1
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Frangedakis E, Yelina NE, Billakurthi K, Hua L, Schreier T, Dickinson PJ, Tomaselli M, Haseloff J, Hibberd JM. MYB-related transcription factors control chloroplast biogenesis. Cell 2024; 187:4859-4876.e22. [PMID: 39047726 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Chloroplast biogenesis is dependent on master regulators from the GOLDEN2-LIKE (GLK) family of transcription factors. However, glk mutants contain residual chlorophyll, indicating that other proteins must be involved. Here, we identify MYB-related transcription factors as regulators of chloroplast biogenesis in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana. In both species, double-mutant alleles in MYB-related genes show very limited chloroplast development, and photosynthesis gene expression is perturbed to a greater extent than in GLK mutants. Genes encoding enzymes of chlorophyll biosynthesis are controlled by MYB-related and GLK proteins, whereas those allowing CO2 fixation, photorespiration, and photosystem assembly and repair require MYB-related proteins. Regulation between the MYB-related and GLK transcription factors appears more extensive in A. thaliana than in M. polymorpha. Thus, MYB-related and GLK genes have overlapping as well as distinct targets. We conclude that MYB-related and GLK transcription factors orchestrate chloroplast development in land plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nataliya E Yelina
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Kumari Billakurthi
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Lei Hua
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Tina Schreier
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Patrick J Dickinson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Marta Tomaselli
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Jim Haseloff
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
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2
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Kopriva S, Rahimzadeh Karvansara P, Takahashi H. Adaptive modifications in plant sulfur metabolism over evolutionary time. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:4697-4711. [PMID: 38841807 PMCID: PMC11350084 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Sulfur (S) is an essential element for life on Earth. Plants are able to take up and utilize sulfate (SO42-), the most oxidized inorganic form of S compounds on Earth, through the reductive S assimilatory pathway that couples with photosynthetic energy conversion. Organic S compounds are subsequently synthesized in plants and made accessible to animals, primarily as the amino acid methionine. Thus, plant S metabolism clearly has nutritional importance in the global food chain. S metabolites may be part of redox regulation and drivers of essential metabolic pathways as cofactors and prosthetic groups, such as Fe-S centers, CoA, thiamine, and lipoic acid. The evolution of the S metabolic pathways and enzymes reflects the critical importance of functional innovation and diversifications. Here we review the major evolutionary alterations that took place in S metabolism across different scales and outline research directions that may take advantage of understanding the evolutionary adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Kopriva
- Institute for Plant Sciences, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Parisa Rahimzadeh Karvansara
- Institute of Molecular Photosynthesis, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hideki Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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3
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Miao F, Wang Y, Haq NU, Lyu MJA, Zhu XG. Rewiring of primary metabolism for ammonium recycling under short-term low CO 2 treatment - its implication for C 4 evolution. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1322261. [PMID: 39148616 PMCID: PMC11324553 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1322261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
The dramatic decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentration during Oligocene was proposed as directly linked to C4 evolution. However, it remains unclear how the decreased CO2 concentration directly facilitate C4 evolution, besides its role as a selection pressure. We conducted a systematic transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis under short-term low CO2 condition and found that Arabidopsis grown under this condition showed 1) increased expression of most genes encoding C4-related enzymes and transporters; 2) increased expression of genes involved in photorespiration and pathways related to carbon skeleton generation for ammonium refixation; 3) increased expression of genes directly involved in ammonium refixation. Furthermore, we found that in vitro treatment of leaves with NH4 + induced a similar pattern of changes in C4 related genes and genes involved in ammonium refixation. These data support the view that Arabidopsis grown under short-term low CO2 conditions rewired its metabolism to supply carbon skeleton for ammonium recycling, during which process the expression of C4 genes were up-regulated as a result of a hitchhiking process. This study provides new insights into the adaptation of the C3 model plant Arabidopsis under low CO2 conditions and suggests that low CO2 can facilitate the evolution of C4 photosynthesis beyond the commonly assumed role of being a selection pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenfen Miao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Noor Ui Haq
- Department of Computer Science and Bioinformatics, Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ming-Ju Amy Lyu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Guang Zhu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, China
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4
