51
|
Singer SD, Soolanayakanahally RY, Foroud NA, Kroebel R. Biotechnological strategies for improved photosynthesis in a future of elevated atmospheric CO 2. PLANTA 2019; 251:24. [PMID: 31784816 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03301-4] [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: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The improvement of photosynthesis using biotechnological approaches has been the focus of much research. It is now vital that these strategies be assessed under future atmospheric conditions. The demand for crop products is expanding at an alarming rate due to population growth, enhanced affluence, increased per capita calorie consumption, and an escalating need for plant-based bioproducts. While solving this issue will undoubtedly involve a multifaceted approach, improving crop productivity will almost certainly provide one piece of the puzzle. The improvement of photosynthetic efficiency has been a long-standing goal of plant biotechnologists as possibly one of the last remaining means of achieving higher yielding crops. However, the vast majority of these studies have not taken into consideration possible outcomes when these plants are grown long-term under the elevated CO2 concentrations (e[CO2]) that will be evident in the not too distant future. Due to the considerable effect that CO2 levels have on the photosynthetic process, these assessments should become commonplace as a means of ensuring that research in this field focuses on the most effective approaches for our future climate scenarios. In this review, we discuss the main biotechnological research strategies that are currently underway with the aim of improving photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production/yields in the context of a future of e[CO2], as well as alternative approaches that may provide further photosynthetic benefits under these conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stacy D Singer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada.
| | - Raju Y Soolanayakanahally
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Nora A Foroud
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Roland Kroebel
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Bailey-Serres J, Parker JE, Ainsworth EA, Oldroyd GED, Schroeder JI. Genetic strategies for improving crop yields. Nature 2019; 575:109-118. [PMID: 31695205 PMCID: PMC7024682 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1679-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 495] [Impact Index Per Article: 99.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The current trajectory for crop yields is insufficient to nourish the world's population by 20501. Greater and more consistent crop production must be achieved against a backdrop of climatic stress that limits yields, owing to shifts in pests and pathogens, precipitation, heat-waves and other weather extremes. Here we consider the potential of plant sciences to address post-Green Revolution challenges in agriculture and explore emerging strategies for enhancing sustainable crop production and resilience in a changing climate. Accelerated crop improvement must leverage naturally evolved traits and transformative engineering driven by mechanistic understanding, to yield the resilient production systems that are needed to ensure future harvests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bailey-Serres
- Center for Plant Cell Biology and Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jane E Parker
- Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Cologne, Germany
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Julian I Schroeder
- Cell and Developmental Biology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Food and Fuel for the 21st Century, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Borghi GL, Moraes TA, Günther M, Feil R, Mengin V, Lunn JE, Stitt M, Arrivault S. Relationship between irradiance and levels of Calvin-Benson cycle and other intermediates in the model eudicot Arabidopsis and the model monocot rice. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:5809-5825. [PMID: 31353406 PMCID: PMC6812724 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Metabolite profiles provide a top-down overview of the balance between the reactions in a pathway. We compared Calvin-Benson cycle (CBC) intermediate profiles in different conditions in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) to learn which features of CBC regulation differ and which are shared between these model eudicot and monocot C3 species. Principal component analysis revealed that CBC intermediate profiles follow different trajectories in Arabidopsis and rice as irradiance increases. The balance between subprocesses or reactions differed, with 3-phosphoglycerate reduction being favoured in Arabidopsis and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate regeneration in rice, and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase being favoured in Arabidopsis compared with fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in rice. Photosynthesis rates rose in parallel with ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate levels in Arabidopsis, but not in rice. Nevertheless, some responses were shared between Arabidopsis and rice. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate were high or peaked at very low irradiance in both species. Incomplete activation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase may prevent wasteful futile cycles in low irradiance. End-product synthesis is inhibited and high levels of CBC intermediates are maintained in low light or in low CO2 in both species. This may improve photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating irradiance, and facilitate rapid CBC flux to support photorespiration and energy dissipation in low CO2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gian Luca Borghi
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | | | - Manuela Günther
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Regina Feil
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Virginie Mengin
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - John E Lunn
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Mark Stitt
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Stéphanie Arrivault
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Wang L, Ma G, Wang H, Cheng C, Mu S, Quan W, Jiang L, Zhao Z, Zhang Y, Zhang K, Wang X, Tian C, Zhang Y. A draft genome assembly of halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica, a plant that performs C4 photosynthesis within individual cells. Gigascience 2019; 8:giz116. [PMID: 31513708 PMCID: PMC6741815 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica performs complete C4 photosynthesis within individual cells (SCC4), which is distinct from typical C4 plants, which require the collaboration of 2 types of photosynthetic cells. However, despite SCC4 plants having features that are valuable in engineering higher photosynthetic efficiencies in agriculturally important C3 species such as rice, there are no reported sequenced SCC4 plant genomes, limiting our understanding of the mechanisms involved in, and evolution of, SCC4 photosynthesis. FINDINGS Using Illumina and Pacific Biosciences sequencing platforms, we generated ∼202 Gb of clean genomic DNA sequences having a 433-fold coverage based on the 467 Mb estimated genome size of S. aralocaspica. The final genome assembly was 452 Mb, consisting of 4,033 scaffolds, with a scaffold N50 length of 1.83 Mb. We annotated 29,604 protein-coding genes using Evidence Modeler based on the gene information from ab initio predictions, homology levels with known genes, and RNA sequencing-based transcriptome evidence. We also annotated noncoding genes, including 1,651 long noncoding RNAs, 21 microRNAs, 382 transfer RNAs, 88 small nuclear RNAs, and 325 ribosomal RNAs. A complete (circular with no gaps) chloroplast genome of S. aralocaspica 146,654 bp in length was also assembled. CONCLUSIONS We have presented the genome sequence of the SCC4 plant S. aralocaspica. Knowledge of the genome of S. aralocaspica should increase our understanding of the evolution of SCC4 photosynthesis and contribute to the engineering of C4 photosynthesis into economically important C3 crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ganglong Ma
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., 388 Gaoxin 2nd Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430075, China
| | - Hongling Wang
- Central Lab, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Chao Cheng
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., 388 Gaoxin 2nd Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430075, China
