Septum formation in amyloplasts produces compound granules in the rice endosperm and is regulated by plastid division proteins

Principles of amyloplast replication in the ovule integuments of Arabidopsis thaliana

Plastids in vascular plants have various differentiated forms, among which amyloplasts are crucial for starch storage and plant productivity. Despite the vast knowledge of the binary-fission mode of chloroplast division, our understanding of the replication of non-photosynthetic plastids, including amyloplasts, remains limited. Recent studies have suggested the involvement of stromules (stroma-filled tubules) in plastid replication when the division apparatus is faulty. However, details of the underlying mechanism(s) and their relevance to normal processes have yet to be elucidated. Here, we developed a live analysis system for studying amyloplast replication using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ovule integuments. We showed the full sequence of amyloplast development and demonstrated that wild-type amyloplasts adopt three modes of replication, binary fission, multiple fission, and stromule-mediated fission, via multi-way placement of the FtsZ ring. The minE mutant, with severely inhibited chloroplast division, showed marked heterogeneity in amyloplast size, caused by size-dependent but wild-type modes of plastid fission. The dynamic properties of stromules distinguish the wild-type and minE phenotypes. In minE cells, extended stromules from giant amyloplasts acquired stability, allowing FtsZ ring assembly and constriction, as well as the growth of starch grains therein. Despite hyper-stromule formation, amyloplasts did not proliferate in the ftsZ null mutant. These data clarify the differences between amyloplast and chloroplast replication and demonstrate that the structural plasticity of amyloplasts underlies the multiplicity of their replication processes. Furthermore, this study shows that stromules can generate daughter plastids via the assembly of the FtsZ ring.

Genome-Wide Identification of microRNAs Associated with Starch Biosynthesis and Endosperm Development in Foxtail Millet

Foxtail millet is one of the oldest crops, and its endosperm contains up to 70% of starch. Grain filling is an important starch accumulation process associated with foxtail millet yield and quality. However, the molecular mechanisms of grain filling in foxtail millet are relatively unclear. Here, we investigate the genes and regulated miRNAs associated with starch synthesis and metabolism in foxtail millet using high-throughput small RNA, mRNA and degradome sequencing. The regulation of starch synthesis and quality is carried out mainly at the 15 DAA to 35 DAA stage during grain filling. The DEGs between waxy and non-waxy foxtail millet were significant, especially for GBSS. Additionally, ptc-miR169i_R+2_1ss21GA, fve-miR396e_L-1R+1, mtr-miR162 and PC-5p-221_23413 regulate the expression of genes associated with the starch synthesis pathway in foxtail millet. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of starch synthesis and quality formation in foxtail millet.

SUBSTANDARD STARCH GRAIN7 regulates starch grain size and endosperm development in rice

Starch is synthesized as insoluble, semicrystalline particles within plant chloroplast and amyloplast, which are referred to as starch grains (SGs). The size and morphology of SGs in the cereal endosperm are diverse and species-specific, representing a key determinant of the suitability of starch for industrial applications. However, the molecular mechanisms modulating SG size in cereal endosperm remain elusive. Here, we functionally characterized the rice (Oryza sativa) mutant substandard starch grain7 (ssg7), which exhibits enlarged SGs and defective endosperm development. SSG7 encodes a plant-specific DUF1001 domain-containing protein homologous to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) CRUMPLED LEAF (AtCRL). SSG7 localizes to the amyloplast membrane in developing endosperm. Several lines of evidence suggest that SSG7 functions together with SSG4 and SSG6, known as two regulators essential for SG development, to control SG size, by interacting with translocon-associated components, which unveils a molecular link between SG development and protein import. Genetically, SSG7 acts synergistically with SSG4 and appears to be functional redundancy with SSG6 in modulating SG size and endosperm development. Collectively, our findings uncover a multimeric functional protein complex involved in SG development in rice. SSG7 represents a promising target gene for the biotechnological modification of SG size, particularly for breeding programs aimed at improving starch quality.

Endosperm structure and Glycemic Index of Japonica Italian rice varieties

Introduction

Given that rice serves as a crucial staple food for a significant portion of the global population and with the increasing number of individuals being diagnosed with diabetes, a primary objective in genetic improvement is to identify and cultivate low Glycemic Index (GI) varieties. This must be done while ensuring the preservation of grain quality.

Methods

25 Italian rice genotypes were characterized calculating their GI "in vivo" and, together with other 29 Italian and non-Italian genotypes they were studied to evaluate the grain inner structure through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) technique. Using an ad-hoc developed algorithm, morphological features were extracted from the FESEM images, to be then inspected by means of multivariate data analysis methods.

Results and Discussion

Large variability was observed in GI values (49 to 92 with respect to glucose), as well as in endosperm morphological features. According to the percentage of porosity is possible to distinguish approximately among rice varieties having a crystalline grain (< 1.7%), those intended for the preparation of risotto (> 5%), and a third group having intermediate characteristics. Waxy rice varieties were not united by a certain porosity level, but they shared a low starch granules eccentricity. With reference to morphological features, rice varieties with low GI (<55) seem to be characterized by large starch granules and low porosity values. Our data testify the wide variability of Italian rice cultivation giving interesting information for future breeding programs, finding that the structure of the endosperm can be regarded as a specific characteristic of each variety.