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Mabry ME, Abrahams RS, Al-Shehbaz IA, Baker WJ, Barak S, Barker MS, Barrett RL, Beric A, Bhattacharya S, Carey SB, Conant GC, Conran JG, Dassanayake M, Edger PP, Hall JC, Hao Y, Hendriks KP, Hibberd JM, King GJ, Kliebenstein DJ, Koch MA, Leitch IJ, Lens F, Lysak MA, McAlvay AC, McKibben MTW, Mercati F, Moore RC, Mummenhoff K, Murphy DJ, Nikolov LA, Pisias M, Roalson EH, Schranz ME, Thomas SK, Yu Q, Yocca A, Pires JC, Harkess AE. Complementing model species with model clades. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1205-1226. [PMID: 37824826 PMCID: PMC11062466 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Model species continue to underpin groundbreaking plant science research. At the same time, the phylogenetic resolution of the land plant tree of life continues to improve. The intersection of these 2 research paths creates a unique opportunity to further extend the usefulness of model species across larger taxonomic groups. Here we promote the utility of the Arabidopsis thaliana model species, especially the ability to connect its genetic and functional resources, to species across the entire Brassicales order. We focus on the utility of using genomics and phylogenomics to bridge the evolution and diversification of several traits across the Brassicales to the resources in Arabidopsis, thereby extending scope from a model species by establishing a "model clade." These Brassicales-wide traits are discussed in the context of both the model species Arabidopsis and the family Brassicaceae. We promote the utility of such a "model clade" and make suggestions for building global networks to support future studies in the model order Brassicales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makenzie E Mabry
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - R Shawn Abrahams
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | | | | | - Simon Barak
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Michael S Barker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Russell L Barrett
- National Herbarium of New South Wales, Australian Botanic Garden, Locked Bag 6002, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Beric
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Samik Bhattacharya
- Department of Biology, Botany, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Sarah B Carey
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Gavin C Conant
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics Research Center, Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - John G Conran
- ACEBB and SGC, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Maheshi Dassanayake
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Patrick P Edger
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48864, USA
| | - Jocelyn C Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Yue Hao
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Kasper P Hendriks
- Department of Biology, Botany, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
- Functional Traits, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, Leiden 2300 RA, the Netherlands
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Graham J King
- Southern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
| | | | - Marcus A Koch
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilia J Leitch
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Frederic Lens
- Functional Traits, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, Leiden 2300 RA, the Netherlands
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Plant Sciences, Leiden University, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Martin A Lysak
- CEITEC, and NCBR, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alex C McAlvay
- Institute of Economic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx, NY 10458, USA
| | - Michael T W McKibben
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Francesco Mercati
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and Bioresource (IBBR), Palermo 90129, Italy
| | | | - Klaus Mummenhoff
- Department of Biology, Botany, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Daniel J Murphy
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | | | - Michael Pisias
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Eric H Roalson
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - M Eric Schranz
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Shawn K Thomas
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Bioinformatics and Analytics Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Qingyi Yu
- Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
| | - Alan Yocca
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - J Chris Pires
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1170, USA
| | - Alex E Harkess
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
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5
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Bano Z, Westhoff P. A K homology (KH) domain protein identified by a forward genetic screen affects bundle sheath anatomy in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT DIRECT 2024; 8:e577. [PMID: 38576996 PMCID: PMC10990680 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Because of their photosynthetic capacity, leaves function as solar panels providing the basis for the growth of the entire plant. Although the molecular mechanisms of leaf development have been well studied in model dicot and monocot species, a lot of information is still needed about the interplay of the genes that regulate cell division and differentiation and thereby affect the photosynthetic performance of the leaf. We were specifically interested in understanding the differentiation of mesophyll and bundle sheath cells in Arabidopsis thaliana and aimed to identify genes that are involved in determining bundle sheath anatomy. To this end, we established a forward genetic screen by using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) for mutagenizing a reporter line expressing a chloroplast-targeted green fluorescent protein (sGFP) under the control of a bundle sheath-specific promoter. Based on the GFP fluorescence phenotype, numerous mutants were produced, and by pursuing a mapping-by-sequencing approach, the genomic segments containing mutated candidate genes were identified. One of the lines with an enhanced GFP fluorescence phenotype (named ELEVATED BUNDLE SHEATH CELLS SIGNAL 1 [ebss1]) was selected for further study, and the responsible gene was verified by CRISPR/Cas9-based mutagenesis of candidate genes located in the mapped genomic segment. The verified gene, At2g25970, encodes a K homology (KH) domain-containing protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahida Bano