| | - Shuyong Mu
- Central Lab, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Weili Quan
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., 388 Gaoxin 2nd Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430075, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Zhenyong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., 388 Gaoxin 2nd Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430075, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Xuelian Wang
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., 388 Gaoxin 2nd Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430075, China
| | - Changyan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Center for Genome Analysis, ABLife Inc., 388 Gaoxin 2nd Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430075, China
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Habermann E, Dias de Oliveira EA, Contin DR, San Martin JAB, Curtarelli L, Gonzalez-Meler MA, Martinez CA. Stomatal Development and Conductance of a Tropical Forage Legume Are Regulated by Elevated [CO 2] Under Moderate Warming. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:609. [PMID: 31214207 PMCID: PMC6554438 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The opening and closing of stomata are controlled by the integration of environmental and endogenous signals. Here, we show the effects of combining elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (eCO 2; 600 μmol mol-1) and warming (+2°C) on stomatal properties and their consequence to plant function in a Stylosanthes capitata Vogel (C3) tropical pasture. The eCO 2 treatment alone reduced stomatal density, stomatal index, and stomatal conductance (gs ), resulting in reduced transpiration, increased leaf temperature, and leading to maintenance of soil moisture during the growing season. Increased CO2 concentration inside leaves stimulated photosynthesis, starch content levels, water use efficiency, and PSII photochemistry. Under warming, plants developed leaves with smaller stomata on both leaf surfaces; however, we did not see effects of warming on stomatal conductance, transpiration, or leaf water status. Warming alone enhanced PSII photochemistry and photosynthesis, and likely starch exports from chloroplasts. Under the combination of warming and eCO 2, leaf temperature was higher than that of leaves from the warming or eCO 2 treatments. Thus, warming counterbalanced the effects of CO2 on transpiration and soil water content but not on stomatal functioning, which was independent of temperature treatment. Under warming, and in combination with eCO 2, leaves also produced more carotenoids and a more efficient heat and fluorescence dissipation. Our combined results suggest that control on stomatal opening under eCO 2 was not changed by a warmer environment; however, their combination significantly improved whole-plant functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Habermann
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A. Dias de Oliveira
- Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Daniele Ribeiro Contin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Juca A. B. San Martin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lucas Curtarelli
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Miquel A. Gonzalez-Meler
- Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Carlos Alberto Martinez
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
56
|
Giuliani R, Karki S, Covshoff S, Lin HC, Coe RA, Koteyeva NK, Quick WP, Von Caemmerer S, Furbank RT, Hibberd JM, Edwards GE, Cousins AB. Knockdown of glycine decarboxylase complex alters photorespiratory carbon isotope fractionation in Oryza sativa leaves. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:2773-2786. [PMID: 30840760 PMCID: PMC6506765 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz083] [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: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The influence of reduced glycine decarboxylase complex (GDC) activity on leaf atmosphere CO2 and 13CO2 exchange was tested in transgenic Oryza sativa with the GDC H-subunit knocked down in leaf mesophyll cells. Leaf measurements on transgenic gdch knockdown and wild-type plants were carried out in the light under photorespiratory and low photorespiratory conditions (i.e. 18.4 kPa and 1.84 kPa atmospheric O2 partial pressure, respectively), and in the dark. Under approximately current ambient O2 partial pressure (18.4 kPa pO2), the gdch knockdown plants showed an expected photorespiratory-deficient phenotype, with lower leaf net CO2 assimilation rates (A) than the wild-type. Additionally, under these conditions, the gdch knockdown plants had greater leaf net discrimination against 13CO2 (Δo) than the wild-type. This difference in Δo was in part due to lower 13C photorespiratory fractionation (f) ascribed to alternative decarboxylation of photorespiratory intermediates. Furthermore, the leaf dark respiration rate (Rd) was enhanced and the 13CO2 composition of respired CO2 (δ13CRd) showed a tendency to be more depleted in the gdch knockdown plants. These changes in Rd and δ13CRd were due to the amount and carbon isotopic composition of substrates available for dark respiration. These results demonstrate that impairment of the photorespiratory pathway affects leaf 13CO2 exchange, particularly the 13C decarboxylation fractionation associated with photorespiration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rita Giuliani
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Shanta Karki
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Sarah Covshoff
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hsiang-Chun Lin
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Robert A Coe
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Nuria K Koteyeva
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - W Paul Quick
- C4 Rice Center, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Susanne Von Caemmerer
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Robert T Furbank
- Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gerald E Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Nowicka B. Target genes for plant productivity improvement. J Biotechnol 2019; 298:21-34. [PMID: 30978366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the development of high-yielding varieties enabled substantial increase in crop productivity during the 20th century. However, the increase in yield over the last two decades has been slower. It is thought that further improvement in productivity of the major crop species using traditional cultivation methods is limited. Therefore, the use of genetic engineering seems to be a promising approach. There is ongoing research concerning genes that have an impact on plant growth, development and yield. The proteins and miRNAs encoded by these genes participate in a variety of processes, such as growth regulation, assimilate transport and partitioning as well as macronutrient uptake and metabolism. This paper presents the major directions in research concerning genes that may be targets of genetic engineering aimed to improve plant productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrycze Nowicka
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Arrivault S, Alexandre Moraes T, Obata T, Medeiros DB, Fernie AR, Boulouis A, Ludwig M, Lunn JE, Borghi GL, Schlereth A, Guenther M, Stitt M. Metabolite profiles reveal interspecific variation in operation of the Calvin-Benson cycle in both C4 and C3 plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:1843-1858. [PMID: 30773587 PMCID: PMC6436152 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Low atmospheric CO2 in recent geological time led to the evolution of carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) such as C4 photosynthesis in >65 terrestrial plant lineages. We know little about the impact of low CO2 on the Calvin-Benson cycle (CBC) in C3 species that did not evolve CCMs, representing >90% of terrestrial plant species. Metabolite profiling provides a top-down strategy to investigate the operational balance in a pathway. We profiled CBC intermediates in a panel of C4 (Zea mays, Setaria viridis, Flaveria bidentis, and F. trinervia) and C3 species (Oryza sativa, Triticium aestivum, Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, and Manihot esculenta). Principal component analysis revealed differences between C4 and C3 species that were driven by many metabolites, including lower ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate in C4 species. Strikingly, there was also considerable variation between C3 species. This was partly due to different chlorophyll and protein contents, but mainly to differences in relative levels of metabolites. Correlation analysis indicated that one contributory factor was the balance between fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase, phosphoribulokinase, and Rubisco. Our results point to the CBC having experienced different evolutionary trajectories in C3 species since the ancestors of modern plant lineages diverged. They underline the need to understand CBC operation in a wide range of species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Arrivault
