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Tunstad SA, Bull ID, Rands SA, Whitney HM. The cuticular wax composition and crystal coverage of leaves and petals differ in a consistent manner between plant species. Open Biol 2024; 14:230430. [PMID: 38806146 PMCID: PMC11293435 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230430] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Both leaves and petals are covered in a cuticle, which itself contains and is covered by cuticular waxes. The waxes perform various roles in plants' lives, and the cuticular composition of leaves has received much attention. To date, the cuticular composition of petals has been largely ignored. Being the outermost boundary between the plant and the environment, the cuticle is the first point of contact between a flower and a pollinator, yet we know little about how plant-pollinator interactions shape its chemical composition. Here, we investigate the general structure and composition of floral cuticular waxes by analysing the cuticular composition of leaves and petals of 49 plant species, representing 19 orders and 27 families. We show that the flowers of plants from across the phylogenetic range are nearly devoid of wax crystals and that the total wax load of leaves in 90% of the species is higher than that of petals. The proportion of alkanes is higher, and the chain lengths of the aliphatic compounds are shorter in petals than in leaves. We argue these differences are a result of adaptation to the different roles leaves and petals play in plant biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ian D. Bull
- Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sean A. Rands
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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2
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Keyl A, Herrfurth C, Pandey G, Kim RJ, Helwig L, Haslam TM, de Vries S, de Vries J, Gutsche N, Zachgo S, Suh MC, Kunst L, Feussner I. Divergent evolution of the alcohol-forming pathway of wax biosynthesis among bryophytes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 38501480 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The plant cuticle is a hydrophobic barrier, which seals the epidermal surface of most aboveground organs. While the cuticle biosynthesis of angiosperms has been intensively studied, knowledge about its existence and composition in nonvascular plants is scarce. Here, we identified and characterized homologs of Arabidopsis thaliana fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) ECERIFERUM 4 (AtCER4) and bifunctional wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (AtWSD1) in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha (MpFAR2 and MpWSD1) and the moss Physcomitrium patens (PpFAR2A, PpFAR2B, and PpWSD1). Although bryophyte harbor similar compound classes as described for angiosperm cuticles, their biosynthesis may not be fully conserved between the bryophytes M. polymorpha and P. patens or between these bryophytes and angiosperms. While PpFAR2A and PpFAR2B contribute to the production of primary alcohols in P. patens, loss of MpFAR2 function does not affect the wax profile of M. polymorpha. By contrast, MpWSD1 acts as the major wax ester-producing enzyme in M. polymorpha, whereas mutations of PpWSD1 do not affect the wax ester levels of P. patens. Our results suggest that the biosynthetic enzymes involved in primary alcohol and wax ester formation in land plants have either evolved multiple times independently or undergone pronounced radiation followed by the formation of lineage-specific toolkits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Keyl
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Garima Pandey
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea
| | - Ryeo Jin Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea
| | - Lina Helwig
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Tegan M Haslam
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Sophie de Vries
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jan de Vries
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Department of Applied Informatics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Nora Gutsche
- Division of Botany, Osnabrueck University, Osnabrueck, 49076, Germany
| | - Sabine Zachgo
- Division of Botany, Osnabrueck University, Osnabrueck, 49076, Germany
| | - Mi Chung Suh
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea
| | - Ljerka Kunst
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
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3
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Skaliter O, Bednarczyk D, Shor E, Shklarman E, Manasherova E, Aravena-Calvo J, Kerzner S, Cna’ani A, Jasinska W, Masci T, Dvir G, Edelbaum O, Rimon B, Brotman Y, Cohen H, Vainstein A. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor EVER controls the emission of petunia floral volatiles by regulating epicuticular wax biosynthesis in the petal epidermis. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 36:174-193. [PMID: 37818992 PMCID: PMC10734618 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The epidermal cells of petunia (Petunia × hybrida) flowers are the main site of volatile emission. However, the mechanisms underlying the release of volatiles into the environment are still being explored. Here, using cell-layer-specific transcriptomic analysis, reverse genetics by virus-induced gene silencing and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR), and metabolomics, we identified EPIDERMIS VOLATILE EMISSION REGULATOR (EVER)-a petal adaxial epidermis-specific MYB activator that affects the emission of volatiles. To generate ever knockout lines, we developed a viral-based CRISPR/Cas9 system for efficient gene editing in plants. These knockout lines, together with transient-suppression assays, revealed EVER's involvement in the repression of low-vapor-pressure volatiles. Internal pools and annotated scent-related genes involved in volatile production and emission were not affected by EVER. RNA-Seq analyses of petals of ever knockout lines and EVER-overexpressing flowers revealed enrichment in wax-related biosynthesis genes. Liquid chromatography/gas chromatography-MS analyses of petal epicuticular waxes revealed substantial reductions in wax loads in ever petals, particularly of monomers of fatty acids and wax esters. These results implicate EVER in the emission of volatiles by fine-tuning the composition of petal epicuticular waxes. We reveal a petunia MYB regulator that interlinks epicuticular wax composition and volatile emission, thus unraveling a regulatory layer in the scent-emission machinery in petunia flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oded Skaliter
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Dominika Bednarczyk
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ekaterina Shor
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Elena Shklarman
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ekaterina Manasherova
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Javiera Aravena-Calvo
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Shane Kerzner
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Alon Cna’ani
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Weronika Jasinska
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Tania Masci
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Gony Dvir
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Orit Edelbaum
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ben Rimon
- Department of Ornamental Horticulture and Biotechnology, The Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Yariv Brotman
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Hagai Cohen
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Alexander Vainstein
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Winichayakul S, Macknight R, Le Lievre L, Beechey-Gradwell Z, Lee R, Cooney L, Xue H, Crowther T, Anderson P, Richardson K, Zou X, Maher D, Bryan G, Roberts N. Insight into the regulatory networks underlying the high lipid perennial ryegrass growth under different irradiances. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275503. [PMID: 36227922 PMCID: PMC9560171 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Under favourable conditions, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) engineered to accumulated high lipid (HL) carbon sink in their leaves was previously shown to also enhance photosynthesis and growth. The greater aboveground biomass was found to be diminished in a dense canopy compared to spaced pots. Besides, the underlying genetic regulatory network linking between leaf lipid sinks and these physiological changes remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the growth advantage was not displayed in HL Lolium grown in spaced pots under low lights. Under standard lights, analysis of differentiating transcripts in HL Lolium reveals that the plants had elevated transcripts involved in lipid metabolism, light capturing, photosynthesis, and sugar signalling while reduced expression of genes participating in sugar biosynthesis and transportation. The plants also had altered several transcripts involved in mitochondrial oxidative respiration and redox potential. Many of the above upregulated or downregulated transcript levels were found to be complemented by growing the plants under low light. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of carbon and energy homeostatic regulatory mechanisms to overall productivity of the HL Lolium through photosynthesis, most of which are significantly impacted by low irradiances.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Macknight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Liam Le Lievre
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Robyn Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Luke Cooney
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Hong Xue
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Xiuying Zou
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Nick Roberts
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (SW); (NR)
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Zhang C, Yang J, Meng W, Zeng L, Sun L. Genome-wide analysis of the WSD family in sunflower and functional identification of HaWSD9 involvement in wax ester biosynthesis and osmotic stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:975853. [PMID: 36212375 PMCID: PMC9539440 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.975853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The wax esters are important cuticular wax composition that cover the outer surface of plant organs and play a critical role in protection and energy metabolism. Wax ester synthesis in plant is catalyzed by a bifunctional wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WSD). Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oil crop in the world; however, little is known about WSD in sunflower. In this study, we identified and performed a functional analysis of twelve HaWSD genes from sunflower genome. Tissue-specific expression revealed that 12 HaWSD genes were differentially expressed in various organs and tissues of sunflower, except seeds. HaWSD genes were highly induced by salinity, drought, cold, and abscisic acid (ABA) in sunflower. To ascertain their function, HaWSD9, with highly expressed levels in stems and leaves, was cloned and expressed in a yeast mutant defective in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis. HaWSD9 complemented the phenotype by producing wax ester but not TAG in vivo, indicating that it functions as a wax ester synthase. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that HaWSD9 was located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Heterologous introduction of HaWSD9 into Arabidopsis wsd1 mutant exhibited increased epicuticular wax crystals and cuticular wax contents on the stems. As compared with the wsd1 mutant, HaWSD9 overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis showed less cuticle permeability, chlorophyll leaching and water loss rate. Further analysis showed that the HaWSD9 transgenics enhanced tolerance to ABA, mannitol, drought and salinity, and maintained higher leaf relative water content (RWC) than the wsd1 mutant under drought stress, suggesting that HaWSD9 play an important physiological role in stress response as well as wax synthase. These results contribute to understanding the function of HaWSD genes in wax ester synthesis and stress tolerance in sunflower.