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Developmental BiologyHeinrich‐Heine‐UniversityDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Peter Westhoff
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Developmental BiologyHeinrich‐Heine‐UniversityDüsseldorfGermany
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6
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Triesch S, Denton AK, Bouvier JW, Buchmann JP, Reichel-Deland V, Guerreiro RNFM, Busch N, Schlüter U, Stich B, Kelly S, Weber APM. Transposable elements contribute to the establishment of the glycine shuttle in Brassicaceae species. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2024; 26:270-281. [PMID: 38168881 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
C3 -C4 intermediate photosynthesis has evolved at least five times convergently in the Brassicaceae, despite this family lacking bona fide C4 species. The establishment of this carbon concentrating mechanism is known to require a complex suite of ultrastructural modifications, as well as changes in spatial expression patterns, which are both thought to be underpinned by a reconfiguration of existing gene-regulatory networks. However, to date, the mechanisms which underpin the reconfiguration of these gene networks are largely unknown. In this study, we used a pan-genomic association approach to identify genomic features that could confer differential gene expression towards the C3 -C4 intermediate state by analysing eight C3 species and seven C3 -C4 species from five independent origins in the Brassicaceae. We found a strong correlation between transposable element (TE) insertions in cis-regulatory regions and C3 -C4 intermediacy. Specifically, our study revealed 113 gene models in which the presence of a TE within a gene correlates with C3 -C4 intermediate photosynthesis. In this set, genes involved in the photorespiratory glycine shuttle are enriched, including the glycine decarboxylase P-protein whose expression domain undergoes a spatial shift during the transition to C3 -C4 photosynthesis. When further interrogating this gene, we discovered independent TE insertions in its upstream region which we conclude to be responsible for causing the spatial shift in GLDP1 gene expression. Our findings hint at a pivotal role of TEs in the evolution of C3 -C4 intermediacy, especially in mediating differential spatial gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Triesch
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - A K Denton
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - J W Bouvier
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - J P Buchmann
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Biological Data Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - V Reichel-Deland
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - R N F M Guerreiro
- Institute for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics of Plants, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - N Busch
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - U Schlüter
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - B Stich
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics of Plants, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - S Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - A P M Weber
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Düsseldorf, Germany
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7
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Kliebenstein DJ. Is specialized metabolite regulation specialized? JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:4942-4948. [PMID: 37260397 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent technical and theoretical advances have generated an explosion in the identification of specialized metabolite pathways. In comparison, our understanding of how these pathways are regulated is relatively lagging. This and the relatively young age of specialized metabolite pathways has partly contributed to a default and common paradigm whereby specialized metabolite regulation is theorized as relatively simple with a few key transcription factors and the compounds are non-regulatory end-products. In contrast, studies into model specialized metabolites, such as glucosinolates, are beginning to identify a new understanding whereby specialized metabolites are highly integrated into the plants' core metabolic, physiological, and developmental pathways. This model includes a greatly extended compendium of transcription factors controlling the pathway, key transcription factors that co-evolve with the pathway and simultaneously control core metabolic and developmental components, and finally the compounds themselves evolve regulatory connections to integrate into the plants signaling machinery. In this review, these concepts are illustrated using studies in the glucosinolate pathway within the Brassicales. This suggests that the broader community needs to reconsider how they do or do not integrate specialized metabolism into the regulatory network of their study species.
