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Alenazi AS, Pereira L, Christin PA, Osborne CP, Dunning LT. Identifying genomic regions associated with C 4 photosynthetic activity and leaf anatomy in Alloteropsis semialata. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1698-1710. [PMID: 38953386 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19933] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis is a complex trait requiring multiple developmental and metabolic alterations. Despite this complexity, it has independently evolved over 60 times. However, our understanding of the transition to C4 is complicated by the fact that variation in photosynthetic type is usually segregated between species that diverged a long time ago. Here, we perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the grass Alloteropsis semialata, the only known species to have C3, intermediate, and C4 accessions that recently diverged. We aimed to identify genomic regions associated with the strength of the C4 cycle (measured using δ13C), and the development of C4 leaf anatomy. Genomic regions correlated with δ13C include regulators of C4 decarboxylation enzymes (RIPK), nonphotochemical quenching (SOQ1), and the development of Kranz anatomy (SCARECROW-LIKE). Regions associated with the development of C4 leaf anatomy in the intermediate individuals contain additional leaf anatomy regulators, including those responsible for vein patterning (GSL8) and meristem determinacy (GIF1). The parallel recruitment of paralogous leaf anatomy regulators between A. semialata and other C4 lineages implies the co-option of these genes is context-dependent, which likely has implications for the engineering of the C4 trait into C3 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S Alenazi
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Northern Border University, Arar, 91431, Saudi Arabia
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Lara Pereira
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Pascal-Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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2
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Leung A, Patel R, Chirachon V, Stata M, Macfarlane TD, Ludwig M, Busch FA, Sage TL, Sage RF. Tribulus (Zygophyllaceae) as a case study for the evolution of C 2 and C 4 photosynthesis. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024. [PMID: 39132738 DOI: 10.1111/pce.15069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
C2 photosynthesis is a photosynthetic pathway in which photorespiratory CO2 release and refixation are enhanced in leaf bundle sheath (BS) tissues. The evolution of C2 photosynthesis has been hypothesized to be a major step in the origin of C4 photosynthesis, highlighting the importance of studying C2 evolution. In this study, physiological, anatomical, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical properties of leaf photosynthetic tissues were investigated in six non-C4 Tribulus species and four C4 Tribulus species. At 42°C, T. cristatus exhibited a photosynthetic CO2 compensation point in the absence of respiration (C*) of 21 µmol mol-1, below the C3 mean C* of 73 µmol mol-1. Tribulus astrocarpus had a C* value at 42°C of 55 µmol mol-1, intermediate between the C3 species and the C2 T. cristatus. Glycine decarboxylase (GDC) allocation to BS tissues was associated with lower C*. Tribulus cristatus and T. astrocarpus allocated 86% and 30% of their GDC to the BS tissues, respectively, well above the C3 mean of 11%. Tribulus astrocarpus thus exhibits a weaker C2 (termed sub-C2) phenotype. Increased allocation of mitochondria to the BS and decreased length-to-width ratios of BS cells, were present in non-C4 species, indicating a potential role in C2 and C4 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Leung
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ria Patel
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Varosak Chirachon
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matt Stata
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, and Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Terry D Macfarlane
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australian Herbarium, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Martha Ludwig
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Florian A Busch
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Biosciences and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tammy L Sage
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rowan F Sage
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Zhou Y, Osborne CP. Stomatal dynamics in Alloteropsis semialata arise from the evolving interplay between photosynthetic physiology, stomatal size and biochemistry. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024. [PMID: 39037305 DOI: 10.1111/pce.15047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