Rice OsGATA16 is a positive regulator for chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development

Chloroplasts are essential organelles in plants that contain chlorophylls and facilitate photosynthesis for growth and development. As photosynthetic efficiency significantly impacts crop productivity, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of chloroplast development has been crucial in increasing grain and biomass production. This study demonstrates the involvement of OsGATA16, an ortholog of Arabidopsis GATA, NITRATE INDUCIBLE, CARBON-METABOLISM INVOLVED (GNC), and GNC-LIKE/CYTOKININ-RESPONSIVE GATA FACTOR 1 (GNL/CGA1), in chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development in rice (Oryza sativa). The osgata16-1 knockdown mutants produced pale-green leaves, while OsGATA16-overexpressed plants (OsGATA16-OE1) generated dark-green leaves, compared to their parental japonica rice. Reverse transcription and quantitative PCR analysis revealed downregulation of genes related to chloroplast division, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and photosynthesis in the leaves of osgata16-1 and upregulation in those of OsGATA16-OE1. Additionally, in vivo binding assays showed that OsGATA16 directly binds to the promoter regions of OsHEMA, OsCHLH, OsPORA, OsPORB, and OsFtsZ, and upregulates their expression. These findings indicate that OsGATA16 serves as a positive regulator controlling chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development in rice.

Starch Properties and Morphology of Eight Floury Endosperm Mutants in Rice

Besides increasing grain yield, improving rice (Oryza sativa L.) quality has been paid more and more attention recently. Cooking and eating quality (CEQ) is an important indicator of rice quality. Since CEQs are quantitative traits and challenging for measurement, efforts have mainly focused on two major genes, Wx and SSIIa. Chalkiness and floury endosperm significantly affect the eating quality of rice, leading to noticeable changes in CEQ. Due to the easily observable phenotype of floury endosperm, cloning single gene mutations that cause floury endosperm and evaluating changes in CEQs indirectly facilitate the exploration of the minor genes controlling CEQ. In this study, eight mutants with different degrees of floury endosperm, generated through ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, were analyzed. These mutants exhibited wide variation in starch morphology and CEQs. Particularly, the z2 mutant showed spherical starch granules significantly increased rapid visco analyzer (RVA) indexes and urea swelling, while the z4 mutant displayed extremely sharp starch granules and significantly decreased RVA indexes and urea swelling compared to the wild type. Additionally, these mutants still maintained correlations with certain RVA profiles, suggesting that the genes PUL, which affect these indexes, may not undergo mutation. Cloning these mutated genes in the future, especially in z2 and z4, will enhance the genetic network of rice eating quality and hold significant importance for molecular marker-assisted breeding to improve rice quality.

Increasing amyloplast size in wheat endosperm through mutation of PARC6 affects starch granule morphology

The determination of starch granule morphology in plants is poorly understood. The amyloplasts of wheat endosperm contain large discoid A-type granules and small spherical B-type granules. To study the influence of amyloplast structure on these distinct morphological types, we isolated a mutant in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) defective in the plastid division protein PARC6, which had giant plastids in both leaves and endosperm. Endosperm amyloplasts of the mutant contained more A- and B-type granules than those of the wild-type. The mutant had increased A- and B-type granule size in mature grains, and its A-type granules had a highly aberrant, lobed surface. This morphological defect was already evident at early stages of grain development and occurred without alterations in polymer structure and composition. Plant growth and grain size, number and starch content were not affected in the mutants despite the large plastid size. Interestingly, mutation of the PARC6 paralog, ARC6, did not increase plastid or starch granule size. We suggest TtPARC6 can complement disrupted TtARC6 function by interacting with PDV2, the outer plastid envelope protein that typically interacts with ARC6 to promote plastid division. We therefore reveal an important role of amyloplast structure in starch granule morphogenesis in wheat.

Genome-Editing of FtsZ1 for Alteration of Starch Granule Size in Potato Tubers

Genome-editing has enabled rapid improvement for staple food crops, such as potato, a key beneficiary of the technology. In potato, starch contained within tubers represents the primary product for use in food and non-food industries. Starch granules are produced in the plastids of tubers with plastid size correlated with the size of starch grana. The division of plastids is controlled by proteins, including the tubulin-like GTPase FtsZ1. The altered expression of FtsZ1 has been shown to disrupt plastid division, leading to the production of "macro-plastid"-containing plants. These macro-chloroplast plants are characterized by cells containing fewer and enlarged plastids. In this work, we utilize CRISPR/Cas9 to generate FtsZ1 edited potato lines to demonstrate that genome-editing can be used to increase the size of starch granules in tubers. Altered plastid morphology was comparable to the overexpression of FtsZ1 in previous work in potato and other crops. Several lines were generated with up to a 1.98-fold increase in starch granule size that was otherwise phenotypically indistinguishable from wild-type plants. Further, starch paste from one of the most promising lines showed a 2.07-fold increase in final viscosity. The advantages of enlarged starch granules and the potential of CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies for food crop improvement are further discussed.

Changes in carbon allocation and subplastidal amyloplast structures of specialised Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) storage root phenotypes

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in Low and Medium Income countries remains a major health concern. Ipomoea batatas, orange sweet potato (OSP), is one of the biofortification solutions being implemented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to combat VAD. However, high provitamin A (β-carotene) content has been associated with a reduction in dry matter, reducing calorific value and having adverse effects on consumer traits. Both starch and carotenoid formation are located in amyloplasts and could potentially compete for the same precursors. Hence, five different sweet potato storage root phenotypes were characterized through spatial metabolomics and proteomics at the sub-plastidal level. The metabolite data suggested an indirect correlation of starch and carotenoids through the TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathway. Furthermore, a change in lipid composition was observed to accommodate the storage of carotenoids in the hydrophilic environment of the amyloplast. The data suggests an alteration of cellular ultra-structures and perturbation of metabolism in high β-carotene producing sweet potato roots. This corroborates with previous gene expression analysis through biochemical analysis of sweet potato root tissue.