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8
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Zhao W, Li J, Sun X, Zheng Q, Liu J, Hua W, Liu J. Integrated global analysis in spider flowers illuminates features underlying the evolution and maintenance of C 4 photosynthesis. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad129. [PMID: 37560018 PMCID: PMC10407600 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The carbon concentrating mechanism-C4 photosynthesis-represents a classic example of convergent evolution, but how this important trait originated and evolved remains largely enigmatic. The spider flower Gynandropsis gynandra is a valuable leafy vegetable crop and medicinal plant that has also been recognized as a C4 model species. Here we present a high-quality chromosome-scale annotated genome assembly of G. gynandra through a combination of Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), HiFi and Hi-C technology. The 17 super-scaffolds cover 98.66% of the estimated genome (997.61 Mb), with a contig N50 of 11.43 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 51.02 Mb. Repetitive elements occupy up to 71.91% of its genome, and over half are long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) derived from recent bursts, contributing to genome size expansion. Strikingly, LTR-RT explosion also played a critical role in C4 evolution by altering expression features of photosynthesis-associated genes via preferential insertion in promoters. Integrated multiomics analyses of G. gynandra and the ornamental horticulture C3 relative Tarenaya hassleriana reveal that species-specific whole-genome duplication, gene family expansion, recent LTR-RT amplification, and more recent tandem duplication events have all facilitated the evolution of C4 photosynthesis, revealing uniqueness of C4 evolution in the Cleome genus. Moreover, high leaf vein density and heat stress resilience are associated with shifted gene expression patterns. The mode of C3-to-C4 transition found here yields new insights into evolutionary convergence of a complex plant trait. The availability of this reference-grade genomic resource makes G. gynandra an ideal model system facilitating efforts toward C4-aimed crop engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xingchao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Qiwei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Hua
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
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9
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Singh P, Stevenson SR, Dickinson PJ, Reyna-Llorens I, Tripathi A, Reeves G, Schreier TB, Hibberd JM. C 4 gene induction during de-etiolation evolved through changes in cis to allow integration with ancestral C 3 gene regulatory networks. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade9756. [PMID: 36989352 PMCID: PMC10058240 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade9756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis has evolved by repurposing enzymes found in C3 plants. Compared with the ancestral C3 state, accumulation of C4 cycle proteins is enhanced. We used de-etiolation of C4 Gynandropsis gynandra and C3 Arabidopsis thaliana to understand this process. C4 gene expression and chloroplast biogenesis in G. gynandra were tightly coordinated. Although C3 and C4 photosynthesis genes showed similar induction patterns, in G. gynandra, C4 genes were more strongly induced than orthologs from A. thaliana. In vivo binding of TGA and homeodomain as well as light-responsive elements such as G- and I-box motifs were associated with the rapid increase in transcripts of C4 genes. Deletion analysis confirmed that regions containing G- and I-boxes were necessary for high expression. The data support a model in which accumulation of transcripts derived from C4 photosynthesis genes in C4 leaves is enhanced because modifications in cis allowed integration into ancestral transcriptional networks.