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | | | - Toshihiro Obata
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1901 Vine Str, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - David B Medeiros
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alix Boulouis
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Present address: Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, CNRS - Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Martha Ludwig
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia
| | - John E Lunn
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Gian Luca Borghi
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Armin Schlereth
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Manuela Guenther
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Mark Stitt
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Nölke G, Barsoum M, Houdelet M, Arcalís E, Kreuzaler F, Fischer R, Schillberg S. The Integration of Algal Carbon Concentration Mechanism Components into Tobacco Chloroplasts Increases Photosynthetic Efficiency and Biomass. Biotechnol J 2019; 14:e1800170. [PMID: 29888874 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Increasing the productivity of crops is a major challenge in agricultural research. Given that photosynthetic carbon assimilation is necessary for plant growth, enhancing the efficiency of photosynthesis is one strategy to boost agricultural productivity. The authors attempted to increase the photosynthetic efficiency and biomass of tobacco plants by expressing individual components of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii carbon concentration mechanism (CCM) and integrating them into the chloroplast. Independent transgenic varieties are generated accumulating the carbonic anhydrase CAH3 in the thylakoid lumen or the bicarbonate transporter LCIA in the inner chloroplast membrane. Independent homozygous transgenic lines showed enhanced CO2 uptake rates (up to 15%), increased photosystem II efficiency (by up to 18%), and chlorophyll content (up to 19%). Transgenic lines produced more shoot biomass than wild-type and azygous controls, and accumulated more carbohydrate and amino acids, reflecting the higher rate of photosynthetic CO2 fixation. These data demonstrate that individual algal CCM components can be integrated into C3 plants to increase biomass, suggesting that transgenic lines combining multiple CCM components could further increase the productivity and yield of C3 crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Nölke
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mirna Barsoum
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcel Houdelet
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Elsa Arcalís
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Fritz Kreuzaler
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Rainer Fischer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Schillberg
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Institute for Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Phytopathology Department, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Shen BR, Wang LM, Lin XL, Yao Z, Xu HW, Zhu CH, Teng HY, Cui LL, Liu EE, Zhang JJ, He ZH, Peng XX. Engineering a New Chloroplastic Photorespiratory Bypass to Increase Photosynthetic Efficiency and Productivity in Rice. MOLECULAR PLANT 2019; 12:199-214. [PMID: 30639120 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few years, three photorespiratory bypasses have been introduced into plants, two of which led to observable increases in photosynthesis and biomass yield. However, most of the experiments were carried out using Arabidopsis under controlled environmental conditions, and the increases were only observed under low-light and short-day conditions. In this study, we designed a new photorespiratory bypass (called GOC bypass), characterized by no reducing equivalents being produced during a complete oxidation of glycolate into CO2 catalyzed by three rice-self-originating enzymes, i.e., glycolate oxidase, oxalate oxidase, and catalase. We successfully established this bypass in rice chloroplasts using a multi-gene assembly and transformation system. Transgenic rice plants carrying GOC bypass (GOC plants) showed significant increases in photosynthesis efficiency, biomass yield, and nitrogen content, as well as several other CO2-enriched phenotypes under both greenhouse and field conditions. Grain yield of GOC plants varied depending on seeding season and was increased significantly in the spring. We further demonstrated that GOC plants had significant advantages under high-light conditions and that the improvements in GOC plants resulted primarily from a photosynthetic CO2-concentrating effect rather than from improved energy balance. Taken together, our results reveal that engineering a newly designed chloroplastic photorespiratory bypass could increase photosynthetic efficiency and yield of rice plants grown in field conditions, particularly under high light.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Ran Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Li-Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiu-Ling Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhen Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hua-Wei Xu
- College of Agricultural, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Cheng-Hua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hai-Yan Teng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Li-Li Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - E-E Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jian-Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zheng-Hui He
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xin-Xiang Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Li J, Tietz S, Cruz JA, Strand DD, Xu Y, Chen J, Kramer DM, Hu J. Photometric screens identified Arabidopsis peroxisome proteins that impact photosynthesis under dynamic light conditions. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 97:460-474. [PMID: 30350901 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Plant peroxisomes function collaboratively with other subcellular organelles, such as chloroplasts and mitochondria, in several metabolic processes. To comprehensively investigate the impact of peroxisomal function on photosynthesis, especially under conditions that are more relevant to natural environments, a systematic screen of over 150 Arabidopsis mutants of genes encoding peroxisomal proteins was conducted using the automated Dynamic Environment Photosynthesis Imager (DEPI). Dynamic and high-light (HL) conditions triggered significant photosynthetic defects in a subset of the mutants, including those of photorespiration (PR) and other peroxisomal processes, some of which may also be related to PR. Further analysis of the PR mutants revealed activation of cyclic electron flow (CEF) around photosystem I and higher accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) under HL conditions. We hypothesize that impaired PR disturbs the balance of ATP and NADPH, leading to the accumulation of H2 O2 that activates CEF to produce ATP to compensate for the imbalance of reducing equivalents. The identification of peroxisomal mutants involved in PR and other peroxisomal functions in the photometric screen will enable further investigation of regulatory links between photosynthesis and PR and interorganellar interaction at the mechanistic level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiying Li
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Stefanie Tietz
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Cruz
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Deserah D Strand
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Ye Xu
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - David M Kramer
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Jianping Hu