Three Diverse Granule Preparation Methods for Proteomic Analysis of Mature Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Starch Grain

Starch is the primary form of reserve carbohydrate storage in plants. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a monocot whose reserve starch is organized into compounded structures within the amyloplast, rather than a simple starch grain (SG). The mechanism governing the assembly of the compound SG from polyhedral granules in apposition, however, remains unknown. To further characterize the proteome associated with these compounded structures, three distinct methods of starch granule preparation (dispersion, microsieve, and flotation) were performed. Phase separation of peptides (aqueous trypsin-shaving and isopropanol solubilization of residual peptides) isolated starch granule-associated proteins (SGAPs) from the distal proteome of the amyloplast and the proximal ‘amylome’ (the amyloplastic proteome), respectively. The term ‘distal proteome’ refers to SGAPs loosely tethered to the amyloplast, ones that can be rapidly proteolyzed, while proximal SGAPs are those found closer to the remnant amyloplast membrane fragments, perhaps embedded therein—ones that need isopropanol solvent to be removed from the mature organelle surface. These two rice starch-associated peptide samples were analyzed using nano-liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (Nano-HPLC-MS/MS). Known and novel proteins, as well as septum-like structure (SLS) proteins, in the mature rice SG were found. Data mining and gene ontology software were used to categorize these putative plastoskeletal components as a variety of structural elements, including actins, tubulins, tubulin-like proteins, and cementitious elements such as reticulata related-like (RER) proteins, tegument proteins, and lectins. Delineating the plastoskeletal proteome begins by understanding how each starch granule isolation procedure affects observed cytoplasmic and plastid proteins. The three methods described herein show how the technique used to isolate SGs differentially impacts the subsequent proteomic analysis and results obtained. It can thus be concluded that future investigations must make judicious decisions regarding the methodology used in extracting proteomic information from the compound starch granules being assessed, since different methods are shown to yield contrasting results herein. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD032314.

Substandard starch grain4 may function in amyloplast development by influencing starch and lipid metabolism in rice endosperm

The amyloplast is a specialized plastid in rice endosperm cells where starch is synthesized and stored as starch granules (SGs). However, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying amyloplast and SG development. In this study, a novel mutant (c134) demonstrating a floury endosperm with enlarged SGs and amyloplasts was identified. The floury endosperm was caused by rounder, loosely packed SG. Grain-quality profile and expression analysis showed reduced contents of total starch and amylose in the c134 mutant, as well as reduced expression of a number of genes involved in starch biosynthesis. Galactosyldiacylglycerol (GDG) content and fatty acid synthesis play important roles in plastid development, and in the c134 endosperm, an obvious decrease in GDG and various fatty acids was observed, with down-regulated expression of various genes involved in lipid biosynthesis. Furthermore, map-based cloning revealed an amino acid substitution (glycine to aspartic acid) in the substandard starch grain4 (SSG4) protein. The results of this study suggest that SSG4 influences the regulation of starch and lipid metabolism as well as amyloplast development, a finding that is useful for potential genetic improvement of rice grain quality in future starch and lipid breeding and biotechnology.

Coalescence and directed anisotropic growth of starch granule initials in subdomains of Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts

Living cells orchestrate enzyme activities to produce myriads of biopolymers but cell-biological understanding of such processes is scarce. Starch, a plant biopolymer forming discrete, semi-crystalline granules within plastids, plays a central role in glucose storage, which is fundamental to life. Combining complementary imaging techniques and Arabidopsis genetics we reveal that, in chloroplasts, multiple starch granules initiate in stromal pockets between thylakoid membranes. These initials coalesce, then grow anisotropically to form lenticular granules. The major starch polymer, amylopectin, is synthesized at the granule surface, while the minor amylose component is deposited internally. The non-enzymatic domain of STARCH SYNTHASE 4, which controls the protein's localization, is required for anisotropic growth. These results present us with a conceptual framework for understanding the biosynthesis of this key nutrient.

STARCH SYNTHASE 4 is required for normal starch granule initiation in amyloplasts of wheat endosperm

Starch granule initiation is poorly understood at the molecular level. The glucosyltransferase, STARCH SYNTHASE 4 (SS4), plays a central role in granule initiation in Arabidopsis leaves, but its function in cereal endosperms is unknown. We investigated the role of SS4 in wheat, which has a distinct spatiotemporal pattern of granule initiation during grain development. We generated TILLING mutants in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum) that are defective in both SS4 homoeologs. The morphology of endosperm starch was examined in developing and mature grains. SS4 deficiency led to severe alterations in endosperm starch granule morphology. During early grain development, while the wild-type initiated single 'A-type' granules per amyloplast, most amyloplasts in the mutant formed compound granules due to multiple initiations. This phenotype was similar to mutants deficient in B-GRANULE CONTENT 1 (BGC1). SS4 deficiency also reduced starch content in leaves and pollen grains. We propose that SS4 and BGC1 are required for the proper control of granule initiation during early grain development that leads to a single A-type granule per amyloplast. The absence of either protein results in a variable number of initiations per amyloplast and compound granule formation.