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10
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Miao X, Zhu W, Jin Q, Song Z, Li L. ZmHOX32 is related to photosynthesis and likely functions in plant architecture of maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1119678. [PMID: 37035059 PMCID: PMC10073575 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1119678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
HOX32, a member of the HD-ZIP III family, functions in the leaf morphogenesis and plant photosynthesis. However, the regulatory mechanism of HOX32 in maize has not been studied and the regulatory relationship in photosynthesis is unclear. We conducted a comprehensive study, including phylogenetic analysis, expression profiling at both transcriptome and translatome levels, subcellular localization, tsCUT&Tag, co-expression analysis, and association analysis with agronomic traits on HOX32 for the dissection of the functional roles of HOX32. ZmHOX32 shows conservation in plants. As expected, maize HOX32 protein is specifically expressed in the nucleus. ZmHOX32 showed constitutively expression at both transcriptome and translatome levels. We uncovered the downstream target genes of ZmHOX32 by tsCUT&Tag and constructed a cascaded regulatory network combining the co-expression networks. Both direct and indirect targets of ZmHOX32 showed significant gene ontology enrichment in terms of photosynthesis in maize. The association study suggested that ZmHOX32 plays an important role in regulation of plant architecture. Our results illustrate a complex regulatory network of HOX32 involving in photosynthesis and plant architecture, which deepens our understanding of the phenotypic variation in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Miao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanchao Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Qixiao Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Zemeng Song
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
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11
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Michaud O, Krahmer J, Galbier F, Lagier M, Galvão VC, Ince YÇ, Trevisan M, Knerova J, Dickinson P, Hibberd JM, Zeeman SC, Fankhauser C. Abscisic acid modulates neighbor proximity-induced leaf hyponasty in Arabidopsis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 191:542-557. [PMID: 36135791 PMCID: PMC9806605 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Leaves of shade-avoiding plants such as Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) change their growth pattern and position in response to low red to far-red ratios (LRFRs) encountered in dense plant communities. Under LRFR, transcription factors of the phytochrome-interacting factor (PIF) family are derepressed. PIFs induce auxin production, which is required for promoting leaf hyponasty, thereby favoring access to unfiltered sunlight. Abscisic acid (ABA) has also been implicated in the control of leaf hyponasty, with gene expression patterns suggesting that LRFR regulates the ABA response. Here, we show that LRFR leads to a rapid increase in ABA levels in leaves. Changes in ABA levels depend on PIFs, which regulate the expression of genes encoding isoforms of the enzyme catalyzing a rate-limiting step in ABA biosynthesis. Interestingly, ABA biosynthesis and signaling mutants have more erect leaves than wild-type Arabidopsis under white light but respond less to LRFR. Consistent with this, ABA application decreases leaf angle under white light; however, this response is inhibited under LRFR. Tissue-specific interference with ABA signaling indicates that an ABA response is required in different cell types for LRFR-induced hyponasty. Collectively, our data indicate that LRFR triggers rapid PIF-mediated ABA production. ABA plays a different role in controlling hyponasty under white light than under LRFR. Moreover, ABA exerts its activity in multiple cell types to control leaf position.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johanna Krahmer
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Centre for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Génopode Building, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Florian Galbier
- Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Universität-Str. 2, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Martine Trevisan
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Centre for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Génopode Building, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Jana Knerova
- Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, Cambridge, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Patrick Dickinson
- Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, Cambridge, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, Cambridge, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Samuel C Zeeman
- Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Universität-Str. 2, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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12
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Tao S, Zhang W. Network and epigenetic characterization of subsets of genes specifically expressed in maize bundle sheath cells. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:3581-3590. [PMID: 35860403 PMCID: PMC9287181 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.07.004] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bundle sheath (BS) cells exhibit dramatically structural differences and functional variations at physiological, biochemical and epigenetic levels as compared to mesophyll (M) cells in maize. The regulatory mechanisms controlling functional divergences between M and BS have been extensively investigated. However, BS cell-related regulatory networks are still not completely characterized. To address this, we herein conducted WGCNA-related co-expression assays using bulk M and BS cell RNA-seq data sets and identified a module containing 384 genes highly expressed in BS cells (including 20 hub TFs) instead of M cells. According to the hub TF centered regulatory network, we found that Dof22 and Dof30 might act as key regulators in the regulation of expression of