C4 plants are expected to have faster stomatal movements than C3 species because they tend to have smaller guard cells. However, little is known about how the evolution of C4 photosynthesis influences stomatal dynamics in relation to guard cell size and environmental factors. We studied photosynthetically diverse populations of the grass Alloteropsis semialata, showing that the origin of C4 photosynthesis in this species was associated with a shortening of stomatal guard and subsidiary cells. However, for a given cell size, C4 and C3-C4 intermediate individuals had similar or slower light-induced stomatal opening speeds than C3 individuals. Conversely, when exposed to decreasing light, stomata in C4 plants closed as fast as those in non-C4 plants. Polyploid formation in some C4 plants led to larger stomatal cells and was associated with slower stomatal opening. Conversely, diversification of C4 diploid plants into wetter environments was associated with an acceleration of stomatal opening. Overall, there was significant relationship between light-saturated photosynthesis and stomatal opening speed in the C4 plants, implying that photosynthetic energy production was limiting for stomatal opening. Stomatal dynamics in this wild grass therefore arise from the evolving interplay between photosynthetic physiology and the size and biochemical function of stomatal complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Zhou
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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4
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Sotelo G, Gamboa S, Dunning LT, Christin PA, Varela S. C 4 photosynthesis provided an immediate demographic advantage to populations of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:774-785. [PMID: 38389217 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis is a key innovation in land plant evolution, but its immediate effects on population demography are unclear. We explore the early impact of the C4 trait on the trajectories of C4 and non-C4 populations of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. We combine niche models projected into paleoclimate layers for the last 5 million years with demographic models based on genomic data. The initial split between C4 and non-C4 populations was followed by a larger expansion of the ancestral C4 population, and further diversification led to the unparalleled expansion of descendant C4 populations. Overall, C4 populations spread over three continents and achieved the highest population growth, in agreement with a broader climatic niche that rendered a large potential range over time. The C4 populations that remained in the region of origin, however, experienced lower population growth, rather consistent with local geographic constraints. Moreover, the posterior transfer of some C4-related characters to non-C4 counterparts might have facilitated the recent expansion of non-C4 populations in the region of origin. Altogether, our findings support that C4 photosynthesis provided an immediate demographic advantage to A. semialata populations, but its effect might be masked by geographic contingencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Sotelo
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Sara Gamboa
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pascal-Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sara Varela
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, 36310, Vigo, Spain
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5
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Pereira L, Bianconi ME, Osborne CP, Christin PA, Dunning LT. Alloteropsis semialata as a study system for C4 evolution in grasses. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:365-382. [PMID: 37422712 PMCID: PMC10667010 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous groups of plants have adapted to CO2 limitations by independently evolving C4 photosynthesis. This trait relies on concerted changes in anatomy and biochemistry to concentrate CO2 within the leaf and thereby boost productivity in tropical conditions. The ecological and economic importance of C4 photosynthesis has motivated intense research, often relying on comparisons between distantly related C4 and non-C4 plants. The photosynthetic type is fixed in most species, with the notable exception of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. This species includes populations exhibiting the ancestral C3 state in southern Africa, intermediate populations in the Zambezian region and C4 populations spread around the palaeotropics. SCOPE We compile here the knowledge on the distribution and evolutionary history of the Alloteropsis genus as a whole and discuss how this has furthered our understanding of C4 evolution. We then present a chromosome-level reference genome for a C3 individual and compare the genomic architecture with that of a C4 accession of A. semialata. CONCLUSIONS Alloteropsis semialata is one of the best systems in which to investigate the evolution of C4 photosynthesis because the genetic and phenotypic variation provides a fertile ground for comparative and population-level studies. Preliminary comparative genomic investigations show that the C3 and C4 genomes are highly syntenic and have undergone a modest amount of gene duplication and translocation since the different photosynthetic groups diverged. The background knowledge and publicly available genomic resources make A. semialata a great model for further comparative analyses of photosynthetic diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Pereira
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN,UK
| | - Matheus E Bianconi
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN,UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Pascal-Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN,UK
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN,UK
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6