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6
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Vollheyde K, Kühnel K, Lambrecht F, Kawelke S, Herrfurth C, Feussner I. Crystal Structure of the Bifunctional Wax Synthase 1 from Acinetobacter baylyi Suggests a Conformational Change upon Substrate Binding and Formation of Additional Substrate Binding Sites. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c01712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Vollheyde
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Karin Kühnel
- Department of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Felix Lambrecht
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Kawelke
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- International Center for Advanced Studies of Energy Conversion (ICASEC), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
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7
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Gajdoš P, Urbaníková V, Vicenová M, Čertík M. Enhancing very long chain fatty acids production in Yarrowia lipolytica. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:138. [PMID: 35818073 PMCID: PMC9275168 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01866-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and their derivatives are industrially attractive compounds. The most important are behenic acid (C22:0) and erucic acid (C22:1Δ13), which are used as lubricants, and moisturizers. C22:0 and C22:1Δ13 have also potential for biofuel production. These fatty acids are conventionally obtained from plant oils. Yarrowia lipolytica is an oleaginous yeast with a long history of gene manipulations resulting in the production of industrially interesting compounds, such as organic acids, proteins, and various lipophilic molecules. It has been shown previously that it has potential for the production of VLCFA enriched single cell oils. Results The metabolism of Y. lipolytica was redesigned to achieve increased production of VLCFA. The effect of native diacylglycerol acyltransferases of this yeast YlLro1p, YlDga1p, and YlDga2p on the accumulation of VLCFA was examined. It was found that YlDga1p is the only enzyme with a beneficial effect. Further improvement of accumulation was achieved by overexpression of 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (TaFAE1) under 8UAS-pTEF promoter and blockage fatty acid degradation pathway by deletion of YlMFE1. The best-producing strain YL53 (Δmfe, pTEF-YlDGA1, 8UAS-pTEF-TaFAE1) produced 120 µg of very long chain fatty acids per g of produced biomass, which accounted for 34% of total fatty acids in biomass. Conclusions Recombinant strains of Y. lipolytica have proved to be good producers of VLCFA. Redesign of lipid metabolism pathways had a positive effect on the accumulation of C22:1Δ13 and C22:0, which are technologically attractive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Gajdoš
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 81237, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Veronika Urbaníková
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 81237, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Mária Vicenová
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 81237, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Milan Čertík
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 81237, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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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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9
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Yan D, Liu Y, Ren X, Li R, Wang C, Qi Y, Xu J, Liu Z, Ding Y, Liu C. Integration of morphological, physiological and multi-omics analysis reveals a comprehensive mechanism for cuticular wax during development of greasiness in postharvest apples. Food Res Int 2022; 157:111429. [PMID: 35761672 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Skin greasiness is a common postharvest disorder of apple (Malus × domestica). However, the molecular mechanism of skin greasiness is unclear. In this study, fruits of 'Golden Delicious' (GD), 'Granny Smith', and 'Fuji' with distinct characteristics of greasiness were used for greasiness scoring, wax morphology, wax metabolite, and RNA-seq analyses. Additionally, GD fruit were treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), which repressed greasiness. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed that wax esters were the critical wax fraction for skin greasiness. Among these wax esters, liquid linoleate esters of short-chain alcohols (C4-C6) and farnesol showed increased contents with increasing greasiness. Their concentrations were significantly correlated with greasiness score. To identify the genes encoding key enzymes for the synthesis of liquid linoleate esters, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis was conducted. MdDCR1, encoding an acyltransferase (defective in cuticular ridges, DCR), was selected as a candidate gene. MdDCR1 was significantly upregulated in greasy skin, and significantly suppressed by 1-MCP treatment. MdDCR1 silencing suppressed the accumulation of liquid linoleate esters of short-chain alcohols, including butyl linoleate, pentyl linoleate, and hexyl linoleate, in GD skin. These results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of cuticular wax metabolism related to skin greasiness in apple. Our results show that transcriptional regulation of MdDCR1, encoding an acyltransferase that catalyzes the biosynthesis of liquid linoleate esters of short-chain alcohols (C4-C6) via an independent side branch of the C18:2 CoA pathway, regulates the formation of greasiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yan
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Xiaolin Ren
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Rui Li
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Cong Wang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yingwei Qi
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Juan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| | - Zhande Liu
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yuduan Ding
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Cuihua Liu
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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10
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Cheng D, Li L, Rizhsky L, Bhandary P, Nikolau BJ. Heterologous Expression and Characterization of Plant Wax Ester Producing Enzymes. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12070577. [PMID: 35888701 PMCID: PMC9319179 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12070577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Wax esters are widely distributed among microbes, plants, and mammals, and they serve protective and energy storage functions. Three classes of enzymes catalyze the reaction between a fatty acyl alcohol and a fatty acyl-CoA, generating wax esters. Multiple isozymes of two of these enzyme classes, the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase class of wax synthase (WS) and the bifunctional wax synthase/diacylglycerol acyl transferase (WSD), co-exist in plants. Although WSD enzymes are known to produce the wax esters of the plant cuticle, the functionality of plant WS enzymes is less well characterized. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships among the 12 WS and 11 WSD isozymes that occur in Arabidopsis, and established two in vivo heterologous expression systems, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in Arabidopsis seeds to investigate the catalytic abilities of the WS enzymes. These two refactored wax assembly chassis were used to demonstrate that WS isozymes show distinct differences in the types of esters that can be assembled. We also determined the cellular and subcellular localization of two Arabidopsis WS isozymes. Additionally, using publicly available Arabidopsis transcriptomics data, we identified the co-expression modules of the 12 Arabidopsis WS coding genes. Collectively, these analyses suggest that WS genes may function in cuticle assembly and in supporting novel photosynthetic function(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daolin Cheng
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (D.C.); (L.L.); (L.R.)
- Center for Metabolic Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Ling Li
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (D.C.); (L.L.); (L.R.)
- Center for Metabolic Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;
- Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Ludmila Rizhsky
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (D.C.); (L.L.); (L.R.)
- Center for Metabolic Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Priyanka Bhandary
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;
| | - Basil J. Nikolau
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (D.C.); (L.L.); (L.R.)
- Center for Metabolic Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-515-290-3382
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11
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Domergue F, Miklaszewska M. The production of wax esters in transgenic plants:
towards a sustainable source of bio-lubricants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2817-2834. [PMID: 35560197 PMCID: PMC9113324 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Wax esters are high-value compounds used as feedstocks for the production of lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Currently, they are produced mostly from fossil reserves using chemical synthesis, but this cannot meet increasing demand and has a negative environmental impact. Natural wax esters are also obtained from Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) but comparably in very low amounts and expensively. Therefore, metabolic engineering of plants, especially of the seed storage lipid metabolism of oil crops, represents an attractive strategy for renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly production of wax esters tailored to industrial applications. Utilization of wax ester-synthesizing enzymes with defined specificities and modulation of the acyl-CoA pools by various genetic engineering approaches can lead to obtaining wax esters with desired compositions and properties. However, obtaining high amounts of wax esters is still challenging due to their negative impact on seed germination and yield. In this review, we describe recent progress in establishing non-food-plant platforms for wax ester production and discuss their advantages and limitations as well as future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Domergue
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, LBM, UMR 5200, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
| | - Magdalena Miklaszewska
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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12
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Hatanaka T, Tomita Y, Matsuoka D, Sasayama D, Fukayama H, Azuma T, Soltani Gishini MF, Hildebrand D. Different acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferases vary widely in function, and a targeted amino acid substitution enhances oil accumulation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:3030-3043. [PMID: 35560190 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are the major component of plant storage lipids such as oils. Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the final step of the Kennedy pathway, and is mainly responsible for plant oil accumulation. We previously found that the activity of Vernonia DGAT1 was distinctively higher than that of Arabidopsis and soybean DGAT1 in a yeast microsome assay. In this study, the DGAT1 cDNAs of Arabidopsis, Vernonia, soybean, and castor bean were introduced into Arabidopsis. All Vernonia DGAT1-expressing lines showed a significantly higher oil content (49% mean increase compared with the wild-type) followed by soybean and castor bean. Most Arabidopsis DGAT1-overexpressing lines did not show a significant increase. In addition to these four DGAT1 genes, sunflower, Jatropha, and sesame DGAT1 genes were introduced into a TAG biosynthesis-defective yeast mutant. In the yeast expression culture, DGAT1s from Arabidopsis, castor bean, and soybean only slightly increased the TAG content; however, DGAT1s from Vernonia, sunflower, Jatropha, and sesame increased TAG content >10-fold more than the former three DGAT1s. Three amino acid residues were characteristically common in the latter four DGAT1s. Using soybean DGAT1, these amino acid substitutions were created by site-directed mutagenesis and substantially increased the TAG content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Hatanaka
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tomita
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Matsuoka
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sasayama
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fukayama
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Azuma
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Mohammad Fazel Soltani Gishini
- Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - David Hildebrand
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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13
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Zhang Y, Guo X, Yang H, Shi S. The Studies in Constructing Yeast Cell Factories for the Production of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:799032. [PMID: 35087801 PMCID: PMC8787340 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.799032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid alkyl esters have broad applications in biofuels, lubricant formulas, paints, coatings, and cosmetics. Traditionally, these esters are mostly produced through unsustainable and energy-intensive processes. In contrast, microbial production of esters from renewable and sustainable feedstocks may provide a promising alternative and has attracted widespread attention in recent years. At present, yeasts are used as ideal hosts for producing such esters, due to their availability for high-density fermentation, resistance to phage infection, and tolerance against toxic inhibitors. Here, we summarize recent development on the biosynthesis of alkyl esters, including fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), fatty acid short-branched chain alkyl esters (FASBEs), and wax esters (WEs) by various yeast cell factories. We focus mainly on the enzyme engineering strategies of critical wax ester synthases, and the pathway engineering strategies employed for the biosynthesis of various ester products. The bottlenecks that limit productivity and their potential solutions are also discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Huaiyi Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuobo Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
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14