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Levey M, Timm S, Mettler-Altmann T, Luca Borghi G, Koczor M, Arrivault S, PM Weber A, Bauwe H, Gowik U, Westhoff P. Efficient 2-phosphoglycolate degradation is required to maintain carbon assimilation and allocation in the C4 plant Flaveria bidentis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:575-587. [PMID: 30357386 PMCID: PMC6322630 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Photorespiration is indispensable for oxygenic photosynthesis since it detoxifies and recycles 2-phosphoglycolate (2PG), which is the primary oxygenation product of Rubisco. However, C4 plant species typically display very low rates of photorespiration due to their efficient biochemical carbon-concentrating mechanism. Thus, the broader relevance of photorespiration in these organisms remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the importance of a functional photorespiratory pathway in the C4 plant Flaveria bidentis using knockdown of the first enzymatic step, namely 2PG phosphatase (PGLP). The isolated RNAi lines showed strongly reduced amounts of PGLP protein, but distinct signs of the photorespiratory phenotype only emerged below 5% residual PGLP protein. Lines with this characteristic were stunted in growth, had strongly increased 2PG content, exhibited accelerated leaf senescence, and accumulated high amounts of branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, which are both characteristics of incipient carbon starvation. Oxygen-dependent gas-exchange measurements consistently suggested the cumulative impairment of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration with increased photorespiratory pressure. Our results indicate that photorespiration is essential for maintaining high rates of C4 photosynthesis by preventing the 2PG-mediated inhibition of carbon utilization efficiency. However, considerably higher 2PG accumulation can be tolerated compared to equivalent lines of C3 plants due to the differential distribution of specific enzymatic steps between the mesophyll and bundle sheath cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myles Levey
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Timm
- University of Rostock, Plant Physiology Department, Albert-Einstein-Straße, Rostock, Germany
| | - Tabea Mettler-Altmann
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gian Luca Borghi
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg, Golm, Germany
| | - Maria Koczor
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stéphanie Arrivault
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg, Golm, Germany
| | - Andreas PM Weber
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hermann Bauwe
- University of Rostock, Plant Physiology Department, Albert-Einstein-Straße, Rostock, Germany
| | - Udo Gowik
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Westhoff
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
South PF, Cavanagh AP, Liu HW, Ort DR. Synthetic glycolate metabolism pathways stimulate crop growth and productivity in the field. Science 2019; 363:eaat9077. [PMID: 30606819 PMCID: PMC7745124 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat9077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 324] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Photorespiration is required in C3 plants to metabolize toxic glycolate formed when ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase oxygenates rather than carboxylates ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate. Depending on growing temperatures, photorespiration can reduce yields by 20 to 50% in C3 crops. Inspired by earlier work, we installed into tobacco chloroplasts synthetic glycolate metabolic pathways that are thought to be more efficient than the native pathway. Flux through the synthetic pathways was maximized by inhibiting glycolate export from the chloroplast. The synthetic pathways tested improved photosynthetic quantum yield by 20%. Numerous homozygous transgenic lines increased biomass productivity by >40% in replicated field trials. These results show that engineering alternative glycolate metabolic pathways into crop chloroplasts while inhibiting glycolate export into the native pathway can drive increases in C3 crop yield under agricultural field conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul F South
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Amanda P Cavanagh
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Helen W Liu
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Donald R Ort
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Nowicka B, Ciura J, Szymańska R, Kruk J. Improving photosynthesis, plant productivity and abiotic stress tolerance - current trends and future perspectives. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 231:415-433. [PMID: 30412849 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
With unfavourable climate changes and an increasing global population, there is a great need for more productive and stress-tolerant crops. As traditional methods of crop improvement have probably reached their limits, a further increase in the productivity of crops is expected to be possible using genetic engineering. The number of potential genes and metabolic pathways, which when genetically modified could result in improved photosynthesis and biomass production, is multiple. Photosynthesis, as the only source of carbon required for the growth and development of plants, attracts much attention is this respect, especially the question concerning how to improve CO2 fixation and limit photorespiration. The most promising direction for increasing CO2 assimilation is implementating carbon concentrating mechanisms found in cyanobacteria and algae into crop plants, while hitherto performed experiments on improving the CO2 fixation versus oxygenation reaction catalyzed by Rubisco are less encouraging. On the other hand, introducing the C4 pathway into C3 plants is a very difficult challenge. Among other points of interest for increased biomass production is engineering of metabolic regulation, certain proteins, nucleic acids or phytohormones. In this respect, enhanced sucrose synthesis, assimilate translocation to sink organs and starch synthesis is crucial, as is genetic engineering of the phytohormone metabolism. As abiotic stress tolerance is one of the key factors determining crop productivity, extensive studies are being undertaken to develop transgenic plants characterized by elevated stress resistance. This can be accomplished due to elevated synthesis of antioxidants, osmoprotectants and protective proteins. Among other promising targets for the genetic engineering of plants with elevated stress resistance are transcription factors that play a key role in abiotic stress responses of plants. In this review, most of the approaches to improving the productivity of plants that are potentially promising and have already been undertaken are described. In addition to this, the limitations faced, potential challenges and possibilities regarding future research are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrycze Nowicka
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Joanna Ciura
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Renata Szymańska
- Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Reymonta 19, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Jerzy Kruk
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
South PF, Cavanagh AP, Lopez-Calcagno PE, Raines CA, Ort DR. Optimizing photorespiration for improved crop productivity. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 60:1217-1230. [PMID: 30126060 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In C3 plants, photorespiration is an energy-expensive process, including the oxygenation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) by ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and the ensuing multi-organellar photorespiratory pathway required to recycle the toxic byproducts and recapture a portion of the fixed carbon. Photorespiration significantly impacts crop productivity through reducing yields in C3 crops by as much as 50% under severe conditions. Thus, reducing the flux through, or improving the efficiency of photorespiration has the potential of large improvements in C3 crop productivity. Here, we review an array of approaches intended to engineer photorespiration in a range of plant systems with the goal of increasing crop productivity. Approaches include optimizing flux through the native photorespiratory pathway, installing non-native alternative photorespiratory pathways, and lowering or even eliminating Rubisco-catalyzed oxygenation of RuBP to reduce substrate entrance into the photorespiratory cycle. Some proposed designs have been successful at the proof of concept level. A plant systems-engineering approach, based on new opportunities available from synthetic biology to implement in silico designs, holds promise for further progress toward delivering more productive crops to farmer's fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul F South