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Schlüter U, Bouvier JW, Guerreiro R, Malisic M, Kontny C, Westhoff P, Stich B, Weber APM. Brassicaceae display variation in efficiency of photorespiratory carbon-recapturing mechanisms. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:6631-6649. [PMID: 37392176 PMCID: PMC10662225 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad250] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Carbon-concentrating mechanisms enhance the carboxylase efficiency of Rubisco by providing supra-atmospheric concentrations of CO2 in its surroundings. Beside the C4 photosynthesis pathway, carbon concentration can also be achieved by the photorespiratory glycine shuttle which requires fewer and less complex modifications. Plants displaying CO2 compensation points between 10 ppm and 40 ppm are often considered to utilize such a photorespiratory shuttle and are termed 'C3-C4 intermediates'. In the present study, we perform a physiological, biochemical, and anatomical survey of a large number of Brassicaceae species to better understand the C3-C4 intermediate phenotype, including its basic components and its plasticity. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested that C3-C4 metabolism evolved up to five times independently in the Brassicaceae. The efficiency of the pathway showed considerable variation. Centripetal accumulation of organelles in the bundle sheath was consistently observed in all C3-C4-classified taxa, indicating a crucial role for anatomical features in CO2-concentrating pathways. Leaf metabolite patterns were strongly influenced by the individual species, but accumulation of photorespiratory shuttle metabolites glycine and serine was generally observed. Analysis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities suggested that C4-like shuttles have not evolved in the investigated Brassicaceae. Convergent evolution of the photorespiratory shuttle indicates that it represents a distinct photosynthesis type that is beneficial in some environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urte Schlüter
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jacques W Bouvier
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ricardo Guerreiro
- Institute for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics of Plants, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Milena Malisic
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Carina Kontny
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Westhoff
- Metabolomics and Metabolism Laboratory, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Benjamin Stich
- Institute for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics of Plants, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas P M Weber
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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7
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Alenazi AS, Bianconi ME, Middlemiss E, Milenkovic V, Curran EV, Sotelo G, Lundgren MR, Nyirenda F, Pereira L, Christin PA, Dunning LT, Osborne CP. Leaf anatomy explains the strength of C 4 activity within the grass species Alloteropsis semialata. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023. [PMID: 37184423 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis results from anatomical and biochemical characteristics that together concentrate CO2 around ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), increasing productivity in warm conditions. This complex trait evolved through the gradual accumulation of components, and particular species possess only some of these, resulting in weak C4 activity. The consequences of adding C4 components have been modelled and investigated through comparative approaches, but the intraspecific dynamics responsible for strengthening the C4 pathway remain largely unexplored. Here, we evaluate the link between anatomical variation and C4 activity, focusing on populations of the photosynthetically diverse grass Alloteropsis semialata that fix various proportions of carbon via the C4 cycle. The carbon isotope ratios in these populations range from values typical of C3 to those typical of C4 plants. This variation is statistically explained by a combination of leaf anatomical traits linked to the preponderance of bundle sheath tissue. We hypothesize that increased investment in bundle sheath boosts the strength of the intercellular C4 pump and shifts the balance of carbon acquisition towards the C4 cycle. Carbon isotope ratios indicating a stronger C4 pathway are associated with warmer, drier environments, suggesting that incremental anatomical alterations can lead to the emergence of C4 physiology during local adaptation within metapopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S Alenazi
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
| | - Matheus E Bianconi
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ella Middlemiss
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Vanja Milenkovic
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emma V Curran
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Graciela Sotelo
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Marjorie R Lundgren
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Florence Nyirenda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Lara Pereira
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pascal-Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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8