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Zhang P, Zou Y, Song B, Zhou M, He J, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Xu X. Cuticular lipids and associated gene expression analysis under NaCl stress in Thellungiella salsuginea. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13625. [PMID: 35023161 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular lipids, including wax and cutin, protect plants against external environmental stress. The relationship between the cuticle properties and salt tolerance is not clear. In this article, photosynthetic and physiological characteristics related to water use and cuticle permeability were assessed in the leaves of Thellungiella salsuginea under NaCl stress. The chemical composition of wax and cutin monomers, and the expression of cuticle-associated genes were also analyzed. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in the leaves of T. salsuginea decreased, and the water use efficiency increased with increasing NaCl concentration. Salt stress caused a significant increase in total wax, but total cutin monomers only increased under high salt. Transcriptome sequencing and lipid metabolism pathway analysis were performed on rosette leaves of T. salsuginea after 24 h of NaCl treatment. We analyzed the expression of 42 genes involved in cuticle lipid metabolism, and found that most of them exhibited higher expression levels at 0.15 mol L-1 NaCl, but lower expression levels at 0.3 mol L-1 NaCl. The expression of 12 of these genes was further detected by qRT-PCR after 1 week of NaCl treatment: most of them were upregulated both under low and high NaCl stress. Hence, we speculate that the cuticle acts as an adaptive trait in T. salsuginea in salty environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyao Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yanli Zou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Buerbatu Song
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Minqi Zhou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Junqing He
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yijun Zhou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
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15
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Xu Y, Pan X, Lu J, Wang J, Shan Q, Stout J, Chen G. Evolutionary and biochemical characterization of a Chromochloris zofingiensis MBOAT with wax synthase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5584-5598. [PMID: 34037747 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Wax synthase (WS) catalyzes the last step in wax ester biosynthesis in green plants. Two unrelated sub-families of WS, including the bifunctional acyltransferase and plant-like WS have been reported, but the latter is largely uncharacterized in microalgae. Here, we functionally characterized a putative plant-like WS (CzWS1) from the emerging model green microalga Chromochloris zofingiensis. Our results showed that plant-like WS evolved under different selection constraints in plants and microalgae, with positive selection likely contributing to functional divergence. Unlike jojoba with high amounts of wax ester in seeds and a highly active WS enzyme, C. zofingiensis has no detectable wax ester but a high abundance of WS transcripts. Co-expression analysis showed that C. zofingiensis WS has different expression correlation with lipid biosynthetic genes from jojoba, and may have a divergent function. In vitro characterization indicated that CzWS1 had diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity along with WS activity, and overexpression of CzWS1 in yeast and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii affected triacylglycerol accumulation. Moreover, biochemical and bioinformatic analyses revealed the relevance of the C-terminal region of CzWS1 in enzyme function. Taken together, our results indicated a functional divergence of plant-like WS in plants and microalgae, and the importance of its C-terminal region in specialization of enzyme function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xue Pan
- Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, and Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Junhao Lu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Juli Wang
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Qiyuan Shan
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jake Stout
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Cheng G, Wang L, Wu H, Yu X, Zhang N, Wan X, He L, Huang H. Variation in Petal and Leaf Wax Deposition Affects Cuticular Transpiration in Cut Lily Flowers. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:781987. [PMID: 34899809 PMCID: PMC8652255 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.781987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The vase life of cut flowers is largely affected by post-harvest water loss. Cuticular wax is the primary barrier to uncontrolled water loss for aerial plant organs. Studies on leaf cuticular transpiration have been widely conducted; however, little is known about cuticular transpiration in flowers. Here, the cuticular transpiration rate and wax composition of three lily cultivars were determined. The minimum water conductance of tepal cuticles was higher at the green bud than open flower stage. Lily cuticular transpiration exhibited cultivar- and organ-specific differences, where transpiration from the tepals was higher than leaves and was higher in the 'Huang Tianba' than 'Tiber' cultivar. The overall wax coverage of the tepals was higher compared to that of the leaves. Very-long-chain aliphatics were the main wax constituents and were dominated by n-alkanes with carbon (C) chain lengths of C27 and C29, and C29 and C31 in the tepal and leaf waxes, respectively. Primary alcohols and fatty acids as well as small amounts of alkyl esters, ketones, and branched or unsaturated n-alkanes were also detected in both tepal and leaf waxes, depending on the cultivar and organ. In addition, the chain-length distributions were similar between compound classes within cultivars, whereas the predominant C-chain lengths were substantially different between organs. This suggests that the less effective transpiration barrier provided by the tepal waxes may result from the shorter C-chain aliphatics in the tepal cuticle, compared to those in the leaf cuticle. These findings provide further insights to support the exploration of potential techniques for extending the shelf life of cut flowers based on cuticular transpiration barrier properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Cheng
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Sericultural & Agri-Food Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Functional Foods, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Agricultural Products Processing, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hairong Wu
- Customs Technology Center of Guangzhou Customs District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinfan Yu
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaorong Wan
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihong He
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Huang,
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17
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Shalini T, Martin A. Identification, isolation, and heterologous expression of Sunflower wax synthase for the synthesis of tailored wax esters. J Food Biochem 2020; 44:e13433. [PMID: 33090542 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Wax esters (WE) are neutral lipids formed by condensation of fatty alcohol with fatty acyl-CoA by wax synthases. They serve as carbon and energy reserves and are potential substrates for various commercial applications. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) an edible oil seed is a source of WE, however, the gene responsible for WE formation has hitherto remained unidentified. Using an in silico approach we identified, isolated putative Sunflower wax synthase (HaWS) gene and investigated it's potential for WE production in yeast. Heterologous expression of HaWS in Saccharomyces cerevisiae H1246 exhibited 57 kDa protein which was confirmed by immunoblotting. Recombinant yeast expressing HaWS were fed with combinations of C16, C18 fatty alcohols with 16:0, 18:0 fatty acyl CoA's as potential substrates to validate WE formation in vivo. The yeast cells accumulated C-32 to C-36 WE. Our study reveals identification, isolation, and heterologous functional expression of WS gene from Sunflower for the first time. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Wax synthases (WSs) are critical enzymes for wax ester (WE) biosynthesis. WEs are high value products having several industrial applications. WE serve as substrates for lubricants, food coatings, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. There is a demand for alternate renewable resource of WEs. In this study, we have successfully isolated a putative wax synthase gene from Sunflower and submitted its sequence data to the GenBank (Accession number MH460820). Conserved sequence search analysis showed presence of condensation superfamily motif‒HHXXXDG, critical for WE biosynthesis. Heterologous expression of HaWS in yeast revealed synthesis of C-32 to C-36 WE. Our study demonstrates the efficacy of HaWS to accumulate specific WE of desired lengths in yeast, and thus represents an alternate source of WE for commercial applications and for biotechnological production of tailored WE in eukaryotic expression systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Shalini
- Department of Food Safety and Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Asha Martin
- Department of Food Safety and Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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18
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Gao Q, Yang JL, Zhao XR, Liu SC, Liu ZJ, Wei LJ, Hua Q. Yarrowia lipolytica as a Metabolic Engineering Platform for the Production of Very-Long-Chain Wax Esters. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:10730-10740. [PMID: 32896122 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c04393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is an attractive cell factory platform strain and can be used for sustainable production of high-value oleochemical products. Wax esters (WEs) have a good lubricating property and are usually used as a base for the production of advanced lubricants and emollient oils. In this study, we reported the metabolic engineering of Y. lipolytica to heterologously biosynthesize high-content very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and fatty alcohols and efficiently esterify them to obtain very-long-chain WEs. Co-expression of fatty acid elongases from different sources in Y. lipolytica could yield VLCFAs with carbon chain lengths up to 24. Combining with optimization of the central metabolic modules could further enhance the biosynthesis of VLCFAs. Furthermore, through the screening of heterologous fatty acyl reductases (FARs), we enabled high-level production of fatty alcohols. Genomic integration and heterologous expression of wax synthase (WS) and FAR in a VLCFA-producing Y. lipolytica strain yielded 95-650 mg/L WEs with carbon chain lengths from 32 to 44. Scaled-up fermentation in 5 L laboratory bioreactors significantly increased the production of WEs to 2.0 g/L, the highest content so far in yeasts. This study contributes to the further efficient biosynthesis of VLCFAs and their derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Lin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Ru Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Shun-Cheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, P. R. China
| | - Liu-Jing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
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19
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Vollheyde K, Yu D, Hornung E, Herrfurth C, Feussner I. The Fifth WS/DGAT Enzyme of the Bacterium Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8. Lipids 2020; 55:479-494. [PMID: 32434279 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Wax esters (WE) belong to the class of neutral lipids. They are formed by an esterification of a fatty alcohol and an activated fatty acid. Dependent on the chain length and desaturation degree of the fatty acid and the fatty alcohol moiety, WE can have diverse physicochemical properties. WE derived from monounsaturated long-chain acyl moieties are of industrial interest due to their very good lubrication properties. Whereas WE were obtained in the past from spermaceti organs of the sperm whale, industrial WE are nowadays mostly produced chemically from fossil fuels. In order to produce WE more sustainably, attempts to produce industrial WE in transgenic plants are steadily increasing. To achieve this, different combinations of WE producing enzymes are expressed in developing Arabidopsis thaliana or Camelina sativa seeds. Here we report the identification and characterization of a fifth wax synthase from the organism Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8, MaWSD5. It belongs to the class of bifunctional wax synthase/acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol O-acyltransferases (WSD). The protein was purified to homogeneity. In vivo and in vitro substrate analyses revealed that MaWSD5 is able to synthesize WE but no triacylglycerols. The protein produces WE from saturated and monounsaturated mid- and long-chain substrates. Arabidopsis thaliana seeds expressing a fatty acid reductase from Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8 and MaWSD5 produce WE. Main WE synthesized are 20:1/18:1 and 20:1/20:1. This makes MaWSD5 a suitable candidate for industrial WE production in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Vollheyde
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Dan Yu
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Hornung
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.,Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.,Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany.,Department for Plant Biochemistry, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
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20
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Yuan Y, Arondel V, Domergue F. Characterization and heterologous expression of three DGATs from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) mesocarp in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochimie 2020; 169:18-28. [PMID: 31536755 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) can accumulate up to 88% oil in fruit mesocarp. A previous transcriptome study of oil palm fruits indicated that genes coding for three diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs), designated as EgDGAT1_3, EgDGAT2_2 and EgWS/DGAT_1 (according to Rosli et al., 2018) were highly expressed in mesocarp during oil accumulation. In the present study, the corresponding open reading frames were isolated, and characterized by heterologous expression in the mutant yeast H1246, which is devoid of neutral lipid synthesis. Expression of EgDGAT1_3 or EgDGAT2_2 could restore TAG synthesis, confirming that both proteins are true DGAT. In contrast, expression of EgWS/DGAT_1 resulted in the synthesis of fatty acid isoamyl esters (FAIEs) with saturated long-chain and very-long-chain fatty acids. In the presence of exogenously supplied fatty alcohols, EgWS/DGAT_1 was able to produce wax esters, indicating that EgWS/DGAT_1 codes for an acyltransferase with wax ester synthase but no DGAT activity. Finally, the complete wax ester biosynthetic pathway was reconstituted in yeast by coexpressing EgWS/DGAT_1 with a fatty acyl reductase from Tetrahymena thermophila. Altogether, our results characterized two novel DGATs from oil palm as well as a putative wax ester synthase that preferentially using medium chain fatty alcohols and saturated very-long chain fatty acids as substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Yuan
- Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire, CNRS - University of Bordeaux - UMR 5200, Bâtiment A3 - INRA Bordeaux Aquitaine, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux - CS 20032, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Vincent Arondel
- Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire, CNRS - University of Bordeaux - UMR 5200, Bâtiment A3 - INRA Bordeaux Aquitaine, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux - CS 20032, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Frédéric Domergue
- Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire, CNRS - University of Bordeaux - UMR 5200, Bâtiment A3 - INRA Bordeaux Aquitaine, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux - CS 20032, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
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21
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Xu X, Xue K, Tang S, He J, Song B, Zhou M, Zou Y, Zhou Y, Jenks MA. The relationship between cuticular lipids and associated gene expression in above ground organs of Thellungiella salsugineum (Pall.) Al-Shehbaz & Warwick. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 287:110200. [PMID: 31481227 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110200] [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: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The cuticle plays a critical role as barrier between plant and environment. Here, cuticular wax morphology, cuticular wax and cutin monomer composition, and expression of associated genes in five above ground organs were examined in model extremophyte Thellungiella salsugineum. Alkanes, ketones, and 2-alcohols were the predominant wax constitutes in rosette leaves, inflorescence stem leaves, stems, and siliques, whereas alkanes and acids were the predominant cuticular lipids in whole flowers. Unsubstituted acids were the most abundant cutin monomers in vegetative organs, especially C18:2 dioic acids, which reached the highest levels in stems. Hydroxy fatty acids were the predominant cutin monomers in flowers, especially 16-OH C16:0 and diOH C16:0. High-throughput RNA-Seq analysis using the Hiseq4000 platform was performed on these five above organs of T. salsugineum, and the differentially expressed lipid-associated genes and their associated metabolic pathways were identified. Expression of genes associated in previous reports to cuticle production, including those having roles in cuticle lipid biosynthesis, transport, and regulation were examined. The association of cuticle lipid composition and gene expression within different organs of T. salsugineum, and potential relationships between T. salsugineum's extreme cuticle and its adaptation to extreme environments is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Kun Xue
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Shuai Tang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Junqing He
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Buerbatu Song
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Minqi Zhou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yanli Zou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yijun Zhou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Matthew A Jenks
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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22
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Li H, Thrash A, Tang JD, He L, Yan J, Warburton ML. Leveraging GWAS data to identify metabolic pathways and networks involved in maize lipid biosynthesis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 98:853-863. [PMID: 30742331 PMCID: PMC6850169 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays mays) oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) and energy, making it a valuable resource for human food, animal feed, and bio-energy. Although this trait has been studied via conventional genome-wide association study (GWAS), the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-trait associations generated by GWAS may miss the underlying associations when traits are based on many genes, each with small effects that can be overshadowed by genetic background and environmental variation. Detecting these SNPs statistically is also limited by the levels set for false discovery rate. A complementary pathways analysis that emphasizes the cumulative aspects of SNP-trait associations, rather than just the significance of single SNPs, was performed to understand the balance of lipid metabolism, conversion, and catabolism in this study. This pathway analysis indicated that acyl-lipid pathways, including biosynthesis of wax esters, sphingolipids, phospholipids and flavonoids, along with FA and triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis, were important for increasing oil and FA content. The allelic variation found among the genes involved in many degradation pathways, and many biosynthesis pathways leading from FAs and carbon partitioning pathways, was critical for determining final FA content, changing FA ratios and, ultimately, to final oil content. The pathways and pathway networks identified in this study, and especially the acyl-lipid associated pathways identified beyond what had been found with GWAS alone, provide a real opportunity to precisely and efficiently manipulate high-oil maize genetic improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- School of Biological Science and TechnologyUniversity of JinanJinan250022China
| | - Adam Thrash
- Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing & BiotechnologyMississippi State UniversityMS39762USA
| | - Juliet D. Tang
- USDA FS Forest Products LaboratoryDurability and Wood ProtectionStarkvilleMS39759USA
| | - Linlin He
- School of Biological Science and TechnologyUniversity of JinanJinan250022China
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070China
| | - Marilyn L. Warburton
- USDA ARS Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit (CHPRRU)Mississippi StateMS39762USA
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Yu J, Golicz AA, Lu K, Dossa K, Zhang Y, Chen J, Wang L, You J, Fan D, Edwards D, Zhang X. Insight into the evolution and functional characteristics of the pan-genome assembly from sesame landraces and modern cultivars. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:881-892. [PMID: 30315621 PMCID: PMC6587448 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oil crop renowned for its high oil content and quality. Recently, genome assemblies for five sesame varieties including two landraces (S. indicum cv. Baizhima and Mishuozhima) and three modern cultivars (S. indicum var. Zhongzhi13, Yuzhi11 and Swetha), have become available providing a rich resource for comparative genomic analyses and gene discovery. Here, we employed a reference-assisted assembly approach to improve the draft assemblies of four of the sesame varieties. We then constructed a sesame pan-genome of 554.05 Mb. The pan-genome contained 26 472 orthologous gene clusters; 15 409 (58.21%) of them were core (present across all five sesame genomes), whereas the remaining 41.79% (11 063) clusters and the 15 890 variety-specific genes were dispensable. Comparisons between varieties suggest that modern cultivars from China and India display significant genomic variation. The gene families unique to the sesame modern cultivars contain genes mainly related to yield and quality, while those unique to the landraces contain genes involved in environmental adaptation. Comparative evolutionary analysis indicates that several genes involved in plant-pathogen interaction and lipid metabolism are under positive selection, which may be associated with sesame environmental adaption and selection for high seed oil content. This study of the sesame pan-genome provides insights into the evolution and genomic characteristics of this important oilseed and constitutes a resource for further sesame crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil CropsMinistry of AgricultureOil Crops Research InstituteThe Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Agnieszka A. Golicz
- Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology LaboratoryFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural SciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleMelbourneVicAustralia
| | - Kun Lu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, and Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityBeibeiChongqingChina
| | - Komivi Dossa
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil CropsMinistry of AgricultureOil Crops Research InstituteThe Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWuhanChina
- Centre d'Etudes Régional pour l'Amélioration de l'Adaptation à la Sécheresse (CERAAS)ThièsSenegal
| | - Yanxin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil CropsMinistry of AgricultureOil Crops Research InstituteThe Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Jinfeng Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology & MicrobiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Linhai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil CropsMinistry of AgricultureOil Crops Research InstituteThe Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Jun You
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil CropsMinistry of AgricultureOil Crops Research InstituteThe Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWuhanChina
| | | | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of AgricultureUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWAAustralia
| | - Xiurong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil CropsMinistry of AgricultureOil Crops Research InstituteThe Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWuhanChina
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Patwari P, Salewski V, Gutbrod K, Kreszies T, Dresen-Scholz B, Peisker H, Steiner U, Meyer AJ, Schreiber L, Dörmann P. Surface wax esters contribute to drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 98:727-744. [PMID: 30729606 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Waxes are components of the cuticle covering the aerial organs of plants. Accumulation of waxes has previously been associated with protection against water loss, therefore contributing to drought tolerance. However, not much information is known about the function of individual wax components during water deficit. We studied the role of wax ester synthesis during drought. The wax ester load on Arabidopsis leaves and stems was increased during water deficiency. Expression of three genes, WSD1, WSD6 and WSD7 of the wax ester synthase/diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT or WSD) family was induced during drought, salt stress and abscisic acid treatment. WSD1 has previously been identified as the major wax ester synthase of stems. wsd1 mutants have shown reduced wax ester coverage on leaves and stems during normal or drought condition, while wax ester loads of wsd6, wsd7 and of the wsd6wsd7 double mutant were unchanged. The growth and relative water content of wsd1 plants were compromised during drought, while leaf water loss of wsd1 was increased. Enzyme assays with recombinant proteins expressed in insect cells revealed that WSD6 and WSD7 contain wax ester synthase activity, albeit with different substrate specificity compared with WSD1. WSD6 and WSD7 localize to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/Golgi. These results demonstrated that WSD1 is involved in the accumulation of wax esters during drought, while WSD6 and WSD7 might play other specific roles in wax ester metabolism during stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Patwari
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Veronika Salewski
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katharina Gutbrod
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tino Kreszies
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany (IZMB), University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Brigitte Dresen-Scholz
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helga Peisker
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Steiner
- Institute for Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, University of Bonn, Nussallee 9, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas J Meyer
- Institute for Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Chemical Signalling, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 144, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Schreiber
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany (IZMB), University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Dörmann
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
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25
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Cheng G, Huang H, Zhou L, He S, Zhang Y, Cheng X. Chemical composition and water permeability of the cuticular wax barrier in rose leaf and petal: A comparative investigation. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2019; 135:404-410. [PMID: 30635221 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular wax is the main transpiration barrier against uncontrolled water loss for all aerial plant organs. This study presents water permeability and chemical composition of the cuticle on the petals and leaves of two cultivars of Rosa chinensis ('Movie star' and 'Tineke'). Numerous cultivar- and organ-specific differences, such as the water permeability and total cuticular wax, were detected among rose petals and leaves. Overall, the permeability to water is higher in petals than in leaves, varying between 1.8 × 10-5 m s-1 ('Tineke' leaves) and 1.0 × 10-4 m s-1 ('Tineke' petals). The cuticular wax coverage ranges from 4.9 μg cm-2 ('Tineke' petals) to 13.2 μg cm-2 ('Movie star' petals). The most prominent components of the waxes are n-alkanes with the odd-numbered chain lengths C27 and C29 in petals, and C31 and C33 in leaves. The lower water permeability of leaves is deduced to be associated with the higher weighted average chain length of their acyclic cuticular waxes. This study on transpiration via the cuticular wax barrier of the leaf and petal of rose provides further insight to link the chemical composition to the cuticular transpiration barrier properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Cheng
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, PR China
| | - Hua Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, PR China.