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Amanda P Cavanagh
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | | | - Christine A Raines
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Donald R Ort
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Tang Y, Li X, Lu W, Wei X, Zhang Q, Lv C, Song N. Enhanced photorespiration in transgenic rice over-expressing maize C 4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene contributes to alleviating low nitrogen stress. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2018; 130:577-588. [PMID: 30114676 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to reveal the physiological and molecular mechanisms of low-nitrogen (N) tolerance in transgenic plant lines containing C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (C4-PEPC) gene. The transgenic rice lines only over-expressing the maize C4-PEPC) (PC) and their untransformed wild type, Kitaake (WT), were used in this study. At different N levels, the dry weight, total N content, carbon and N levels, photorespiration-related enzymatic activities, gene expression levels and photorespiration-related product accumulations were measured, as were the transgenic lines' agronomic traits. The PC line, having lower total N and higher soluble sugar contents, was more tolerant to low-N stress than WT, which was consistent with its higher PEPC and lower N-assimilation-related enzyme activity levels. The photosynthetic parameters, enzymatic activity levels, transcripts and products related to photorespiration in PC were also greater than in WT under low-N conditions. This study showed that increased carbon levels in transgenic rice lines overexpressing C4-PEPC could help regulate the photorespiratory pathway under low-N conditions, conferring low-N tolerance and a higher grain yield per plant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Tang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Rice Engineering Research Center, National Center for Rice Improvement (Nanjing), Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Xia Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Rice Engineering Research Center, National Center for Rice Improvement (Nanjing), Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China; College of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
| | - Wei Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaodong Wei
- Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Rice Engineering Research Center, National Center for Rice Improvement (Nanjing), Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Qijun Zhang
- Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Rice Engineering Research Center, National Center for Rice Improvement (Nanjing), Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Chuangen Lv
- Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Rice Engineering Research Center, National Center for Rice Improvement (Nanjing), Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Ningxi Song
- Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Rice Engineering Research Center, National Center for Rice Improvement (Nanjing), Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China; College of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Bar-Even A. Daring metabolic designs for enhanced plant carbon fixation. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 273:71-83. [PMID: 29907311 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing agricultural productivity is one of the major challenges our society faces. While multiple strategies to enhance plant carbon fixation have been suggested, and partially implemented, most of them are restricted to relatively simple modifications of endogenous metabolism, i.e., "low hanging fruit". Here, I portray the next generation of metabolic solutions to increase carbon fixation rate and yield. These strategies involve major rewiring of central metabolism, including dividing Rubisco's catalysis between several enzymes, replacing Rubisco with a different carboxylation reaction, substituting the Calvin Cycle with alternative carbon fixation pathways, and engineering photorespiration bypass routes that do not release carbon. While the barriers for implementing these elaborated metabolic architectures are quite significant, if we truly want to revolutionize carbon fixation, only daring engineering efforts will lead the way.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arren Bar-Even
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Bloom AJ, Lancaster KM. Manganese binding to Rubisco could drive a photorespiratory pathway that increases the energy efficiency of photosynthesis. NATURE PLANTS 2018; 4:414-422. [PMID: 29967515 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-018-0191-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Most plants, contrary to popular belief, do not waste over 30% of their photosynthate in a futile cycle called photorespiration. Rather, the photorespiratory pathway generates additional malate in the chloroplast that empowers many energy-intensive chemical reactions, such as those involved in nitrate assimilation. Thus, the balance between carbon fixation and photorespiration determines the plant carbon-nitrogen balance and protein concentrations. Plant protein concentrations, in turn, depend not only on the relative concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the chloroplast but also on the relative activities of magnesium and manganese, which are metals that associate with several key enzymes in the photorespiratory pathway and alter their function. Understanding the regulation of these processes is critical for sustaining food quality under rising CO2 atmospheres.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnold J Bloom
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Kyle M Lancaster
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
Sonnewald U, Fernie AR. Next-generation strategies for understanding and influencing source-sink relations in crop plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 43:63-70. [PMID: 29428477 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2018.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Whether plants are source or sink limited, that is, whether carbon assimilation or rather assimilate usage is ultimately responsible for crop yield, has been the subject of intense debate over several decades. Here we provide a short review of this debate before focusing on the use of transgenic intervention as a means to influence yield by modifying either source or sink function (or both). Given the relatively low success rates of strategies targeting single genes we highlight the success of multi-target transformations. The emergence of whole plant models and the potential impact that these will have in aiding yield improvement strategies are then discussed. We end by providing our perspective for next generation strategies for improving crop plants by means of manipulating their source-sink relations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Sonnewald
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Mackinder LCM. The Chlamydomonas CO 2 -concentrating mechanism and its potential for engineering photosynthesis in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 217:54-61. [PMID: 28833179 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Contents Summary I. Introduction 54 II. Recent advances in our understanding of the Chlamydomonas CCM 55 III. Current gaps in our understanding of the Chlamydomonas CCM 58 IV. Approaches to rapidly advance our understanding of the Chlamydomonas CCM 58 V. Engineering a CCM into higher plants 58 VI. Conclusion and outlook 59 Acknowledgements 60 References 60 SUMMARY: To meet the food demands of a rising global population, innovative strategies are required to increase crop yields. Improvements in plant photosynthesis by genetic engineering show considerable potential towards this goal. One prospective approach is to introduce a CO2 -concentrating mechanism into crop plants to increase carbon fixation by supplying the central carbon-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, with a higher concentration of its substrate, CO2 . A promising donor organism for the molecular machinery of this mechanism is the eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of carbon concentration in Chlamydomonas, outlines the most pressing gaps in our knowledge and discusses strategies to transfer a CO2 -concentrating mechanism into higher plants to increase photosynthetic performance.