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Pradhan B, Panda D, Bishi SK, Chakraborty K, Muthusamy SK, Lenka SK. Progress and prospects of C 4 trait engineering in plants. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2022; 24:920-931. [PMID: 35727191 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13446] [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: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Incorporating C4 photosynthetic traits into C3 crops is a rational approach for sustaining future demands for crop productivity. Using classical plant breeding, engineering this complex trait is unlikely to achieve its target. Therefore, it is critical and timely to implement novel biotechnological crop improvement strategies to accomplish this goal. However, a fundamental understanding of C3 , C4 , and C3 -C4 intermediate metabolism is crucial for the targeted use of biotechnological tools. This review assesses recent progress towards engineering C4 photosynthetic traits in C3 crops. We also discuss lessons learned from successes and failures of recent genetic engineering attempts in C3 crops, highlighting the pros and cons of using rice as a model plant for short-, medium- and long-term goals of genetic engineering. This review provides an integrated approach towards engineering improved photosynthetic efficiency in C3 crops for sustaining food, fibre and fuel production around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Pradhan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty Centre for Integrated Rural Development and Management, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - D Panda
- Department of Biodiversity & Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Odisha, Koraput, India
| | - S K Bishi
- School of Genomics and Molecular Breeding, ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, India
| | - K Chakraborty
- Department of Plant Physiology, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, India
| | - S K Muthusamy
- Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - S K Lenka
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Gujarat Biotechnology University, Gujarat, India
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9
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Rangan P, Wankhede DP, Subramani R, Chinnusamy V, Malik SK, Baig MJ, Singh K, Henry R. Evolution of an intermediate C 4 photosynthesis in the non-foliar tissues of the Poaceae. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2022; 153:125-134. [PMID: 35648247 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-022-00926-7] [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: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) in plants are abaptive features that have evolved to sustain plant growth in unfavorable environments, especially at low atmospheric carbon levels and high temperatures. Uptake of CO2 and its storage in the aerenchyma tissues of Lycopsids and diurnal acidity fluctuation in aquatic plants during the Palaeozoic era (ca. 300 Ma.) would represent the earliest evolution of a CCM. The CCM parts of the dark reactions of photosynthesis have evolved many times, while the light reactions are conserved across plant lineages. A C4 type CCM, leaf C4 photosynthesis is evolved in the PACMAD clade of the Poaceae family. The evolution of C4 photosynthesis from C3 photosynthesis was an abaptation. Photosynthesis in reproductive tissues of sorghum and maize (PACMAD clade) has been shown to be of a weaker C4 type (high CO2 compensation point, low carbon isotope discrimination, and lack of Rubisco compartmentalization, when compared to the normal C4 types) than that in the leaves (normal C4 type). However, this does not fit well with the character polarity concept from an evolutionary perspective. In a recent model proposed for CCM evolution, the development of a rudimentary CCM prior to the evolution of a more efficient CCM (features contrasting to a weaker C4 type, leading to greater biomass production rate) has been suggested. An intermediate crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) type of CCM (rudimentary) was reported in the genera, Brassia, Coryanthes, Eriopsis, Peristeria, of the orchids (well-known group of plants that display the CAM pathway). Similarly, we propose here the evolution of a rudimentary CCM (C4-like type pathway) in the non-foliar tissues of the Poaceae, prior to the evolution of the C4 pathway as identified in the leaves of the C4 species of the PACMAD clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parimalan Rangan
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India.
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | | | - Rajkumar Subramani
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | | | - Surendra K Malik
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | | | - Kuldeep Singh
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Robert Henry
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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10
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Mercado MA, Studer AJ. Meeting in the Middle: Lessons and Opportunities from Studying C 3-C 4 Intermediates. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 73:43-65. [PMID: 35231181 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-102720-114201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of C3-C4 intermediate species nearly 50 years ago opened up a new avenue for studying the evolution of photosynthetic pathways. Intermediate species exhibit anatomical, biochemical, and physiological traits that range from C3 to C4. A key feature of C3-C4 intermediates that utilize C2 photosynthesis is the improvement in photosynthetic efficiency compared with C3 species. Although the recruitment of some core enzymes is shared across lineages, there is significant variability in gene expression patterns, consistent with models that suggest numerous evolutionary paths from C3 to C4 photosynthesis. Despite the many evolutionary trajectories, the recruitment of glycine decarboxylase for C2 photosynthesis is likely required. As technologies enable high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, the discovery of new C3-C4 intermediates species will enrich comparisons between evolutionary lineages. The investigation of C3-C4 intermediate species will enhance our understanding of photosynthetic mechanisms and evolutionary processes and will potentially aid in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony J Studer
