WRI1 and NF-YB6 were suggested elite transcription factors in regulating lipid metabolism. Compared with the gene expression levels in developing seeds, GhPDAT was highly expressed and might play a more important role than GhDGAT in transforming diacylglycerol to TAG in cotton. Expression patterns of 12 FA-biosynthesis-related genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method. To reveal the reason for the high content of linoleic acid (C18:2) in cottonseed oil, we carried out a comparative analysis of gene expression levels in Upland cotton, rapeseed (Brassica napus), and oleaster (Olea europaea). Compared with in rapeseed and oleaster, GhFAD2 genes were up-regulated and GhFAD3 genes down-regulated in cottonseed, taking into account the relative high amount of C18:2 but low content of linolenic acid (C18:3) in Upland cotton. The present study offers new information to interpret the mechanism of the FA biosynthesis network and to alter FA composition in cotton breeding projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpeng Zhao
- Laboratory of Cotton Genetics, Genomics and Breeding/Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/ Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Yumei Wang
- Research Institute of Cash Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, Hubei, China.
| | - Yi Huang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, Hubei, China.
| | - Yupeng Cui
- Laboratory of Cotton Genetics, Genomics and Breeding/Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/ Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Jinping Hua
- Laboratory of Cotton Genetics, Genomics and Breeding/Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/ Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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