| | - Linyan Zhou
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, PR China
| | - Shenggen He
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, PR China
| | - Yajun Zhang
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, PR China
| | - Xing'an Cheng
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, China
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26
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Petronikolou N, Nair SK. Structural and Biochemical Studies of a Biocatalyst for the Enzymatic Production of Wax Esters. ACS Catal 2018; 8:6334-6344. [PMID: 31559109 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b00787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Wax esters are high-value products whose enzymatic synthesis is of increasing biotechnological interest. The fabrication of cell factories that mass-produce wax esters may provide a facile route towards a sustainable, and environment-friendly approach to a large-scale process for this commodity chemical. An expedient route for wax-ester biocatalysis may be facilitated by the action of enzymes termed wax ester synthases/diacylglycerol acyltransferases (WS/DGAT), which produce wax esters using fatty acids and alcohols as a precursor. In this work, we report the structure for a member of the WS/DGAT superfamily. The structural data in conjunction with bioinformatics and mutational analyses allowed us to identify the substrate binding pockets, and residues that may be important for catalysis. Using this information as a guide, we generated a mutant with preference towards shorter acyl-substrates. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a structure-guided engineering effort towards a WS/DGAT variant with preference towards wax esters of desired lengths.
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27
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Tomiyama T, Kurihara K, Ogawa T, Maruta T, Ogawa T, Ohta D, Sawa Y, Ishikawa T. Wax Ester Synthase/Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Isoenzymes Play a Pivotal Role in Wax Ester Biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13504. [PMID: 29044218 PMCID: PMC5647427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Wax ester fermentation is a unique energy gaining pathway for a unicellular phytoflagellated protozoan, Euglena gracilis, to survive under anaerobiosis. Wax esters produced in E. gracilis are composed of saturated fatty acids and alcohols, which are the major constituents of myristic acid and myristyl alcohol. Thus, wax esters can be promising alternative biofuels. Here, we report the identification and characterization of wax ester synthase/diacylglycerol acyltrasferase (WSD) isoenzymes as the terminal enzymes of wax ester production in E. gracilis. Among six possible Euglena WSD orthologs predicted by BLASTX search, gene expression analysis and in vivo evaluation for enzyme activity with yeast expressing individual recombinant WSDs indicated that two of them (EgWSD2 and EgWSD5) predominantly function as wax ester synthase. Furthermore, experiments with gene silencing demonstrated a pivotal role of both EgWSD2 and EgWSD5 in wax ester synthesis, as evidenced by remarkably reduced wax ester contents in EgWSD2/5-double knockdown E. gracilis cells treated with anaerobic conditions. Interestingly, the decreased ability to produce wax ester did not affect adaptation of E. gracilis to anaerobiosis. Lipid profile analysis suggested allocation of metabolites to other compounds including triacylglycerol instead of wax esters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Tomiyama
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
| | - Kaeko Kurihara
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
| | - Takahisa Ogawa
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
| | - Takanori Maruta
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
| | - Takumi Ogawa
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-chou, Nakaku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Daisaku Ohta
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-chou, Nakaku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sawa
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ishikawa
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan.
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan.
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28
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Guo Y, Jetter R. Comparative Analyses of Cuticular Waxes on Various Organs of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2017; 65:3926-3933. [PMID: 28467851 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b00818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Complex mixtures of cuticular waxes coat plant surfaces to seal them against environmental stresses, with compositions greatly varying between species and possibly organs. This paper reports comprehensive analyses of the waxes on both above- and below-ground organs of potato, where total wax coverages varied between petals (2.6 μg/cm2), leaves, stems, and tubers (1.8-1.9 μg/cm2), and rhizomes (1.1 μg/cm2). The wax mixtures on above-ground organs were dominated by alkanes, occurring in homologous series of isomeric C25-C35 n-alkanes, C25-C35 2-methylalkanes, and C26-C34 3-methylalkanes. In contrast, below-ground organs had waxes rich in monoacylglycerols (C22-C28 acyls) and C18-C30 alkyl ferulates, together with fatty acids (rhizomes) or primary alcohols (tubers). The organ-specific wax coverages, compound class distribution, and chain length profiles suggest highly regulated activities of wax biosynthesis enzymes, likely related to organ-specific ecophysiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Guo
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University , Chongqing 400716, China
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia , 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Reinhard Jetter
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia , 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia , 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
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29
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Luo XA, Zhu YM, Liu TT, Wang XP, Zhou PP, Bao ZD, Yu LJ. Identification and characterization of a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase gene from Mortierella alpina. Biotechnol Lett 2017; 39:883-888. [DOI: 10.1007/s10529-017-2306-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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30
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Zhang N, Mao Z, Luo L, Wan X, Huang F, Gong Y. Two bifunctional enzymes from the marine protist Thraustochytrium roseum: biochemical characterization of wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity catalyzing wax ester and triacylglycerol synthesis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:185. [PMID: 28725265 PMCID: PMC5513132 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0869-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triacylglycerols (TAGs) and wax esters (WEs) are important neutral lipids which serve as energy reservoir in some plants and microorganisms. In recent years, these biologically produced neutral lipids have been regarded as potential alternative energy sources for biofuel production because of the increased interest on developing renewable and environmentally benign alternatives for fossil fuels. In bacteria, the final step in TAG and WE biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by wax ester synthase/acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA):diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT). This bifunctional WS/DGAT enzyme is also a key enzyme in biotechnological production of liquid WE via engineering of plants and microorganisms. To date, knowledge about this class of biologically and biotechnologically important enzymes is mainly from biochemical characterization of WS/DGATs from Arabidopsis, jojoba and some bacteria that can synthesize both TAGs and WEs intracellularly, whereas little is known about WS/DGATs from eukaryotic microorganisms. RESULTS Here, we report the identification and characterization of two bifunctional WS/DGAT enzymes (designated TrWSD4 and TrWSD5) from the marine protist Thraustochytrium roseum. Both TrWSD4 and TrWSD5 comprise a WS-like acyl-CoA acyltransferase domain and the recombinant proteins purified from Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) have substantial WS and lower DGAT activity. They exhibit WS activity towards various-chain-length saturated and polyunsaturated acyl-CoAs and fatty alcohols ranging from C10 to C18. TrWSD4 displays WS activity with the lowest Km value of 0.14 μM and the highest kcat/Km value of 1.46 × 105 M-1 s-1 for lauroyl-CoA (C12:0) in the presence of 100 μM hexadecanol, while TrWSD5 exhibits WS activity with the lowest Km value of 0.96 μM and the highest kcat/Km value of 9.83 × 104 M-1 s-1 for decanoyl-CoA (C10:0) under the same reaction condition. Both WS/DGAT enzymes have the highest WS activity at 37 and 47 °C, and WS activity was greatly decreased when temperature exceeds 47 °C. TrWSD4 and TrWSD5 are insensitive to ionic strength and reduced WS activity was observed when salt concentration exceeded 800 mM. The potential of T. roseum WS/DGATs to establish novel process for biotechnological production of WEs was demonstrated by heterologous expression in recombinant yeast. Expression of either TrWSD4 or TrWSD5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae quadruple mutant H1246, which is devoid of storage lipids, resulted in the accumulation of WEs, but not any detectable TAGs, indicating a predominant WS activity in yeast. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates both in vitro WS and DGAT activity of two T. roseum WS/DGATs, which were characterized as unspecific acyltransferases accepting a broad range of acyl-CoAs and fatty alcohols as substrates for WS activity but displaying substrate preference for medium-chain acyl-CoAs. In vivo characterization shows that these two WS/DGATs predominantly function as wax synthase and presents the feasibility for production of WEs by heterologous hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Zejing Mao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Ling Luo
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Xia Wan
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Fenghong Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition, Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Yangmin Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
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31
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Chen G, Liu H, Wei Q, Zhao H, Liu J, Yu Y. The acyl-activating enzyme PhAAE13 is an alternative enzymatic source of precursors for anthocyanin biosynthesis in petunia flowers. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:457-467. [PMID: 28204578 PMCID: PMC5441920 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, are responsible for the orange to blue coloration of flowers and act as visual attractors to aid pollination and seed dispersal. Malonyl-CoA is the precursor for the formation of flavonoids and anthocyanins. Previous studies have suggested that malonyl-CoA is formed almost exclusively by acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which catalyzes the ATP-dependent formation of malonyl-CoA from acetyl-CoA and bicarbonate. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of Petunia hybrida acyl-activating enzyme 13 (PhAAE13), a member of clade VII of the AAE superfamily that encodes malonyl-CoA synthetase, was isolated. The expression of PhAAE13 was highest in corollas and was down-regulated by ethylene. Virus-induced gene silencing of petunia PhAAE13 significantly reduced anthocyanin accumulation, fatty acid content, and cuticular wax components content, and increased malonic acid content in flowers. The silencing of PhAAE3 and PhAAE14, the other two genes in clade VII of the AAE superfamily, did not change the anthocyanin content in petunia flowers. This study provides strong evidence indicating that PhAAE13, among clade VII of the AAE superfamily, is specifically involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in petunia flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoju Chen
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Heping Liu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian Wei
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huina Zhao