ENLARGED STARCH GRAIN1 affects amyloplast development and starch biosynthesis in rice endosperm

Cereal crops accumulate large amounts of starch which is synthesized and stored in amyloplasts in the form of starch grains (SGs). Despite significant progress in deciphering starch biosynthesis, our understanding of amyloplast development in rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm remains largely unknown. Here, we report a novel rice floury mutant named enlarged starch grain1 (esg1). The mutant has decreased starch content, altered starch physicochemical properties, slower grain-filling rate and reduced 1000-grain weight. A distinctive feature in esg1 endosperm is that SGs are much larger, mainly due to an increased number of starch granules per SG. Spherical and loosely assembled granules, together with those weakly stained SGs may account for decreased starch content in esg1. Map-based cloning revealed that ESG1 encodes a putative permease subunit of a bacterial-type ABC (ATP-binding cassette) lipid transporter. ESG1 is constitutively expressed in various tissues. It encodes a protein localized to the chloroplast and amyloplast membranes. Mutation of ESG1 causes defective galactolipid synthesis. The overall study indicates that ESG1 is a newly identified protein affecting SG development and subsequent starch biosynthesis, which provides novel insights into amyloplast development in rice.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Tubulin Gene Family in Cassava and Expression of Family Member FtsZ2-1 during Various Stress

Filamentous temperature-sensitive protein Z (Tubulin/FtsZ) family is a group of conserved GTP-binding (guanine nucleotide-binding) proteins, which are closely related to plant tissue development and organ formation as the major component of the cytoskeleton. According to the published genome sequence information of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), 23 tubulin genes (MeTubulins) were identified, which were divided into four main groups based on their type and phylogenetic characteristics. The same grouping generally has the same or similar motif composition and exon–intron structure. Collinear analysis showed that fragment repetition event is the main factor in amplification of cassava tubulin superfamily gene. The expression profiles of MeTubulin genes in various tissue were analyzed, and it was found that MeTubulins were mainly expressed in leaf, petiole, and stem, while FtsZ2-1 was highly expressed in storage root. The qRT-PCR results of the FtsZ2-1 gene under hormone and abiotic stresses showed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin A3 (GA3) stresses could significantly increase the expression of the FtsZ2-1 gene, thereby revealing the potential role of FtsZ2-1 in IAA and GA3 stress-induced responses.

Rice starch accumulation at different endosperm regions and physical properties under nitrogen treatment at panicle initiation stage

The quality of rice grain is characterized by the component, structure and physicochemical properties of starch accumulated in endosperm cell. Nitrogen uptake strongly affects rice growth and starch development. In this study, Nangeng 9108 was used to investigated the accumulation of starch in different positions of the endosperm and physical properties of starch under nitrogen treatment of panicle initiation (PI) stage. Compared with the control group (CG), nitrogen treatment group (NTG) featured a higher number of grains per panicle and 1000-grain weight. Nitrogen treatment significantly increased starch accumulation among different regions during endosperm development, which was expressed as central endosperm cells > sub-aleurone cells of abdominal endosperm > sub-aleurone cells of dorsal endosperm. The amyloplast increased by constricting and budding-type division, generated a bead-like structure and derived some vesicles. The particle size of the starch granules obtained from the NTG was smaller and the apparent amylose content was lower than those of the CG, resulting in higher relative crystallinity. Nitrogen treatment promoted double helical components and provided a higher degree of order at short-rang scale for the starch granules. This study indicated that nitrogen significantly affected the accumulation and physicochemical properties of starch in the endosperm.

Endosperm enrichment and physicochemical properties of superior and inferior grain starch in super hybrid rice

A significant asynchronous phenomenon exists in super hybrid rice because of the differences in spike and spikelet positions, which affect the accumulation and properties of starch. However, little is known about the endosperm enrichment and physicochemical properties of starch in superior and inferior grains in super hybrid rice. Rice YY2640 was selected as study material to investigate the enrichment and physicochemical properties of starch in superior and inferior grains in super rice using semi-thin sections, X-ray diffraction and related technologies. Superior grain filling was a continuous process, whereas inferior grain only started 8-10 days after anthesis. The order of starch accumulation starts in the central endosperm, then in the endosperm of the proximal vascular bundle and finally in the aleurone layer. Compared with the inferior grains, the superior grains have a higher 1000-grain weight, apparent amylose content, total starch content, average starch granule size, relative crystallinity, solubility and a resonance peak ratio at 1022/995 cm^-1 , whereas the swelling power and ratio of the resonance peak at 1045/1022 cm^-1 were lower. The final degree of hydrolysis of HCl, AAG and PPA of the superior grains were significantly lower than those of the inferior grains. The findings indicate that the different physicochemical properties of starch were mainly related to the development order of superior and inferior grains and the spatial enrichment of starch.

Evolutionary innovations in starch metabolism

The traditional view of starch metabolism has focused on the multiplicity of enzymes and enzyme isoforms contributing to the production of the constituent polymers, amylopectin and amylose. However, knowledge of these enzymes has not provided a full insight into many aspects of starch biosynthesis. This enzyme-centered view has recently been augmented by the discovery and characterization of novel proteins with proposed regulatory, scaffolding, and interactive roles. This begins to reveal an unprecedented level of complexity beyond mere glucan biosynthesis, enabling us to envisage how starch granules are initiated and grow into specific forms, allowing it to serve biological roles beyond just carbohydrate storage. This review focuses on very recent findings in this vibrant field, highlighting the evolutionary novelty.

Expression of starch-binding factor CBM20 in barley plastids controls the number of starch granules and the level of CO2 fixation

The biosynthesis of starch granules in plant plastids is coordinated by the orchestrated action of transferases, hydrolases, and dikinases. These enzymes either contain starch-binding domain(s) themselves, or are dependent on direct interactions with co-factors containing starch-binding domains. As a means to competitively interfere with existing starch-protein interactions, we expressed the protein module Carbohydrate-Binding Motif 20 (CBM20), which has a very high affinity for starch, ectopically in barley plastids. This interference resulted in an increase in the number of starch granules in chloroplasts and in formation of compound starch granules in grain amyloplasts, which is unusual for barley. More importantly, we observed a photosystem-independent inhibition of CO2 fixation, with a subsequent reduced growth rate and lower accumulation of carbohydrates with effects throughout the metabolome, including lower accumulation of transient leaf starch. Our results demonstrate the importance of endogenous starch-protein interactions for controlling starch granule morphology and number, and plant growth, as substantiated by a metabolic link between starch-protein interactions and control of CO2 fixation in chloroplasts.