Collapse
|
71
|
Bloom AJ, Kameritsch P. Relative association of Rubisco with manganese and magnesium as a regulatory mechanism in plants. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2017; 161:545-559. [PMID: 28786122 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Rubisco, the enzyme that constitutes as much as half of the protein in a leaf, initiates either the photorespiratory pathway that supplies reductant for the assimilation of nitrate into amino acids or the C3 carbon fixation pathway that generates carbohydrates. The relative rates of these two pathways depend both on the relative extent to which O2 and CO2 occupies the active site of Rubisco and on whether manganese or magnesium is bound to the enzyme. This study quantified the activities of manganese and magnesium in isolated tobacco chloroplasts and the thermodynamics of binding of these metals to Rubisco purified from tobacco or a bacterium. In tobacco chloroplasts, manganese was less active than magnesium, but Rubisco purified from tobacco had a higher affinity for manganese. The activity of each metal in the chloroplast was similar in magnitude to the affinity of tobacco Rubisco for each. This indicates that, in tobacco chloroplasts, Rubisco associates almost equally with both metals and rapidly exchanges one metal for the other. Binding of magnesium was similar in Rubisco from tobacco and a bacterium, whereas binding of manganese differed greatly between the Rubisco from these species. Moreover, the ratio of leaf manganese to magnesium in C3 plants increased as atmospheric CO2 increased. These results suggest that Rubisco has evolved to improve the energy transfers between photorespiration and nitrate assimilation and that plants regulate manganese and magnesium activities in the chloroplast to mitigate detrimental changes in their nitrogen/carbon balance as atmospheric CO2 varies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnold J Bloom
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Petra Kameritsch
- Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine and BMC, LMU Munich, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Chatterjee A, Huma B, Shaw R, Kundu S. Reconstruction of Oryza sativa indica Genome Scale Metabolic Model and Its Responses to Varying RuBisCO Activity, Light Intensity, and Enzymatic Cost Conditions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2060. [PMID: 29250098 PMCID: PMC5715477 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
To combat decrease in rice productivity under different stresses, an understanding of rice metabolism is needed. Though there are different genome scale metabolic models (GSMs) of Oryza sativa japonica, no GSM with gene-protein-reaction association exist for Oryza sativa indica. Here, we report a GSM, OSI1136 of O.s. indica, which includes 3602 genes and 1136 metabolic reactions and transporters distributed across the cytosol, mitochondrion, peroxisome, and chloroplast compartments. Flux balance analysis of the model showed that for varying RuBisCO activity (Vc/Vo) (i) the activity of the chloroplastic malate valve increases to transport reducing equivalents out of the chloroplast under increased photorespiratory conditions and (ii) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate kinase can act as source of cytosolic ATP under decreased photorespiration. Under increasing light conditions we observed metabolic flexibility, involving photorespiration, chloroplastic triose phosphate and the dicarboxylate transporters of the chloroplast and mitochondrion for redox and ATP exchanges across the intracellular compartments. Simulations under different enzymatic cost conditions revealed (i) participation of peroxisomal glutathione-ascorbate cycle in photorespiratory H2O2 metabolism (ii) different modes of the chloroplastic triose phosphate transporters and malate valve, and (iii) two possible modes of chloroplastic Glu-Gln transporter which were related with the activity of chloroplastic and cytosolic isoforms of glutamine synthetase. Altogether, our results provide new insights into plant metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sudip Kundu
- Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| |
Collapse
|
73
|
Orr DJ, Pereira AM, da Fonseca Pereira P, Pereira-Lima ÍA, Zsögön A, Araújo WL. Engineering photosynthesis: progress and perspectives. F1000Res 2017; 6:1891. [PMID: 29263782 PMCID: PMC5658708 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.12181.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosynthesis is the basis of primary productivity on the planet. Crop breeding has sustained steady improvements in yield to keep pace with population growth increases. Yet these advances have not resulted from improving the photosynthetic process
per se but rather of altering the way carbon is partitioned within the plant. Mounting evidence suggests that the rate at which crop yields can be boosted by traditional plant breeding approaches is wavering, and they may reach a “yield ceiling” in the foreseeable future. Further increases in yield will likely depend on the targeted manipulation of plant metabolism. Improving photosynthesis poses one such route, with simulations indicating it could have a significant transformative influence on enhancing crop productivity. Here, we summarize recent advances of alternative approaches for the manipulation and enhancement of photosynthesis and their possible application for crop improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J Orr
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Auderlan M Pereira
- Max-Planck Partner Group at the Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula da Fonseca Pereira
- Max-Planck Partner Group at the Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ítalo A Pereira-Lima
- Max-Planck Partner Group at the Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Agustin Zsögön
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Wagner L Araújo
- Max-Planck Partner Group at the Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Ogbaga CC, Stepien P, Athar HUR, Ashraf M. Engineering Rubisco activase from thermophilic cyanobacteria into high-temperature sensitive plants. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2017; 38:559-572. [DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2017.1378998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuma C. Ogbaga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Piotr Stepien
- Department of Plant Nutrition, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Habib-Ur-Rehman Athar
- Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | | |
Collapse
|
75
|
Simkin AJ, Lopez‐Calcagno PE, Davey PA, Headland LR, Lawson T, Timm S, Bauwe H, Raines CA. Simultaneous stimulation of sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase, fructose 1,6-bisphophate aldolase and the photorespiratory glycine decarboxylase-H protein increases CO 2 assimilation, vegetative biomass and seed yield in Arabidopsis. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2017; 15:805-816. [PMID: 27936496 PMCID: PMC5466442 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we have altered the levels of three different enzymes involved in the Calvin-Benson cycle and photorespiratory pathway. We have generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants with altered combinations of sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase), fructose 1,6-bisphophate aldolase (FBPA) and the glycine decarboxylase-H protein (GDC-H) gene identified as targets to improve photosynthesis based on previous studies. Here, we show that increasing the levels of the three corresponding proteins, either independently or in combination, significantly increases the quantum efficiency of PSII. Furthermore, photosynthetic measurements demonstrated an increase in the maximum efficiency of CO2 fixation in lines over-expressing SBPase and FBPA. Moreover, the co-expression of GDC-H with SBPase and FBPA resulted in a cumulative positive impact on leaf area and biomass. Finally, further analysis of transgenic lines revealed a cumulative increase of seed yield in SFH lines grown in high light. These results demonstrate the potential of multigene stacking for improving the productivity of food and energy crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Philip A. Davey
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterUK
| | | | - Tracy Lawson