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA; ,
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11
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Bianconi ME, Sotelo G, Curran EV, Milenkovic V, Samaritani E, Dunning LT, Bertolino LT, Osborne CP, Christin PA. Upregulation of C 4 characteristics does not consistently improve photosynthetic performance in intraspecific hybrids of a grass. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022. [PMID: 35201618 DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.10.455822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis is thought to have evolved via intermediate stages, with changes towards the C4 phenotype gradually enhancing photosynthetic performance. This hypothesis is widely supported by modelling studies, but experimental tests are missing. Mixing of C4 components to generate artificial intermediates can be achieved via crossing, and the grass Alloteropsis semialata represents an outstanding study system since it includes C4 and non-C4 populations. Here, we analyse F1 hybrids between C3 and C4 , and C3 +C4 and C4 genotypes to determine whether the acquisition of C4 characteristics increases photosynthetic performance. The hybrids have leaf anatomical characters and C4 gene expression profiles that are largely intermediate between those of their parents. Carbon isotope ratios are similarly intermediate, which suggests that a partial C4 cycle coexists with C3 carbon fixation in the hybrids. This partial C4 phenotype is associated with C4 -like photosynthetic efficiency in C3 +C4 × C4 , but not in C3 × C4 hybrids, which are overall less efficient than both parents. Our results support the hypothesis that the photosynthetic gains from the upregulation of C4 characteristics depend on coordinated changes in anatomy and biochemistry. The order of acquisition of C4 components is thus constrained, with C3 +C4 species providing an essential step for C4 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus E Bianconi
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Graciela Sotelo
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emma V Curran
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Vanja Milenkovic
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emanuela Samaritani
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lígia T Bertolino
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pascal-Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
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12
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Bianconi ME, Sotelo G, Curran EV, Milenkovic V, Samaritani E, Dunning LT, Bertolino LT, Osborne CP, Christin P. Upregulation of C 4 characteristics does not consistently improve photosynthetic performance in intraspecific hybrids of a grass. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:1398-1411. [PMID: 35201618 PMCID: PMC9314825 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis is thought to have evolved via intermediate stages, with changes towards the C4 phenotype gradually enhancing photosynthetic performance. This hypothesis is widely supported by modelling studies, but experimental tests are missing. Mixing of C4 components to generate artificial intermediates can be achieved via crossing, and the grass Alloteropsis semialata represents an outstanding study system since it includes C4 and non-C4 populations. Here, we analyse F1 hybrids between C3 and C4 , and C3 +C4 and C4 genotypes to determine whether the acquisition of C4 characteristics increases photosynthetic performance. The hybrids have leaf anatomical characters and C4 gene expression profiles that are largely intermediate between those of their parents. Carbon isotope ratios are similarly intermediate, which suggests that a partial C4 cycle coexists with C3 carbon fixation in the hybrids. This partial C4 phenotype is associated with C4 -like photosynthetic efficiency in C3 +C4 × C4 , but not in C3 × C4 hybrids, which are overall less efficient than both parents. Our results support the hypothesis that the photosynthetic gains from the upregulation of C4 characteristics depend on coordinated changes in anatomy and biochemistry. The order of acquisition of C4 components is thus constrained, with C3 +C4 species providing an essential step for C4 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus E. Bianconi
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Graciela Sotelo
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Emma V. Curran
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Vanja Milenkovic
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Emanuela Samaritani
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Luke T. Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Lígia T. Bertolino
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Colin P. Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
| | - Pascal‐Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldUK
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13
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Artur MAS, Kajala K. Convergent evolution of gene regulatory networks underlying plant adaptations to dry environments. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:3211-3222. [PMID: 34196969 PMCID: PMC8518057 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plants transitioned from an aquatic to a terrestrial lifestyle during their evolution. On land, fluctuations on water availability in the environment became one of the major problems they encountered. The appearance of morpho-physiological adaptations to cope with and tolerate water loss from the cells was undeniably useful to survive on dry land. Some of these adaptations, such as carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), desiccation tolerance (DT) and root impermeabilization, appeared in multiple plant lineages. Despite being crucial for evolution on land, it has been unclear how these adaptations convergently evolved in the various plant lineages. Recent advances on whole genome and transcriptome sequencing are revealing that co-option of genes and gene regulatory networks (GRNs) is a common feature underlying the convergent evolution of these adaptations. In this review, we address how the study of CCMs and DT has provided insight into convergent evolution of GRNs underlying plant adaptation to dry environments, and how these insights could be applied to currently emerging understanding of evolution of root impermeabilization through different barrier cell types. We discuss examples of co-option, conservation and innovation of genes and GRNs at the cell, tissue and organ levels revealed by recent phylogenomic (comparative genomic) and comparative transcriptomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana A. S. Artur
- Laboratory of Plant PhysiologyWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Environmental BiologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Kaisa Kajala
- Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Environmental BiologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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14
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Chotewutmontri P, Barkan A. Ribosome profiling elucidates differential gene expression in bundle sheath and mesophyll cells in maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:59-72. [PMID: 34618144 PMCID: PMC8418429 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The efficiencies offered by C4 photosynthesis have motivated efforts to understand its biochemical, genetic, and developmental basis. Reactions underlying C4 traits in most C4 plants are partitioned between two cell types, bundle sheath (BS), and mesophyll (M) cells. RNA-seq has been used to catalog differential gene expression in BS and M cells in maize (Zea mays) and several other C4 species. However, the contribution of translational control to maintaining the distinct proteomes of BS and M cells has not been addressed. In this study, we used ribosome profiling and RNA-seq to describe translatomes, translational efficiencies, and microRNA abundance in BS- and M-enriched fractions of maize seedling leaves. A conservative interpretation of our data revealed 182 genes exhibiting cell type-dependent differences in translational efficiency, 31 of which encode proteins with core roles in C4 photosynthesis. Our results suggest that non-AUG start codons are used preferentially in upstream open reading frames of BS cells, revealed mRNA sequence motifs that correlate with cell type-dependent translation, and identified potential translational regulators that are differentially expressed. In addition, our data expand the set of genes known to be differentially expressed in BS and M cells, including genes encoding transcription factors and microRNAs. These data add to the resources for understanding the evolutionary and developmental basis of C4 photosynthesis and for its engineering into C3 crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakitchai Chotewutmontri
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403 USA
- Author for communication:
| | - Alice Barkan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403 USA
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15
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Phansopa C, Dunning LT, Reid JD, Christin PA. Lateral Gene Transfer Acts As an Evolutionary Shortcut to Efficient C4 Biochemistry. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:3094-3104. [PMID: 32521019 PMCID: PMC7751175 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptation of proteins for novel functions often requires changes in their kinetics via amino acid replacement. This process can require multiple mutations, and therefore extended periods of selection. The transfer of genes among distinct species might speed up the process, by providing proteins already adapted for the novel function. However, this hypothesis remains untested in multicellular eukaryotes. The grass Alloteropsis is an ideal system to test this hypothesis due to its diversity of genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes one of the key reactions in the C4 pathway. Different accessions of Alloteropsis either use native isoforms relatively recently co-opted from other functions or isoforms that were laterally acquired from distantly related species that evolved the C4 trait much earlier. By comparing the enzyme kinetics, we show that native isoforms with few amino acid replacements have substrate KM values similar to the non-C4 ancestral