Imaging Amyloplasts in the Developing Endosperm of Barley and Rice

Amyloplasts are plant-specific organelles responsible for starch biosynthesis and storage. Inside amyloplasts, starch forms insoluble particles, referred to as starch grains (SGs). SG morphology differs between species and SG morphology is particularly diverse in the endosperm of Poaceae plants, such as rice (Oryza sativa) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), which form compound SGs and simple SGs, respectively. SG morphology has been extensively imaged, but the comparative imaging of amyloplast morphology has been limited. In this study, SG-containing amyloplasts in the developing endosperm were visualized using stable transgenic barley and rice lines expressing amyloplast stroma-targeted green fluorescent protein fused to the transit peptide (TP) of granule-bound starch synthase I (TP-GFP). The TP-GFP barley and rice plants had elongated amyloplasts containing multiple SGs, with constrictions between the SGs. In barley, some amyloplasts were connected by narrow protrusions extending from their surfaces. Transgenic rice lines producing amyloplast membrane-localized SUBSTANDARD STARCH GRAIN6 (SSG6)-GFP were used to demonstrate that the developing amyloplasts contained multiple compound SGs. TP-GFP barley can be used to visualize the chloroplasts in leaves and other plastids in pollen and root in addition to the endosperm, therefore it provides as a useful tool to observe diverse plastids.

Starch granule initiation and morphogenesis-progress in Arabidopsis and cereals

Starch, the major storage carbohydrate in plants, is synthesized in plastids as semi-crystalline, insoluble granules. Many organs and cell types accumulate starch at some point during their development and maturation. The biosynthesis of the starch polymers, amylopectin and amylose, is relatively well understood and mostly conserved between organs and species. However, we are only beginning to understand the mechanism by which starch granules are initiated, and the factors that control the number of granules per plastid and the size/shape of granules. Here, we review recent progress in understanding starch granule initiation and morphogenesis. In Arabidopsis, granule initiation requires several newly discovered proteins with specific locations within the chloroplast, and also on the availability of maltooligosaccharides which act as primers for initiation. We also describe progress in understanding granule biogenesis in the endosperm of cereal grains-within which there is large interspecies variation in granule initiation patterns and morphology. Investigating whether this diversity results from differences between species in the functions of known proteins, and/or from the presence of novel, unidentified proteins, is a promising area of future research. Expanding our knowledge in these areas will lead to new strategies for improving the quality of cereal crops by modifying starch granule size and shape in vivo.

FLOURY ENDOSPERM11 encoding a plastid heat shock protein 70 is essential for amyloplast development in rice

Mutations of stromal Hsp70 cause chloroplast developmental abnormalities and knockout mutants of stromal Hsp70 usually exhibit protein import deficiencies. However, their effects have not been studied in amyloplast development. Here, we identified an amyloplast abnormal development mutant, floury endosperm11 (flo11) that exhibited an opaque phenotype in the inner core and the periphery of grains. Semi-thin section revealed defective amyloplast development in the flo11 endosperm. Map-based cloning and subsequent complementation test demonstrated that FLO11 encoded a plastid-localized heat shock protein 70 (OsHsp70cp-2). OsHsp70cp-2 was abundantly expressed in developing endosperm, whereas its paralogous gene OsHsp70cp-1 was mainly expressed in photosynthetic tissues. Ectopic expression of OsHsp70cp-1 under the control of OsHsp70cp-2 promoter rescued the mutant phenotype of flo11. Moreover, simultaneous knockdown of both OsHsp70cp genes resulted in white stripe leaves and opaque endosperm. BiFC and Co-IP assays revealed that OsHsp70cp-2 was associated with Tic complex. Taken together, OsHsp70cp-2 may regulate protein import into amyloplasts, which is essential for amyloplast development in rice.

Starch formation inside plastids of higher plants

Starch is a water-insoluble polyglucan synthesized inside the plastid stroma within plant cells, serving a crucial role in the carbon budget of the whole plant by acting as a short-term and long-term store of energy. The highly complex, hierarchical structure of the starch granule arises from the actions of a large suite of enzyme activities, in addition to physicochemical self-assembly mechanisms. This review outlines current knowledge of the starch biosynthetic pathway operating in plant cells in relation to the micro- and macro-structures of the starch granule. We highlight the gaps in our knowledge, in particular, the relationship between enzyme function and operation at the molecular level and the formation of the final, macroscopic architecture of the granule.