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterUK
| | - Stefan Timm
- Plant Physiology DepartmentUniversity of RostockRostockGermany
| | - Hermann Bauwe
- Plant Physiology DepartmentUniversity of RostockRostockGermany
| | | |
Collapse
|
76
|
Rae BD, Long BM, Förster B, Nguyen ND, Velanis CN, Atkinson N, Hee WY, Mukherjee B, Price GD, McCormick AJ. Progress and challenges of engineering a biophysical CO2-concentrating mechanism into higher plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:3717-3737. [PMID: 28444330 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Growth and productivity in important crop plants is limited by the inefficiencies of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. Introducing CO2-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) into C3 plants could overcome these limitations and lead to increased yields. Many unicellular microautotrophs, such as cyanobacteria and green algae, possess highly efficient biophysical CCMs that increase CO2 concentrations around the primary carboxylase enzyme, Rubisco, to enhance CO2 assimilation rates. Algal and cyanobacterial CCMs utilize distinct molecular components, but share several functional commonalities. Here we outline the recent progress and current challenges of engineering biophysical CCMs into C3 plants. We review the predicted requirements for a functional biophysical CCM based on current knowledge of cyanobacterial and algal CCMs, the molecular engineering tools and research pipelines required to translate our theoretical knowledge into practice, and the current challenges to achieving these goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Rae
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Benedict M Long
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Britta Förster
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nghiem D Nguyen
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Christos N Velanis
- SynthSys and Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Nicky Atkinson
- SynthSys and Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Wei Yih Hee
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Bratati Mukherjee
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - G Dean Price
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Alistair J McCormick
- SynthSys and Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Xu Y, Li P, Zou C, Lu Y, Xie C, Zhang X, Prasanna BM, Olsen MS. Enhancing genetic gain in the era of molecular breeding. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:2641-2666. [PMID: 28830098 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
As one of the important concepts in conventional quantitative genetics and breeding, genetic gain can be defined as the amount of increase in performance that is achieved annually through artificial selection. To develop pro ducts that meet the increasing demand of mankind, especially for food and feed, in addition to various industrial uses, breeders are challenged to enhance the potential of genetic gain continuously, at ever higher rates, while they close the gaps that remain between the yield potential in breeders' demonstration trials and the actual yield in farmers' fields. Factors affecting genetic gain include genetic variation available in breeding materials, heritability for traits of interest, selection intensity, and the time required to complete a breeding cycle. Genetic gain can be improved through enhancing the potential and closing the gaps, which has been evolving and complemented with modern breeding techniques and platforms, mainly driven by molecular and genomic tools, combined with improved agronomic practice. Several key strategies are reviewed in this article. Favorable genetic variation can be unlocked and created through molecular and genomic approaches including mutation, gene mapping and discovery, and transgene and genome editing. Estimation of heritability can be improved by refining field experiments through well-controlled and precisely assayed environmental factors or envirotyping, particularly for understanding and controlling spatial heterogeneity at the field level. Selection intensity can be significantly heightened through improvements in the scale and precision of genotyping and phenotyping. The breeding cycle time can be shortened by accelerating breeding procedures through integrated breeding approaches such as marker-assisted selection and doubled haploid development. All the strategies can be integrated with other widely used conventional approaches in breeding programs to enhance genetic gain. More transdisciplinary approaches, team breeding, will be required to address the challenge of maintaining a plentiful and safe food supply for future generations. New opportunities for enhancing genetic gain, a high efficiency breeding pipeline, and broad-sense genetic gain are also discussed prospectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunbi Xu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan, Texcoco, CP 56130, México
| | - Ping Li
- Nantong Xinhe Bio-Technology, Nantong 226019, PR China
| | - Cheng Zou
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yanli Lu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Chuanxiao Xie
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xuecai Zhang
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan, Texcoco, CP 56130, México
| | - Boddupalli M Prasanna
- CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), ICRAF campus, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Michael S Olsen
- CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), ICRAF campus, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya
| |
Collapse
|
78
|
Sweetlove LJ, Nielsen J, Fernie AR. Engineering central metabolism - a grand challenge for plant biologists. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 90:749-763. [PMID: 28004455 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The goal of increasing crop productivity and nutrient-use efficiency is being addressed by a number of ambitious research projects seeking to re-engineer photosynthetic biochemistry. Many of these projects will require the engineering of substantial changes in fluxes of central metabolism. However, as has been amply demonstrated in simpler systems such as microbes, central metabolism is extremely difficult to rationally engineer. This is because of multiple layers of regulation that operate to maintain metabolic steady state and because of the highly connected nature of central metabolism. In this review we discuss new approaches for metabolic engineering that have the potential to address these problems and dramatically improve the success with which we can rationally engineer central metabolism in plants. In particular, we advocate the adoption of an iterative 'design-build-test-learn' cycle using fast-to-transform model plants as test beds. This approach can be realised by coupling new molecular tools to incorporate multiple transgenes in nuclear and plastid genomes with computational modelling to design the engineering strategy and to understand the metabolic phenotype of the engineered organism. We also envisage that mutagenesis could be used to fine-tune the balance between the endogenous metabolic network and the introduced enzymes. Finally, we emphasise the importance of considering the plant as a whole system and not isolated organs: the greatest increase in crop productivity will be achieved if both source and sink metabolism are engineered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lee J Sweetlove
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE41128, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK2800, Lyngby, Denmark
- Science for Life Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology, SE17121, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
79
|