form, but exhibit marked increases in catalytic efficiency. The co-option of native isoforms was therefore followed by rapid catalytic improvements, which appear to rely on standing genetic variation observed within one species. Native C4 isoforms with more amino acid replacements exhibit additional changes in affinities, suggesting that the initial catalytic improvements are followed by gradual modifications. Finally, laterally acquired genes show both strong increases in catalytic efficiency and important changes in substrate handling. We conclude that the transfer of genes among distant species sharing the same physiological novelty creates an evolutionary shortcut toward more efficient enzymes, effectively accelerating evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chatchawal Phansopa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - James D Reid
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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16
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Olofsson JK, Curran EV, Nyirenda F, Bianconi ME, Dunning LT, Milenkovic V, Sotelo G, Hidalgo O, Powell RF, Lundgren MR, Leitch IJ, Nosil P, Osborne CP, Christin PA. Low dispersal and ploidy differences in a grass maintain photosynthetic diversity despite gene flow and habitat overlap. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2116-2130. [PMID: 33682242 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Geographical isolation facilitates the emergence of distinct phenotypes within a single species, but reproductive barriers or selection are needed to maintain the polymorphism after secondary contact. Here, we explore the processes that maintain intraspecific variation of C4 photosynthesis, a complex trait that results from the combined action of multiple genes. The grass Alloteropsis semialata includes C4 and non-C4 populations, which have coexisted as a polyploid series for more than 1 million years in the miombo woodlands of Africa. Using population genomics, we show that there is genome-wide divergence for the photosynthetic types, but the current geographical distribution does not reflect a simple habitat displacement scenario as the genetic clusters overlap, being occasionally mixed within a given habitat. Despite evidence of recurrent introgression between non-C4 and C4 groups, in both diploids and polyploids, the distinct genetic lineages retain their identity, potentially because of selection against hybrids. Coupled with strong isolation by distance within each genetic group, this selection created a geographical mosaic of photosynthetic types. Diploid C4 and non-C4 types never grew together, and the C4 type from mixed populations constantly belonged to the hexaploid lineage. By limiting reproductive interactions between photosynthetic types, the ploidy difference probably allows their co-occurrence, reinforcing the functional diversity within this species. Together, these factors enabled the persistence of divergent physiological traits of ecological importance within a single species despite gene flow and habitat overlap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill K Olofsson
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emma V Curran
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Florence Nyirenda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Matheus E Bianconi
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Vanja Milenkovic
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Graciela Sotelo
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Marjorie R Lundgren
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Patrik Nosil
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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17
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Russ Monson and the evolution of C 4 photosynthesis. Oecologia 2021; 197:823-840. [PMID: 33661402 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04883-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Early in his career, Russ Monson produced a series of influential eco-physiological papers that helped lay the foundation for the study of C4 plant evolution. Among the most important was a 1984 paper with Maurice Ku and Gerry Edwards that outlined the pathway for the evolutionary bridge from C3 to C4 photosynthesis. This model proposed C4 photosynthesis arose out of a shuttle that imported photorespiratory metabolites into bundle sheath (BS) cells, where glycine decarboxylase cleaved off CO2, allowing it to accumulate and be efficiently refixed by BS Rubisco. By the mid-1990's, Monson's research focus had shifted away from C4 plants, save for one 2003 paper on C3 versus C4 stomatal control with Travis Huxman, and a series of critical reviews on C4 evolution. These reviews heavily influenced the modern synthesis of C4 evolutionary studies, which incorporates phylogenomic understanding with physiological, molecular, and structural characterizations of trait shifts in multiple evolutionary lineages. Subsequent research supported the Monson et al. model from 1984, by showing a glycine shuttle occurs in nearly all C3-C4 intermediate species identified. Monson also examined the physiological controls over the ecological distribution of C3, C3-C4 intermediate, and C4 photosynthesis, building our understanding of the fitness value of the intermediate and C4 pathway in relevant microenvironments. By establishing the foundation for discoveries that followed, Russ Monson can rightly be considered a leading pioneer contributing to the evolutionary biology of C4 photosynthesis.