Isolation and Characterization of Ftsz Genes in Cassava

The filamenting temperature-sensitive Z proteins (FtsZs) play an important role in plastid division. In this study, three FtsZ genes were isolated from the cassava genome, and named MeFtsZ1, MeFtsZ2-1, and MeFtsZ2-2, respectively. Based on phylogeny, the MeFtsZs were classified into two groups (FtsZ1 and FtsZ2). MeFtsZ1 with a putative signal peptide at N-terminal, has six exons, and is classed to FtsZ1 clade. MeFtsZ2-1 and MeFtsZ2-2 without a putative signal peptide, have seven exons, and are classed to FtsZ2 clade. Subcellular localization found that all the three MeFtsZs could locate in chloroplasts and form a ring in chloroplastids. Structure analysis found that all MeFtsZ proteins contain a conserved guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) domain in favor of generate contractile force for cassava plastid division. The expression profiles of MeFtsZ genes by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic tissues found that all of the MeFtsZ genes had higher expression levels in photosynthetic tissues, especially in younger leaves, and lower expression levels in the non-photosynthetic tissues. During cassava storage root development, the expressions of MeFtsZ2-1 and MeFtsZ2-2 were comparatively higher than MeFtsZ1. The transformed Arabidopsis of MeFtsZ2-1 and MeFtsZ2-2 contained abnormally shape, fewer number, and larger volume chloroplasts. Phytohormones were involved in regulating the expressions of MeFtsZ genes. Therefore, we deduced that all of the MeFtsZs play an important role in chloroplast division, and that MeFtsZ2 (2-1, 2-2) might be involved in amyloplast division and regulated by phytohormones during cassava storage root development.

Starch Biosynthesis in the Developing Endosperms of Grasses and Cereals

The starch-rich endosperms of the Poaceae, which includes wild grasses and their domesticated descendents the cereals, have provided humankind and their livestock with the bulk of their daily calories since the dawn of civilization up to the present day. There are currently unprecedented pressures on global food supplies, largely resulting from population growth, loss of agricultural land that is linked to increased urbanization, and climate change. Since cereal yields essentially underpin world food and feed supply, it is critical that we understand the biological factors contributing to crop yields. In particular, it is important to understand the biochemical pathway that is involved in starch biosynthesis, since this pathway is the major yield determinant in the seeds of six out of the top seven crops grown worldwide. This review outlines the critical stages of growth and development of the endosperm tissue in the Poaceae, including discussion of carbon provision to the growing sink tissue. The main body of the review presents a current view of our understanding of storage starch biosynthesis, which occurs inside the amyloplasts of developing endosperms.

FLOURY ENDOSPERM7 encodes a regulator of starch synthesis and amyloplast development essential for peripheral endosperm development in rice

In cereal crops, starch synthesis and storage depend mainly on a specialized class of plastids, termed amyloplasts. Despite the importance of starch, the molecular machinery regulating starch synthesis and amyloplast development remains largely unknown. Here, we report the characterization of the rice (Oryza sativa) floury endosperm7 (flo7) mutant, which develops a floury-white endosperm only in the periphery and not in the inner portion. Consistent with the phenotypic alternation in flo7 endosperm, the flo7 mutant had reduced amylose content and seriously disrupted amylopectin structure only in the peripheral endosperm. Notably, flo7 peripheral endosperm cells showed obvious defects in compound starch grain development. Map-based cloning of FLO7 revealed that it encodes a protein of unknown function. FLO7 harbors an N-terminal transit peptide capable of targeting functional FLO7 fused to green fluorescent protein to amyloplast stroma in developing endosperm cells, and a domain of unknown function 1338 (DUF1338) that is highly conserved in green plants. Furthermore, our combined β-glucuronidase activity and RNA in situ hybridization assays showed that the FLO7 gene was expressed ubiquitously but exhibited a specific expression in the endosperm periphery. Moreover, a set of in vivo experiments demonstrated that the missing 32 aa in the flo7 mutant protein are essential for the stable accumulation of FLO7 in the endosperm. Together, our findings identify FLO7 as a unique plant regulator required for starch synthesis and amyloplast development within the peripheral endosperm and provide new insights into the spatial regulation of endosperm development in rice.

The cereal starch endosperm development and its relationship with other endosperm tissues and embryo

The cereal starch endosperm is the central part of endosperm, and it is rich in starch and protein which are the important resources for human food. The starch and protein are separately accumulated in starch granules and protein bodies. Content and configuration of starch granules and protein bodies affect the quality of the starch endosperm. The development of starch endosperm is mediated by genes, enzymes, and hormones, and it also has a close relationship with other endosperm tissues and embryo. This paper reviews the latest investigations on the starch endosperm and will provide some useful information for the future researches on the development of cereal endosperm.

FLOURY ENDOSPERM6 encodes a CBM48 domain-containing protein involved in compound granule formation and starch synthesis in rice endosperm

Starch is the most widespread form of energy storage in the plant kingdom. Although many enzymes and related factors have been identified for starch biosynthesis, unknown players remain to be identified, given that it is a complicated and sophisticated process. The endosperm of rice (Oryza sativa) has been used for the study of starch synthesis. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the FLOURY ENDOSPERM6 (FLO6) gene in rice. In the flo6 mutant, the starch content is decreased and the normal physicochemical features of starch are changed. Significantly, flo6 mutant endosperm cells show obvious defects in compound granule formation. Map-based cloning showed that FLO6 encodes a protein of unknown function. It harbors an N-terminal transit peptide that ensures its correct localization and functions in the plastid, and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module 48 (CBM48) domain that binds to starch. Furthermore, FLO6 can interact with isoamylase1 (ISA1) both in vitro and in vivo, whereas ISA1 does not bind to starch directly. We thus propose that FLO6 may act as a starch-binding protein involved in starch synthesis and compound granule formation through a direct interaction with ISA1 in developing rice seeds. Our data provide a novel insight into the role of proteins with the CBM48 domain in plant species.