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juanxu Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yixun Yu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Jin Y, Yuan Y, Gao L, Sun R, Chen L, Li D, Zheng Y. Characterization and Functional Analysis of a Type 2 Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase ( DGAT2) Gene from Oil Palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Mesocarp in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1791. [PMID: 29089956 PMCID: PMC5651047 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is the highest oil-yielding plant in the world, storing 90 and 60% (dry weight) oil in its mesocarp and kernel, respectively. To gain insights into the oil accumulation mechanism, one of the key enzymes involved in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis, a Type 2 diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT2) from oil palm, was characterized for its in vivo activity. EgDGAT2 is highly expressed in mesocarp during the last two developmental stages while large amounts of oil are accumulated at the highest rate during ripening. Heterologous expression of EgDGAT2 in mutant yeast H1246 restored TAG biosynthesis with substrate preference toward unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) (16:1 and 18:1). Furthermore, seed-specific overexpression of EgDGAT2 in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced the content of polyunsaturated FAs 18:2 and 18:3 (each by 6 mol%) in seed TAGs, when compared to that from wild-type Arabidopsis. In turn, the proportion of 18:0 and 20:0 FAs in seed TAGs from EgDGAT2 transgenic lines decreased accordingly. These results provide new insights into understanding the in vivo activity of EgDGAT2 from oil palm mesocarp, which will be of importance for metabolic enhancement of unsaturated FAs production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Dongdong Li
- *Correspondence: Dongdong Li, Yusheng Zheng,
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Chen B, Wang J, Zhang G, Liu J, Manan S, Hu H, Zhao J. Two types of soybean diacylglycerol acyltransferases are differentially involved in triacylglycerol biosynthesis and response to environmental stresses and hormones. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28541. [PMID: 27345221 PMCID: PMC4921965 DOI: 10.1038/srep28541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) play a key role in plant triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis. Two type 1 and 2 DGATs from soybean were characterized for their functions in TAG biosynthesis and physiological roles. GmDGAT1A is highly expressed in seeds while GmDGAT2D is mainly expressed in flower tissues. They showed different expression patterns in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. GmDGAT2D was up-regulated by cold and heat stress and ABA signaling, and repressed by insect biting and jasmonate, whereas GmDGAT1A show fewer responses. Both GmDGAT1A and GmDGAT2D were localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and complemented the TAG deficiency of a yeast mutant H1246. GmDGAT2D-transgenic hairy roots synthesized more 18:2- or 18:1-TAG, whereas GmDGAT1A prefers to use 18:3-acyl CoA for TAG synthesis. Overexpression of both GmDGATs in Arabidopsis seeds enhanced the TAG production; GmDGAT2D promoted 18:2-TAG in wild-type but enhanced 18:1-TAG production in rod1 mutant seeds, with a decreased 18:3-TAG. However, GmDGAT1A enhanced 18:3-TAG and reduced 20:1-TAG contents. The different substrate preferences of two DGATs may confer diverse fatty acid profiles in soybean oils. While GmDGAT1A may play a role in usual seed TAG production and GmDGAT2D is also involved in usual TAG biosynthesis in other tissues in responses to environmental and hormonal cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- BeiBei Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Junejie Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Gaoyang Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- College of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130047, China
| | - Sehrish Manan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Honghong Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Giorio C, Moyroud E, Glover BJ, Skelton PC, Kalberer M. Direct Surface Analysis Coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Reveals Heterogeneous Composition of the Cuticle of Hibiscus trionum Petals. Anal Chem 2015; 87:9900-7. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Giorio
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Edwige Moyroud
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
| | - Beverley J. Glover
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
| | - Paul C. Skelton
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Kalberer
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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Winzer T, Kern M, King AJ, Larson TR, Teodor RI, Donninger SL, Li Y, Dowle AA, Cartwright J, Bates R, Ashford D, Thomas J, Walker C, Bowser TA, Graham IA. Plant science. Morphinan biosynthesis in opium poppy requires a P450-oxidoreductase fusion protein. Science 2015; 349:309-12. [PMID: 26113639 DOI: 10.1126/science.aab1852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Morphinan alkaloids from the opium poppy are used for pain relief. The direction of metabolites to morphinan biosynthesis requires isomerization of (S)- to (R)-reticuline. Characterization of high-reticuline poppy mutants revealed a genetic locus, designated STORR [(S)- to (R)-reticuline] that encodes both cytochrome P450 and oxidoreductase modules, the latter belonging to the aldo-keto reductase family. Metabolite analysis of mutant alleles and heterologous expression demonstrate that the P450 module is responsible for the conversion of (S)-reticuline to 1,2-dehydroreticuline, whereas the oxidoreductase module converts 1,2-dehydroreticuline to (R)-reticuline rather than functioning as a P450 redox partner. Proteomic analysis confirmed that these two modules are contained on a single polypeptide in vivo. This modular assembly implies a selection pressure favoring substrate channeling. The fusion protein STORR may enable microbial-based morphinan production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo Winzer
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Marcelo Kern
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Andrew J King
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Tony R Larson
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Roxana I Teodor
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Samantha L Donninger
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Yi Li
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Adam A Dowle
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jared Cartwright
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Rachel Bates
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - David Ashford
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jerry Thomas
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Carol Walker
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1061 Mountain Highway, Post Office Box 168, Boronia, Victoria 3155, Australia
| | - Tim A Bowser
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1061 Mountain Highway, Post Office Box 168, Boronia, Victoria 3155, Australia
| | - Ian A Graham
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
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Buschhaus C, Hager D, Jetter R. Wax layers on Cosmos bipinnatus petals contribute unequally to total petal water resistance. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 167:80-8. [PMID: 25413359 PMCID: PMC4281003 DOI: 10.1104/pp.114.249235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular waxes coat all primary aboveground plant organs as a crucial adaptation to life on land. Accordingly, the properties of waxes have been studied in much detail, albeit with a strong focus on leaf and fruit waxes. Flowers have life histories and functions largely different from those of other organs, and it remains to be seen whether flower waxes have compositions and physiological properties differing from those on other organs. This work provides a detailed characterization of the petal waxes, using Cosmos bipinnatus as a model, and compares them with leaf and stem waxes. The abaxial petal surface is relatively flat, whereas the adaxial side consists of conical epidermis cells, rendering it approximately 3.8 times larger than the projected petal area. The petal wax was found to contain unusually high concentrations of C(22) and C(24) fatty acids and primary alcohols, much shorter than those in leaf and stem waxes. Detailed analyses revealed distinct differences between waxes on the adaxial and abaxial petal sides and between epicuticular and intracuticular waxes. Transpiration resistances equaled 3 × 10(4) and 1.5 × 10(4) s m(-1) for the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, respectively. Petal surfaces of C. bipinnatus thus impose relatively weak water transport barriers compared with typical leaf cuticles. Approximately two-thirds of the abaxial surface water barrier was found to reside in the epicuticular wax layer of the petal and only one-third in the intracuticular wax. Altogether, the flower waxes of this species had properties greatly differing from those on vegetative organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Buschhaus
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4 (C.B., D.H., R.J.); andDepartment of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1 (R.J.)
| | - Dana Hager
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4 (C.B., D.H., R.J.); andDepartment of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1 (R.J.)
| | - Reinhard Jetter
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4 (C.B., D.H., R.J.); andDepartment of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1 (R.J.)
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Chi X, Hu R, Zhang X, Chen M, Chen N, Pan L, Wang T, Wang M, Yang Z, Wang Q, Yu S. Cloning and functional analysis of three diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes from peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). PLoS One 2014; 9:e105834. [PMID: 25181516 PMCID: PMC4152018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the final and only committed acylation step in the synthesis of triacylglycerols. In this study, three novel AhDGATs genes were identified and isolated from peanut. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that the AhDGAT1-2 transcript was more abundant in roots, seeds, and cotyledons, whereas the transcript abundances of AhDGAT1-1 and AhDGAT3-3 were higher in flowers than in the other tissues examined. During seed development, transcript levels of AhDGAT1-1 remained relatively low during the initial developmental stage but increased gradually during later stages, peaking at 50 days after pegging (DAP). Levels of AhDGAT1-2 transcripts were higher at 10 and 60 DAPs and much lower during other stages, whereas AhDGAT3-3 showed higher expression levels at 20 and 50 DAPs. In addition, AhDGAT transcripts were differentially expressed following exposure to abiotic stresses or abscisic acid. The activity of the three AhDGAT genes was confirmed by heterologous expression in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae TAG-deficient quadruple mutant. The recombinant yeasts restored lipid body formation and TAG biosynthesis, and preferentially incorporated unsaturated C18 fatty acids into lipids. The present study provides significant information useful in modifying the oil deposition of peanut through molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Chi
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P R China
| | - Ruibo Hu
- Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (QIBEBT-CAS), Qingdao, P R China
| | - Xiaowen Zhang
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Mingna Chen
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Na Chen
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Lijuan Pan
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Tong Wang
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Mian Wang
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Zhen Yang
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
| | - Quanfu Wang
- School of Marine and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, P R China
- * E-mail: (QFW); (SLY)
| | - Shanlin Yu
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, P R China
- * E-mail: (QFW); (SLY)
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Use of limited proteolysis and mutagenesis to identify folding domains and sequence motifs critical for wax ester synthase/acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 80:1132-41. [PMID: 24296496 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03433-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Triacylglycerols and wax esters are synthesized as energy storage molecules by some proteobacteria and actinobacteria under stress. The enzyme responsible for neutral lipid accumulation is the bifunctional wax ester synthase/acyl-coenzyme A (CoA):diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT). Structural modeling of WS/DGAT suggests that it can adopt an acyl-CoA-dependent acyltransferase fold with the N-terminal and C-terminal domains connected by a helical linker, an architecture demonstrated experimentally by limited proteolysis. Moreover, we found that both domains form an active complex when coexpressed as independent polypeptides. The structural prediction and sequence alignment of different WS/DGAT proteins indicated catalytically important motifs in the enzyme. Their role was probed by measuring the activities of a series of alanine scanning mutants. Our study underscores the structural understanding of this protein family and paves the way for their modification to improve the production of neutral lipids.