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18
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Young SNR, Sack L, Sporck-Koehler MJ, Lundgren MR. Why is C4 photosynthesis so rare in trees? JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:4629-4638. [PMID: 32409834 PMCID: PMC7410182 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Since C4 photosynthesis was first discovered >50 years ago, researchers have sought to understand how this complex trait evolved from the ancestral C3 photosynthetic machinery on >60 occasions. Despite its repeated emergence across the plant kingdom, C4 photosynthesis is notably rare in trees, with true C4 trees only existing in Euphorbia. Here we consider aspects of the C4 trait that could limit but not preclude the evolution of a C4 tree, including reduced quantum yield, increased energetic demand, reduced adaptive plasticity, evolutionary constraints, and a new theory that the passive symplastic phloem loading mechanism observed in trees, combined with difficulties in maintaining sugar and water transport over a long pathlength, could make C4 photosynthesis largely incompatible with the tree lifeform. We conclude that the transition to a tree habit within C4 lineages as well as the emergence of C4 photosynthesis within pre-existing trees would both face a series of challenges that together explain the global rarity of C4 photosynthesis in trees. The C4 trees in Euphorbia are therefore exceptional in how they have circumvented every potential barrier to the rare C4 tree lifeform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie N R Young
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Marjorie R Lundgren
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Correspondence:
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19
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Moody NR, Christin PA, Reid JD. Kinetic Modifications of C 4 PEPC Are Qualitatively Convergent, but Larger in Panicum Than in Flaveria. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1014. [PMID: 32719709 PMCID: PMC7350407 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis results from a set of anatomical features and biochemical components that act together to concentrate CO2 within the leaf and boost productivity. This complex trait evolved independently many times, resulting in various realizations of the phenotype, but in all C4 plants the primary fixation of atmospheric carbon is catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Comparisons of C4 and non-C4 PEPC from a few closely related species suggested that the enzyme was modified to meet the demands of the C4 cycle. However, very few C4 groups have been investigated, hampering general conclusions. To test the hypothesis that distant C4 lineages underwent convergent biochemical changes, we compare the kinetic variation between C4 and non-C4 PEPC from a previously assessed young lineage (Flaveria, Asteraceae) with those from an older lineage found within the distantly related grass family (Panicum). Despite the evolutionary distance, the kinetic changes between the non-C4 and C4 PEPC are qualitatively similar, with a decrease in sensitivity for inhibitors, an increased specificity (k cat/K m) for bicarbonate, and a decreased specificity (k cat/K m) for PEP. The differences are more pronounced in the older lineage Panicum, which might indicate that optimization of PEPC for the C4 context increases with evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R. Moody
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | - James D. Reid
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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20
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Khoshravesh R, Stata M, Busch FA, Saladié M, Castelli JM, Dakin N, Hattersley PW, Macfarlane TD, Sage RF, Ludwig M, Sage TL. The Evolutionary Origin of C 4 Photosynthesis in the Grass Subtribe Neurachninae. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 182:566-583. [PMID: 31611421 PMCID: PMC6945869 DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The Australian grass subtribe Neurachninae contains closely related species that use C3, C4, and C2 photosynthesis. To gain insight into the evolution of C4 photosynthesis in grasses, we examined leaf gas exchange, anatomy and ultrastructure, and tissue localization of Gly decarboxylase subunit P (GLDP) in nine Neurachninae species. We identified previously unrecognized variation in leaf structure and physiology within Neurachne that represents varying degrees of C3-C4 intermediacy in the Neurachninae. These include inverse correlations between the apparent photosynthetic carbon dioxide (CO2) compensation point in the absence of day respiration (C * ) and chloroplast and mitochondrial investment in the mestome sheath (MS), where CO2 is concentrated in C2 and C4 Neurachne species; width of the MS cells; frequency of plasmodesmata in the MS cell walls adjoining the parenchymatous bundle sheath; and the proportion of leaf GLDP invested in the MS tissue. Less than 12% of the leaf GLDP was allocated to the MS of completely C3 Neurachninae species with C * values of 56-61 μmol mol-1, whereas two-thirds of leaf GLDP was in the MS of Neurachne lanigera, which exhibits a newly-identified, partial C2 phenotype with C * of 44 μmol mol-1 Increased investment of GLDP in MS tissue of the C2 species was attributed to more MS mitochondria and less GLDP in mesophyll mitochondria. These results are consistent with a model where C4 evolution in Neurachninae initially occurred via an increase in organelle and GLDP content in MS cells, which generated a sink for photorespired CO2 in MS tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Khoshravesh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3B2
| | - Matt Stata
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3B2
| | - Florian A Busch
- Research School of Biology and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Montserrat Saladié
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Joanne M Castelli
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Nicole Dakin
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Paul W Hattersley
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Terry D Macfarlane
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Western Australia 6983 Australia
| | - Rowan F Sage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3B2
| | - Martha Ludwig
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Tammy L Sage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3B2
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21
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Olofsson JK, Dunning LT, Lundgren MR, Barton HJ, Thompson J, Cuff N, Ariyarathne M, Yakandawala D, Sotelo G, Zeng K, Osborne CP, Nosil P, Christin PA. Population-Specific Selection on Standing Variation Generated by Lateral Gene Transfers in a Grass. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3921-3927.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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