Amyloplast-localized SUBSTANDARD STARCH GRAIN4 protein influences the size of starch grains in rice endosperm

Starch is a biologically and commercially important polymer of glucose and is synthesized to form starch grains (SGs) inside amyloplasts. Cereal endosperm accumulates starch to levels that are more than 90% of the total weight, and most of the intracellular space is occupied by SGs. The size of SGs differs depending on the plant species and is one of the most important factors for industrial applications of starch. However, the molecular machinery that regulates the size of SGs is unknown. In this study, we report a novel rice (Oryza sativa) mutant called substandard starch grain4 (ssg4) that develops enlarged SGs in the endosperm. Enlargement of SGs in ssg4 was also observed in other starch-accumulating tissues such as pollen grains, root caps, and young pericarps. The SSG4 gene was identified by map-based cloning. SSG4 encodes a protein that contains 2,135 amino acid residues and an amino-terminal amyloplast-targeted sequence. SSG4 contains a domain of unknown function490 that is conserved from bacteria to higher plants. Domain of unknown function490-containing proteins with lengths greater than 2,000 amino acid residues are predominant in photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria and higher plants but are minor in proteobacteria. The results of this study suggest that SSG4 is a novel protein that influences the size of SGs. SSG4 will be a useful molecular tool for future starch breeding and biotechnology.

Division and dynamic morphology of plastids

Plastid division is fundamental to the biology of plant cells. Division by binary fission entails the coordinated assembly and constriction of four concentric rings, two internal and two external to the organelle. The internal FtsZ ring and external dynamin-like ARC5/DRP5B ring are connected across the two envelopes by the membrane proteins ARC6, PARC6, PDV1, and PDV2. Assembly-stimulated GTPase activity drives constriction of the FtsZ and ARC5/DRP5B rings, which together with the plastid-dividing rings pull and squeeze the envelope membranes until the two daughter plastids are formed, with the final separation requiring additional proteins. The positioning of the division machinery is controlled by the chloroplast Min system, which confines FtsZ-ring formation to the plastid midpoint. The dynamic morphology of plastids, especially nongreen plastids, is also considered here, particularly in relation to the production of stromules and plastid-derived vesicles and their possible roles in cellular communication and plastid functionality.

Analogous reserve distribution and tissue characteristics in quinoa and grass seeds suggest convergent evolution

Quinoa seeds are highly nutritious due to the quality of their proteins and lipids and the wide range of minerals and vitamins they store. Three compartments can be distinguished within the mature seed: embryo, endosperm, and perisperm. The distribution of main storage reserves is clearly different in those areas: the embryo and endosperm store proteins, lipids, and minerals, and the perisperm stores starch. Tissues equivalent (but not homologous) to those found in grasses can be identified in quinoa, suggesting the effectiveness of this seed reserve distribution strategy; as in cells of grass starchy endosperm, the cells of the quinoa perisperm endoreduplicate, increase in size, synthesize starch, and die during development. In addition, both systems present an extra-embryonic tissue that stores proteins, lipids and minerals: in gramineae, the aleurone layer(s) of the endosperm; in quinoa, the micropylar endosperm; in both cases, the tissues are living. Moreover, the quinoa micropylar endosperm and the coleorhiza in grasses play similar roles, protecting the root in the quiescent seed and controlling dormancy during germination. This investigation is just the beginning of a broader and comparative study of the development of quinoa and grass seeds. Several questions arise from this study, such as: how are synthesis and activation of seed proteins and enzymes regulated during development and germination, what are the genes involved in these processes, and lastly, what is the genetic foundation justifying the analogy to grasses.

Functional delineation of rice MADS29 reveals its role in embryo and endosperm development by affecting hormone homeostasis

Rice MADS29 has recently been reported to cause programmed cell death of maternal tissues, the nucellus, and the nucellar projection during early stages of seed development. However, analyses involving OsMADS29 protein expression domains and characterization of OsMADS29 gain-of-function and knockdown phenotypes revealed novel aspects of its function in maintaining hormone homeostasis, which may have a role in the development of embryo and plastid differentiation and starch filling in endosperm cells. The MADS29 transcripts accumulated to high levels soon after fertilization; however, protein accumulation was found to be delayed by at least 4 days. Immunolocalization studies revealed that the protein accumulated initially in the dorsal-vascular trace and the outer layers of endosperm, and subsequently in the embryo and aleurone and subaleurone layers of the endosperm. Ectopic expression of MADS29 resulted in a severely dwarfed phenotype, exhibiting elevated levels of cytokinin, thereby suggesting that cytokinin biosynthesis pathway could be one of the major targets of OsMADS29. Overexpression of OsMADS29 in heterologous BY2 cells was found to mimic the effects of exogenous application of cytokinins that causes differentiation of proplastids to starch-containing amyloplasts and activation of genes involved in the starch biosynthesis pathway. Suppression of MADS29 expression by RNAi severely affected seed set. The surviving seeds were smaller in size, with developmental abnormalities in the embryo and reduced size of endosperm cells, which also contained loosely packed starch granules. Microarray analysis of overexpression and knockdown lines exhibited altered expression of genes involved in plastid biogenesis, starch biosynthesis, cytokinin signalling and biosynthesis.

Emerging facets of plastid division regulation

Plastids are complex organelles that are integrated into the plant host cell where they differentiate and divide in tune with plant differentiation and development. In line with their prokaryotic origin, plastid division involves both evolutionary conserved proteins and proteins of eukaryotic origin where the host has acquired control over the process. The plastid division apparatus is spatially separated between the stromal and the cytosolic space but where clear coordination mechanisms exist between the two machineries. Our knowledge of the plastid division process has increased dramatically during the past decade and recent findings have not only shed light on plastid division enzymology and the formation of plastid division complexes but also on the integration of the division process into a multicellular context. This review summarises our current knowledge of plastid division with an emphasis on biochemical features, the functional assembly of protein complexes and regulatory features of the overall process.