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Iven T, Herrfurth C, Hornung E, Heilmann M, Hofvander P, Stymne S, Zhu LH, Feussner I. Wax ester profiling of seed oil by nano-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. PLANT METHODS 2013; 9:24. [PMID: 23829499 PMCID: PMC3766222 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4811-9-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wax esters are highly hydrophobic neutral lipids that are major constituents of the cutin and suberin layer. Moreover they have favorable properties as a commodity for industrial applications. Through transgenic expression of wax ester biosynthetic genes in oilseed crops, it is possible to achieve high level accumulation of defined wax ester compositions within the seed oil to provide a sustainable source for such high value lipids. The fatty alcohol moiety of the wax esters is formed from plant-endogenous acyl-CoAs by the action of fatty acyl reductases (FAR). In a second step the fatty alcohol is condensed with acyl-CoA by a wax synthase (WS) to form a wax ester. In order to evaluate the specificity of wax ester biosynthesis, analytical methods are needed that provide detailed wax ester profiles from complex lipid extracts. RESULTS We present a direct infusion ESI-tandem MS method that allows the semi-quantitative determination of wax ester compositions from complex lipid mixtures covering 784 even chain molecular species. The definition of calibration prototype groups that combine wax esters according to their fragmentation behavior enables fast quantitative analysis by applying multiple reaction monitoring. This provides a tool to analyze wax layer composition or determine whether seeds accumulate a desired wax ester profile. Besides the profiling method, we provide general information on wax ester analysis by the systematic definition of wax ester prototypes according to their collision-induced dissociation spectra. We applied the developed method for wax ester profiling of the well characterized jojoba seed oil and compared the profile with wax ester-accumulating Arabidopsis thaliana expressing the wax ester biosynthetic genes MaFAR and ScWS. CONCLUSIONS We developed a fast profiling method for wax ester analysis on the molecular species level. This method is suitable to screen large numbers of transgenic plants as well as other wax ester samples like cuticular lipid extracts to gain an overview on the molecular species composition. We confirm previous results from APCI-MS and GC-MS analysis, which showed that fragmentation patterns are highly dependent on the double bond distribution between the fatty alcohol and the fatty acid part of the wax ester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Iven
- Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Hornung
- Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mareike Heilmann
- Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Per Hofvander
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 44230-53 Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Sten Stymne
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 44230-53 Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Li-Hua Zhu
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 44230-53 Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Buschhaus C, Peng C, Jetter R. Very-long-chain 1,2- and 1,3-bifunctional compounds from the cuticular wax of Cosmos bipinnatus petals. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2013; 91:249-256. [PMID: 22917954 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Revised: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Four uncommon classes of very-long-chain compounds were identified and quantified in the petal wax of Cosmos bipinnatus (Asteraceae). The first two were homologous series of alkane 1,2-diols and 1,3-diols, both ranging from C20 to C26. The upper and lower petal surfaces contained 0.11 and 0.09 μg/cm(2) of 1,2-diols, respectively. 1,3-Diols were present at quantities one order of magnitude less than the 1,2-diols. Both series had similar chain length distributions, with 6-20%, 59-73% and 20-31% of the C20, C22 and C24 diols, respectively. The other two compound classes were primary and secondary monoacetates of C20-C24 1,2-diols. The monoacetates had chain length profiles similar to the free 1,2-diols, and amounted to 0.04 and 0.09 μg/cm(2) on the adaxial and abaxial sides, respectively. Methods were developed to minimize acyl migration during monoacetate isomer analyses. The ratios of diol 1-acetates to diol 2-acetates averaged close to 3:5, and thus opposite to the chemical equilibrium ratio of 7:3.
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Abstract
Long-chain-length hydrophobic acyl residues play a vital role in a multitude of essential biological structures and processes. They build the inner hydrophobic layers of biological membranes, are converted to intracellular storage compounds, and are used to modify protein properties or function as membrane anchors, to name only a few functions. Acyl thioesters are transferred by acyltransferases or transacylases to a variety of different substrates or are polymerized to lipophilic storage compounds. Lipases represent another important enzyme class dealing with fatty acyl chains; however, they cannot be regarded as acyltransferases in the strict sense. This review provides a detailed survey of the wide spectrum of bacterial acyltransferases and compares different enzyme families in regard to their catalytic mechanisms. On the basis of their studied or assumed mechanisms, most of the acyl-transferring enzymes can be divided into two groups. The majority of enzymes discussed in this review employ a conserved acyltransferase motif with an invariant histidine residue, followed by an acidic amino acid residue, and their catalytic mechanism is characterized by a noncovalent transition state. In contrast to that, lipases rely on completely different mechanism which employs a catalytic triad and functions via the formation of covalent intermediates. This is, for example, similar to the mechanism which has been suggested for polyester synthases. Consequently, although the presented enzyme types neither share homology nor have a common three-dimensional structure, and although they deal with greatly varying molecule structures, this variety is not reflected in their mechanisms, all of which rely on a catalytically active histidine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Röttig
- Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Alexander Steinbüchel
- Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
- Environmental Sciences Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Röttig A, Steinbüchel A. Random mutagenesis ofatfAand screening forAcinetobacter baylyimutants with an altered lipid accumulation. EUR J LIPID SCI TECH 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.201200401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Li R, Hatanaka T, Yu K, Wu Y, Fukushige H, Hildebrand D. Soybean oil biosynthesis: role of diacylglycerol acyltransferases. Funct Integr Genomics 2013; 13:99-113. [PMID: 23322364 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-012-0306-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the acyl-CoA-dependent acylation of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol to form seed oil triacylglycerol (TAG). To understand the features of genes encoding soybean (Glycine max) DGATs and possible roles in soybean seed oil synthesis and accumulation, two full-length cDNAs encoding type 1 diacylglycerol acyltransferases (GmDGAT1A and GmDGAT1B) were cloned from developing soybean seeds. These coding sequences share identities of 94 % and 95 % in protein and DNA sequences. The genomic architectures of GmDGAT1A and GmDGAT1B both contain 15 introns and 16 exons. Differences in the lengths of the first exon and most of the introns were found between GmDGAT1A and GmDGAT1B genomic sequences. Furthermore, detailed in silico analysis revealed a third predicted DGAT1, GmDGAT1C. GmDGAT1A and GmDGAT1B were found to have similar activity levels and substrate specificities. Oleoyl-CoA and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol were preferred substrates over vernoloyl-CoA and sn-1,2-divernoloylglycerol. Both transcripts are much more abundant in developing seeds than in other tissues including leaves, stem, roots, and flowers. Both soybean DGAT1A and DGAT1B are highly expressed at developing seed stages of maximal TAG accumulation with DGAT1B showing highest expression at somewhat later stages than DGAT1A. DGAT1A and DGAT1B show expression profiles consistent with important roles in soybean seed oil biosynthesis and accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runzhi Li
- Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
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Miller R, Durrett TP, Kosma DK, Lydic TA, Muthan B, Koo AJK, Bukhman YV, Reid GE, Howe GA, Ohlrogge J, Benning C. Altered lipid composition and enhanced nutritional value of Arabidopsis leaves following introduction of an algal diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2. THE PLANT CELL 2013; 25:677-93. [PMID: 23417035 PMCID: PMC3608786 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.112.104752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Enhancement of acyl-CoA-dependent triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in vegetative tissues is widely discussed as a potential avenue to increase the energy density of crops. Here, we report the identification and characterization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii diacylglycerol acyltransferase type two (DGTT) enzymes and use DGTT2 to alter acyl carbon partitioning in plant vegetative tissues. This enzyme can accept a broad range of acyl-CoA substrates, allowing us to interrogate different acyl pools in transgenic plants. Expression of DGTT2 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased leaf TAG content, with some molecular species containing very-long-chain fatty acids. The acyl compositions of sphingolipids and surface waxes were altered, and cutin was decreased. The increased carbon partitioning into TAGs in the leaves of DGTT2-expressing lines had little effect on transcripts of the sphingolipid/wax/cutin pathway, suggesting that the supply of acyl groups for the assembly of these lipids is not transcriptionally adjusted. Caterpillars of the generalist herbivore Spodoptera exigua reared on transgenic plants gained more weight. Thus, the nutritional value and/or energy density of the transgenic lines was increased by ectopic expression of DGTT2 and acyl groups were diverted from different pools into TAGs, demonstrating the interconnectivity of acyl metabolism in leaves.