Busch FA, Sage RF. The sensitivity of photosynthesis to O 2 and CO 2 concentration identifies strong Rubisco control above the thermal optimum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 213:1036-1051. [PMID: 27768823 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The biochemical model of C3 photosynthesis by Farquhar, von Caemmerer and Berry (FvCB) assumes that photosynthetic CO2 assimilation is limited by one of three biochemical processes that are not always easily discerned. This leads to improper assessments of biochemical limitations that limit the accuracy of the model predictions. We use the sensitivity of rates of CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic electron transport to changes in O2 and CO2 concentration in the chloroplast to evaluate photosynthetic limitations. Assessing the sensitivities to O2 and CO2 concentrations reduces the impact of uncertainties in the fixed parameters to a minimum and simultaneously entirely eliminates the need to determine the variable parameters of the model, such as Vcmax , J, or TP . Our analyses demonstrate that Rubisco limits carbon assimilation at high temperatures, while it is limited by triose phosphate utilization at lower temperatures and at higher CO2 concentrations. Measurements can be assigned a priori to one of the three functions of the FvCB model, allowing testing for the suitability of the selected fixed parameters of the model. This approach can improve the reliability of photosynthesis models on scales from the leaf level to estimating the global carbon budget.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian A Busch
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Rowan F Sage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
80
|
Synthetic metabolism: metabolic engineering meets enzyme design. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2017; 37:56-62. [PMID: 28152442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering aims at modifying the endogenous metabolic network of an organism to harness it for a useful biotechnological task, for example, production of a value-added compound. Several levels of metabolic engineering can be defined and are the topic of this review. Basic 'copy, paste and fine-tuning' approaches are limited to the structure of naturally existing pathways. 'Mix and match' approaches freely recombine the repertoire of existing enzymes to create synthetic metabolic networks that are able to outcompete naturally evolved pathways or redirect flux toward non-natural products. The space of possible metabolic solution can be further increased through approaches including 'new enzyme reactions', which are engineered on the basis of known enzyme mechanisms. Finally, by considering completely 'novel enzyme chemistries' with de novo enzyme design, the limits of nature can be breached to derive the most advanced form of synthetic pathways. We discuss the challenges and promises associated with these different metabolic engineering approaches and illuminate how enzyme engineering is expected to take a prime role in synthetic metabolic engineering for biotechnology, chemical industry and agriculture of the future.
Collapse
|
81
|
Sharwood RE. Engineering chloroplasts to improve Rubisco catalysis: prospects for translating improvements into food and fiber crops. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 213:494-510. [PMID: 27935049 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
494 I. 495 II. 496 III. 496 IV. 499 V. 499 VI. 501 VII. 501 VIII. 502 IX. 505 X. 506 507 References 507 SUMMARY: The uncertainty of future climate change is placing pressure on cropping systems to continue to provide stable increases in productive yields. To mitigate future climates and the increasing threats against global food security, new solutions to manipulate photosynthesis are required. This review explores the current efforts available to improve carbon assimilation within plant chloroplasts by engineering Rubisco, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of CO2 fixation. Fixation of CO2 and subsequent cycling of 3-phosphoglycerate through the Calvin cycle provides the necessary carbohydrate building blocks for maintaining plant growth and yield, but has to compete with Rubisco oxygenation, which results in photorespiration that is energetically wasteful for plants. Engineering improvements in Rubisco is a complex challenge and requires an understanding of chloroplast gene regulatory pathways, and the intricate nature of Rubisco catalysis and biogenesis, to transplant more efficient forms of Rubisco into crops. In recent times, major advances in Rubisco engineering have been achieved through improvement of our knowledge of Rubisco synthesis and assembly, and identifying amino acid catalytic switches in the L-subunit responsible for improvements in catalysis. Improving the capacity of CO2 fixation in crops such as rice will require further advances in chloroplast bioengineering and Rubisco biogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Sharwood
- ARC Center of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
82
|
de Oliveira Silva FM, de Ávila Silva L, Araújo WL, Zsögön A, Nunes-Nesi A. Exploiting Natural Variation to Discover Candidate Genes Involved in Photosynthesis-Related Traits. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1653:125-135. [PMID: 28822130 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7225-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring genetic variation in plants can be very useful to dissect the complex regulation of primary metabolism as well as of physiological traits such as photosynthesis and photorespiration. The physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying natural variation in closely related species or accessions may provide important information that can be used to improve crop yield. In this chapter we describe in detail the use of a population of introgression lines (ILs), with the Solanum pennellii IL population as a study case, as a tool for the identification of genomic regions involved in the control of photosynthetic efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucas de Ávila Silva
- Departmento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus UFR, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | - Wagner L Araújo
- Departmento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus UFR, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | - Agustin Zsögön
- Departmento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus UFR, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | - Adriano Nunes-Nesi
- Departmento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus UFR, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
83
|
Photorespiration: origins and metabolic integration in interacting compartments. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67. [PMCID: PMC4867902 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
|
84
|
Timm S, Florian A, Fernie AR, Bauwe H. The regulatory interplay between photorespiration and photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:2923-9. [PMID: 26969745 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The Calvin-Benson cycle and the photorespiratory pathway form the photosynthetic-photorespiratory supercycle that is responsible for nearly all biological CO2 fixation on Earth. In essence, supplementation with the photorespiratory pathway is necessary because the CO2-fixing enzyme of the Calvin-Benson cycle, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), catalyses several side reactions including the oxygenation of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, which produces the noxious metabolite phosphoglycolate. The photorespiratory pathway recycles the phosphoglycolate to 3-phosphoglycerate and in this way allows the Calvin-Benson cycle to operate in the presence of molecular oxygen generated by oxygenic photosynthesis. While the carbon flow through the individual and combined subprocesses is well known, information on their regulatory interaction is very limited. Regulatory feedback from the photorespiratory pathway to the Calvin-Benson cycle can be presumed from numerous inhibitor experiments and was demonstrated in recent studies with transgenic plants. This complexity illustrates that we are not yet ready to rationally engineer photosynthesis by altering photorespiration since despite massive understanding of the core photorespiratory pathway our understanding of its interaction with other pathways and processes remains fragmentary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Timm
- University of Rostock, Plant Physiology Department, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, D-18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - Alexandra Florian
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Hermann Bauwe
- University of Rostock, Plant Physiology Department, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, D-18051 Rostock, Germany
| |
Collapse
|