Divide and shape: an endosymbiont in action

The endosymbiotic evolution of the plastid within the host cell required development of a mechanism for efficient division of the plastid. Whilst a model for the mechanism of chloroplast division has been constructed, little is known of how other types of plastids divide, especially the proplastid, the progenitor of all plastid types in the cell. It has become clear that plastid shape is highly heterogeneous and dynamic, especially stromules. This article considers how such variation in morphology might be controlled and how such plastids might divide efficiently.

Control of starch granule numbers in Arabidopsis chloroplasts

The aim of this work was to investigate starch granule numbers in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves. Lack of quantitative information on the extent of genetic, temporal, developmental, and environmental variation in granule numbers is an important limitation in understanding control of starch degradation and the mechanism of granule initiation. Two methods were developed for reliable estimation of numbers of granules per chloroplast. First, direct measurements were made on large series of consecutive sections of mesophyll tissue obtained by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. Second, average numbers were calculated from the starch contents of leaves and chloroplasts and estimates of granule mass based on granule dimensions. Examination of wild-type plants and accumulation and regulation of chloroplast (arc) mutants with few, large chloroplasts provided the following new insights. There is wide variation in chloroplast volumes in cells of wild-type leaves. Granule numbers per chloroplast are correlated with chloroplast volume, i.e. large chloroplasts have more granules than small chloroplasts. Mature leaves of wild-type plants and arc mutants have approximately the same number of granules per unit volume of stroma, regardless of the size and number of chloroplasts per cell. Granule numbers per unit volume of stroma are also relatively constant in immature leaves but are greater than in mature leaves. Granule initiation occurs as chloroplasts divide in immature leaves, but relatively little initiation occurs in mature leaves. Changes in leaf starch content over the diurnal cycle are largely brought about by changes in the volume of a fixed number of granules.

Rice debranching enzyme isoamylase3 facilitates starch metabolism and affects plastid morphogenesis

Debranching enzymes, which hydrolyze α-1 and 6-glucosidic linkages in α-polyglucans, play a dual role in the synthesis and degradation of starch in plants. A transposon-inserted rice mutant of isoamylase3 (isa3) contained an increased amount of starch in the leaf blade at the end of the night, indicating that ISA3 plays a role in the degradation of transitory starch during the night. An epitope-tagged ISA3 expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited hydrolytic activity on β-limit dextrin and amylopectin. We investigated whether ISA3 plays a role in amyloplast development and starch metabolism in the developing endosperm. ISA3-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein expressed under the control of the rice ISA3 promoter was targeted to the amyloplast stroma in the endosperm. Overexpression of ISA3 in the sugary1 mutant, which is deficient in ISA1 activity, did not convert water-soluble phytoglycogen to starch granules, indicating that ISA1 and ISA3 are not functionally redundant. Both overexpression and loss of function of ISA3 in the endosperm generated pleomorphic amyloplasts and starch granules. Furthermore, chloroplasts in the leaf blade of isa3 seedlings were large and pleomorphic. These results suggest that ISA3 facilitates starch metabolism and affects morphological characteristics of plastids in rice.

Maize opaque5 encodes monogalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase and specifically affects galactolipids necessary for amyloplast and chloroplast function

The maize (Zea mays) opaque5 (o5) locus was shown to encode the monogalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase MGD1. Null and point mutations of o5 that affect the vitreous nature of mature endosperm engendered an allelic series of lines with stepwise reductions in gene function. C(18:3)/C(18:2) galactolipid abundance in seedling leaves was reduced proportionally, without significant effects on total galactolipid content. This alteration in polar lipid composition disrupted the organization of thylakoid membranes into granal stacks. Total galactolipid abundance in endosperm was strongly reduced in o5(-) mutants, causing developmental defects and changes in starch production such that the normal simple granules were replaced with compound granules separated by amyloplast membrane. Complete loss of MGD1 function in a null mutant caused kernel lethality owing to failure in both endosperm and embryo development. The data demonstrate that low-abundance galactolipids with five double bonds serve functions in plastid membranes that are not replaced by the predominant species with six double bonds. Furthermore, the data identify a function of amyloplast membranes in the development of starch granules. Finally, the specific changes in lipid composition suggest that MGD1 can distinguish the constituency of acyl groups on its diacylglycerol substrate based upon the degree of desaturation.

Dual targeting to mitochondria and plastids of AtBT1 and ZmBT1, two members of the mitochondrial carrier family

Zea mays and Arabidopsis thaliana Brittle 1 (ZmBT1 and AtBT1, respectively) are members of the mitochondrial carrier family. Although they are presumed to be exclusively localized in the envelope membranes of plastids, confocal fluorescence microscopy analyses of potato, Arabidopsis and maize plants stably expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions of ZmBT1 and AtBT1 revealed that the two proteins have dual localization to plastids and mitochondria. The patterns of GFP fluorescence distribution observed in plants stably expressing GFP fusions of ZmBT1 and AtBT1 N-terminal extensions were fully congruent with that of plants expressing a plastidial marker fused to GFP. Furthermore, the patterns of GFP fluorescence distribution and motility observed in plants expressing the mature proteins fused to GFP were identical to those observed in plants expressing a mitochondrial marker fused to GFP. Electron microscopic immunocytochemical analyses of maize endosperms using anti-ZmBT1 antibodies further confirmed that ZmBT1 occurs in both plastids and mitochondria. The overall data showed that (i) ZmBT1 and AtBT1 are dually targeted to mitochondria and plastids; (ii) AtBT1 and ZmBT1 N-terminal extensions comprise targeting sequences exclusively recognized by the plastidial compartment; and (iii) targeting sequences to mitochondria are localized within the mature part of the BT1 proteins.