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Chen JE, Smith AG. A look at diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) in algae. J Biotechnol 2012; 162:28-39. [PMID: 22750092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2012] [Revised: 05/17/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Triacylglycerols (TAGs) from algae are considered to be a potentially viable source of biodiesel and thereby renewable energy, but at the moment very little is known about the biosynthetic pathway in these organisms. Here we compare what is currently known in eukaryotic algal species, in particular the characteristics of algal diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), the last enzyme of de novo TAG biosynthesis. Several studies in plants and mammals have shown that there are two DGAT isoforms, DGAT1 and DGAT2, which catalyse the same reaction but have no clear sequence similarities. Instead, they have differences in functionality and spatial and temporal expression patterns. Bioinformatic searches of sequenced algal genomes reveal that most algae have multiple copies of putative DGAT2s, whereas other eukaryotes have single genes. Investigating whether these putative isoforms are indeed functional and whether they confer significantly different phenotypes to algal cells will be vital for future efforts to genetically modify algae for biofuel production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jit Ern Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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Yang P, Zhu JY, Gong ZJ, Xu DL, Chen XM, Liu WW, Lin XD, Li YF. Transcriptome analysis of the Chinese white wax scale Ericerus pela with focus on genes involved in wax biosynthesis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35719. [PMID: 22536429 PMCID: PMC3334986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Chinese white wax scale, Ericerus pela Chavannes is economically significant for its role in wax production. This insect has been bred in China for over a thousand years. The wax secreted by the male scale insect during the second-instar larval stage has been widespread used in wax candle production, wax printing, engraving, Chinese medicine, and more recently in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. However, little is known about the mechanisms responsible for white wax biosynthesis. The characterization of its larval transcriptome may promote better understanding of wax biosynthesis. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, characterization of the transcriptome of E. pela during peak wax secretion was performed using Illumina sequencing technology. Illumina sequencing produced 41,839 unigenes. These unigenes were annotated by blastx alignment against the NCBI Non-Redundant (NR), Swiss-Prot, KEGG, and COG databases. A total of 104 unigenes related to white wax biosynthesis were identified, and 15 of them were selected for quantitative real-time PCR analysis. We evaluated the variations in gene expression across different development stages, including egg, first/second instar larvae, male pupae, and male and female adults. Then we identified five genes involved in white wax biosynthesis. These genes were expressed most strongly during the second-instar larval stage of male E. pela. Conclusion/Significance The transcriptome analysis of E. pela during peak wax secretion provided an overview of gene expression information at the transcriptional level and a resource for gene mining. Five genes related to white wax biosynthesis were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Yang
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Jia-Ying Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhong-Jun Gong
- Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Science, Key Laboratory of Crop Pest Control of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dong-Li Xu
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Chen
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Wei-Wei Liu
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Xin-Da Lin
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Fei Li
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, China
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Biester EM, Hellenbrand J, Frentzen M. Multifunctional acyltransferases from Tetrahymena thermophila. Lipids 2012; 47:371-81. [PMID: 22160552 PMCID: PMC3311841 DOI: 10.1007/s11745-011-3642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Multifunctional acyltransferases are able to catalyze the esterification of various acyl-acceptors with activated fatty acids. Here we describe the identification of four proteins from Tetrahymena thermophila that share certain properties with mammalian acyltransferases regarding their predicted transmembrane structure, their molecular mass and the typical acyltransferase motif. Expression of the Tetrahymena sequences results in production of triacylglycerols and wax esters in recombinant yeast when appropriate substrates are provided. The in vitro characterization shows, that these enzymes are capable of esterifying different acyl-acceptors including fatty alcohols, diols, diacylglycerols and isoprenols with acyl-CoA thioesters. Based on these catalytic activities and the sequence similarities of the Tetrahymena proteins with acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) family members, we conclude that we identified a new group of DGAT2-related multifunctional acyltransferases from protozoan organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Biester
- Institute for Biology I, RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Biester EM, Hellenbrand J, Gruber J, Hamberg M, Frentzen M. Identification of avian wax synthases. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2012; 13:4. [PMID: 22305293 PMCID: PMC3316144 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2091-13-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2011] [Accepted: 02/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bird species show a high degree of variation in the composition of their preen gland waxes. For instance, galliform birds like chicken contain fatty acid esters of 2,3-alkanediols, while Anseriformes like goose or Strigiformes like barn owl contain wax monoesters in their preen gland secretions. The final biosynthetic step is catalyzed by wax synthases (WS) which have been identified in pro- and eukaryotic organisms. RESULTS Sequence similarities enabled us to identify six cDNAs encoding putative wax synthesizing proteins in chicken and two from barn owl and goose. Expression studies in yeast under in vivo and in vitro conditions showed that three proteins from chicken performed WS activity while a sequence from chicken, goose and barn owl encoded a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing both wax ester and triacylglycerol synthesis. Mono- and bifunctional WS were found to differ in their substrate specificities especially with regard to branched-chain alcohols and acyl-CoA thioesters. According to the expression patterns of their transcripts and the properties of the enzymes, avian WS proteins might not be confined to preen glands. CONCLUSIONS We provide direct evidence that avian preen glands possess both monofunctional and bifunctional WS proteins which have different expression patterns and WS activities with different substrate specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Biester
- Institute of Biology I, RWTH Aachen University, (Worringer Weg 1), Aachen, (52074), Germany
| | - Janine Hellenbrand
- Institute of Biology I, RWTH Aachen University, (Worringer Weg 1), Aachen, (52074), Germany
| | - Jens Gruber
- Institute of Biology I, RWTH Aachen University, (Worringer Weg 1), Aachen, (52074), Germany
| | - Mats Hamberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, (Scheeles Vag 2), Stockholm, (17176), Sweden
| | - Margrit Frentzen
- Institute of Biology I, RWTH Aachen University, (Worringer Weg 1), Aachen, (52074), Germany
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Turchetto-Zolet AC, Maraschin FS, de Morais GL, Cagliari A, Andrade CMB, Margis-Pinheiro M, Margis R. Evolutionary view of acyl-CoA diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), a key enzyme in neutral lipid biosynthesis. BMC Evol Biol 2011; 11:263. [PMID: 21933415 PMCID: PMC3185287 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triacylglycerides (TAGs) are a class of neutral lipids that represent the most important storage form of energy for eukaryotic cells. DGAT (acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.20) is a transmembrane enzyme that acts in the final and committed step of TAG synthesis, and it has been proposed to be the rate-limiting enzyme in plant storage lipid accumulation. In fact, two different enzymes identified in several eukaryotic species, DGAT1 and DGAT2, are the main enzymes responsible for TAG synthesis. These enzymes do not share high DNA or protein sequence similarities, and it has been suggested that they play non-redundant roles in different tissues and in some species in TAG synthesis. Despite a number of previous studies on the DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes, which have emphasized their importance as potential obesity treatment targets to increase triacylglycerol accumulation, little is known about their evolutionary timeline in eukaryotes. The goal of this study was to examine the evolutionary relationship of the DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes across eukaryotic organisms in order to infer their origin. Results We have conducted a broad survey of fully sequenced genomes, including representatives of Amoebozoa, yeasts, fungi, algae, musses, plants, vertebrate and invertebrate species, for the presence of DGAT1 and DGAT2 gene homologs. We found that the DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes are nearly ubiquitous in eukaryotes and are readily identifiable in all the major eukaryotic groups and genomes examined. Phylogenetic analyses of the DGAT1 and DGAT2 amino acid sequences revealed evolutionary partitioning of the DGAT protein family into two major DGAT1 and DGAT2 clades. Protein secondary structure and hydrophobic-transmembrane analysis also showed differences between these enzymes. The analysis also revealed that the MGAT2 and AWAT genes may have arisen from DGAT2 duplication events. Conclusions In this study, we identified several DGAT1 and DGAT2 homologs in eukaryote taxa. Overall, the data show that DGAT1 and DGAT2 are present in most eukaryotic organisms and belong to two different gene families. The phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses revealed that DGAT1 and DGAT2 evolved separately, with functional convergence, despite their wide molecular and structural divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia C Turchetto-Zolet
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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A distinct DGAT with sn-3 acetyltransferase activity that synthesizes unusual, reduced-viscosity oils in Euonymus and transgenic seeds. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:9464-9. [PMID: 20439724 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1001707107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endosperm and embryo tissues from the seeds of Euonymus alatus (Burning Bush) accumulate high levels of 3-acetyl-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols (acTAGs) as their major storage lipids. In contrast, the aril tissue surrounding the seed produces long-chain triacylglycerols (lcTAGs) typical of most other organisms. The presence of the sn-3 acetyl group imparts acTAGs with different physical and chemical properties, such as a 30% reduction in viscosity, compared to lcTAGs. Comparative transcriptome analysis of developing endosperm and aril tissues using pyrosequencing technology was performed to isolate the enzyme necessary for the synthesis of acTAGs. An uncharacterized membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) family member was the most abundant acyltransferase in the endosperm but was absent from the aril. Expression of this MBOAT in yeast resulted in the accumulation of acTAGs but not lcTAG; hence, the enzyme was named EaDAcT (Euonymus alatus diacylglycerol acetyltransferase). Yeast microsomes expressing EaDAcT possessed acetyl-CoA diacylglycerol acetyltransferase activity but lacked long-chain acyl-CoA diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. Expression of EaDAcT under the control of a strong, seed-specific promoter in Arabidopsis resulted in the accumulation of acTAGs, up to 40 mol % of total TAG in the seed oil. These results demonstrate the utility of deep transcriptional profiling with multiple tissues as a gene discovery strategy for low-abundance proteins. They also show that EaDAcT is the acetyltransferase necessary and sufficient for the production of acTAGs in Euonymus seeds, and that this activity can be introduced into the seeds of other plants, allowing the evaluation of these unusual TAGs for biofuel and other applications.
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