BS-specific genes, and several MYB TFs exhibited a high collaboration with Dof TFs. By comparing the enrichment levels of histone modifications, we found that genes in the aforementioned module were more enriched with histone acetylation as compared to other BS-enriched DEGs with similar expression levels. Moreover, we found that a subset of genes functioning in photosynthesis, protein auto processing and enzymatic activities were significantly enriched with broad H3K4me3. Thus, our study provides evidence showing that regulatory network and histone modifications may play vital roles in the regulation of a subset of genes with important functions in BS cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shentong Tao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production co-sponsored by Province and Ministry (CIC-MCP), Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Wenli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production co-sponsored by Province and Ministry (CIC-MCP), Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
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13
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Dai X, Tu X, Du B, Dong P, Sun S, Wang X, Sun J, Li G, Lu T, Zhong S, Li P. Chromatin and regulatory differentiation between bundle sheath and mesophyll cells in maize. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:675-692. [PMID: 34783109 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
C4 plants partition photosynthesis enzymes between the bundle sheath (BS) and the mesophyll (M) cells for the better delivery of CO2 to RuBisCO and to reduce photorespiration. To better understand how C4 photosynthesis is regulated at the transcriptional level, we performed RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq and Bisulfite-seq (BS-seq) on BS and M cells isolated from maize leaves. By integrating differentially expressed genes with chromatin features, we found that chromatin accessibility coordinates with epigenetic features, especially H3K27me3 modification and CHH methylation, to regulate cell type-preferentially enriched gene expression. Not only the chromatin-accessible regions (ACRs) proximal to the genes (pACRs) but also the distal ACRs (dACRs) are determinants of cell type-preferentially enriched expression. We further identified cell type-preferentially enriched motifs, e.g. AAAG for BS cells and TGACC/T for M cells, and determined their corresponding transcription factors: DOFs and WRKYs. The complex interaction between cis and trans factors in the preferential expression of C4 genes was also observed. Interestingly, cell type-preferentially enriched gene expression can be fine-tuned by the coordination of multiple chromatin features. Such coordination may be critical in ensuring the cell type-specific function of key C4 genes. Based on the observed cell type-preferentially enriched expression pattern and coordinated chromatin features, we predicted a set of functionally unknown genes, e.g. Zm00001d042050 and Zm00001d040659, to be potential key C4 genes. Our findings provide deep insight into the architectures associated with C4 gene expression and could serve as a valuable resource to further identify the regulatory mechanisms present in C4 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuru Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomic Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tu
- Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Baijuan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomic Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Pengfei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shilei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomic Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xianglan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomic Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Biotechnology Research Institute/National Key Facility for Gene Resources and Gene Improvement, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Gang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomic Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Tiegang Lu
- Biotechnology Research Institute/National Key Facility for Gene Resources and Gene Improvement, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Silin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pinghua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomic Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
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Lu J, Pan C, Li X, Huang Z, Shu J, Wang X, Lu X, Pan F, Hu J, Zhang H, Su W, Zhang M, Du Y, Liu L, Guo Y, Li J. OBV (obscure vein), a C 2H 2 zinc finger transcription factor, positively regulates chloroplast development and bundle sheath extension formation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaf veins. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2021; 8:230. [PMID: 34719693 PMCID: PMC8558323 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-021-00659-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Leaf veins play an important role in plant growth and development, and the bundle sheath (BS) is believed to greatly improve the photosynthetic efficiency of C4 plants. The OBV mutation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) results in dark veins and has been used widely in processing tomato varieties. However, physiological performance has difficulty explaining fitness in production. In this study, we confirmed that this mutation was caused by both the increased chlorophyll content and the absence of bundle sheath extension (BSE) in the veins. Using genome-wide association analysis and map-based cloning, we revealed that OBV encoded a C2H2L domain class transcription factor. It was localized in the nucleus and presented cell type-specific gene expression in the leaf veins. Furthermore, we verified the gene function by generating CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and overexpression mutants of the tomato gene. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that OBV was involved in regulating chloroplast development and photosynthesis, which greatly supported the change in chlorophyll content by mutation. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that OBV affected the growth and development of tomato by regulating chloroplast development in leaf veins. This study also provides a solid foundation to further decipher the mechanism of BSEs and to understand the evolution of photosynthesis in land plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Chunyang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zejun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jinshuai Shu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Feng Pan
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Junling Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Wenyue Su
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yongchen Du
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yanmei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Junming Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
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15
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Cui H. Challenges and Approaches to Crop Improvement Through C3-to-C4 Engineering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:715391. [PMID: 34594351 PMCID: PMC8476962 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.715391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
With a rapidly growing world population and dwindling natural resources, we are now facing the enormous challenge of increasing crop yields while simultaneously improving the efficiency of resource utilization. Introduction of C4 photosynthesis into C3 crops is widely accepted as a key strategy to meet this challenge because C4 plants are more efficient than C3 plants in photosynthesis and resource usage, particularly in hot climates, where the potential for productivity is high. Lending support to the feasibility of this C3-to-C4 engineering, evidence indicates that C4 photosynthesis has evolved from C3 photosynthesis in multiple lineages. Nevertheless, C3-to-C4 engineering is not an easy task, as several features essential to C4 photosynthesis must be introduced into C3 plants. One such feature is the spatial separation of the two phases of photosynthesis (CO2 fixation and carbohydrate synthesis) into the mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, respectively. Another feature is the Kranz anatomy, characterized by a close association between the mesophyll and bundle sheath (BS) cells (1:1 ratio). These anatomical features, along with a C4-specific carbon fixation enzyme (PEPC), form a CO2-concentration mechanism that ensures a high photosynthetic efficiency. Much effort has been taken in the past to introduce the C4 mechanism into C3 plants, but none of these attempts has met with success, which is in my opinion due to a lack of system-level understanding and manipulation of the C3 and C4 pathways. As a prerequisite for the C3-to-C4 engineering, I propose that not only the mechanisms that control the Kranz anatomy and cell-type-specific expression in C3 and C4 plants must be elucidated, but also a good understanding of the gene regulatory network underlying C3 and C4 photosynthesis must be achieved. In this review, I first describe the past and current efforts to increase photosynthetic efficiency in C3 plants and their limitations; I then discuss a systems approach to tackling down this challenge, some practical issues, and recent technical innovations that would help us to solve these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongchang Cui
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
- College of Life Science, Northwest Science University of Agriculture and Forestry, Yangling, China
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16
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Hua L, Stevenson SR, Reyna-Llorens I, Xiong H, Kopriva S, Hibberd JM. The bundle sheath of rice is conditioned to play an active role in water transport as well as sulfur assimilation and jasmonic acid synthesis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 107:268-286. [PMID: 33901336 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Leaves comprise multiple cell types but our knowledge of the patterns of gene expression that underpin their functional specialization is fragmentary. Our understanding and ability to undertake the rational redesign of these cells is therefore limited. We aimed to identify genes associated with the incompletely understood bundle sheath of C3 plants, which represents a key target associated with engineering traits such as C4 photosynthesis into Oryza sativa (rice). To better understand the veins, bundle sheath and mesophyll cells of rice, we used laser capture microdissection followed by deep sequencing. Gene expression of the mesophyll is conditioned to allow coenzyme metabolism and redox homeostasis, as well as photosynthesis. In contrast, the bundle sheath is specialized in water transport, sulphur assimilation and jasmonic acid biosynthesis. Despite the small chloroplast compartment of bundle sheath cells, substantial photosynthesis gene expression was detected. These patterns of gene expression were not associated with the presence or absence of specific transcription factors in each cell type, but were instead associated with gradients in expression across the leaf. Comparative analysis with C3 Arabidopsis identified a small gene set preferentially expressed in the bundle sheath cells of both species. This gene set included genes encoding transcription factors from 14 orthogroups and proteins allowing water transport, sulphate assimilation and jasmonic acid synthesis. The most parsimonious explanation for our findings is that bundle sheath cells from the last common ancestor of rice and Arabidopsis were specialized in this manner, and as the species diverged these patterns of gene expression have been maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Hua
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Sean R Stevenson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Ivan Reyna-Llorens
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Haiyan Xiong
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Stanislav Kopriva
- Institute for Plant Sciences, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, Cologne, 50674, Germany
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
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