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Unda F, de Vries L, Karlen SD, Rainbow J, Zhang C, Bartley LE, Kim H, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. Enhancing monolignol ferulate conjugate levels in poplar lignin via OsFMT1. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2024; 17:97. [PMID: 39003470 PMCID: PMC11246582 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02544-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phenolic polymer lignin is one of the primary chemical constituents of the plant secondary cell wall. Due to the inherent plasticity of lignin biosynthesis, several phenolic monomers have been shown to be incorporated into the polymer, as long as the monomer can undergo radicalization so it can participate in coupling reactions. In this study, we significantly enhance the level of incorporation of monolignol ferulate conjugates into the lignin polymer to improve the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. RESULTS Overexpression of a rice Feruloyl-CoA Monolignol Transferase (FMT), OsFMT1, in hybrid poplar (Populus alba x grandidentata) produced transgenic trees clearly displaying increased cell wall-bound ester-linked ferulate, p-hydroxybenzoate, and p-coumarate, all of which are in the lignin cell wall fraction, as shown by NMR and DFRC. We also demonstrate the use of a novel UV-Vis spectroscopic technique to rapidly screen plants for the presence of both ferulate and p-hydroxybenzoate esters. Lastly we show, via saccharification assays, that the OsFMT1 transgenic p oplars have significantly improved processing efficiency compared to wild-type and Angelica sinensis-FMT-expressing poplars. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate that OsFMT1 has a broad substrate specificity and a higher catalytic efficiency compared to the previously published FMT from Angelica sinensis (AsFMT). Importantly, enhanced wood processability makes OsFMT1 a promising gene to optimize the composition of lignocellulosic biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faride Unda
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Lisanne de Vries
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Steven D Karlen
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jordan Rainbow
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Chengcheng Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Laura E Bartley
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Hoon Kim
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Shawn D Mansfield
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53726, USA.
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Zhu Y, Li L. Wood of trees: Cellular structure, molecular formation, and genetic engineering. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:443-467. [PMID: 38032010 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13589] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Wood is an invaluable asset to human society due to its renewable nature, making it suitable for both sustainable energy production and material manufacturing. Additionally, wood derived from forest trees plays a crucial role in sequestering a significant portion of the carbon dioxide fixed during photosynthesis by terrestrial plants. Nevertheless, with the expansion of the global population and ongoing industrialization, forest coverage has been substantially decreased, resulting in significant challenges for wood production and supply. Wood production practices have changed away from natural forests toward plantation forests. Thus, understanding the underlying genetic mechanisms of wood formation is the foundation for developing high-quality, fast-growing plantation trees. Breeding ideal forest trees for wood production using genetic technologies has attracted the interest of many. Tremendous studies have been carried out in recent years on the molecular, genetic, and cell-biological mechanisms of wood formation, and considerable progress and findings have been achieved. These studies and findings indicate enormous possibilities and prospects for tree improvement. This review will outline and assess the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wood formation, as well as studies on genetically improving forest trees, and address future development prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems and College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Laigeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
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3
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Lewis JA, Zhang B, Harza R, Palmer N, Sarath G, Sattler SE, Twigg P, Vermerris W, Kang C. Structural Similarities and Overlapping Activities among Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase, Flavanone 4-Reductase, and Anthocyanidin Reductase Offer Metabolic Flexibility in the Flavonoid Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13901. [PMID: 37762209 PMCID: PMC10531346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Flavonoids are potent antioxidants that play a role in defense against pathogens, UV-radiation, and the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and flavanone 4-reductase (FNR) reduce dihydroflavonols and flavanones, respectively, using NAD(P)H to produce flavan-(3)-4-(di)ols in flavonoid biosynthesis. Anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) reduces anthocyanidins to flavan-3-ols. In addition to their sequences, the 3D structures of recombinant DFR, FNR and ANR from sorghum and switchgrass showed a high level of similarity. The catalytic mechanism, substrate-specificity and key residues of three reductases were deduced from crystal structures, site-directed mutagenesis, molecular docking, kinetics, and thermodynamic ana-lyses. Although DFR displayed its highest activity against dihydroflavonols, it also showed activity against flavanones and anthocyanidins. It was inhibited by the flavonol quercetin and high concentrations of dihydroflavonols/flavonones. SbFNR1 and SbFNR2 did not show any activity against dihydroflavonols. However, SbFNR1 displayed activity against flavanones and ANR activity against two anthocyanidins, cyanidin and pelargonidin. Therefore, SbFNR1 and SbFNR2 could be specific ANR isozymes without delphinidin activity. Sorghum has high concentrations of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in vivo, supporting the observed high activity of SbDFR against flavonols. Mining of expression data indicated substantial induction of these three reductase genes in both switchgrass and sorghum in response to biotic stress. Key signature sequences for proper DFR/ANR classification are proposed and could form the basis for future metabolic engineering of flavonoid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A. Lewis
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (J.A.L.); (B.Z.)
| | - Bixia Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (J.A.L.); (B.Z.)
| | - Rishi Harza
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (J.A.L.); (B.Z.)
| | - Nathan Palmer
- Wheat, Sorghum, Forage Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (N.P.); (G.S.); (S.E.S.)
| | - Gautam Sarath
- Wheat, Sorghum, Forage Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (N.P.); (G.S.); (S.E.S.)
| | - Scott E. Sattler
- Wheat, Sorghum, Forage Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (N.P.); (G.S.); (S.E.S.)
| | - Paul Twigg
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA;
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science and UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - ChulHee Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (J.A.L.); (B.Z.)
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Wu Y, Li X, Zhang J, Zhao H, Tan S, Xu W, Pan J, Yang F, Pi E. ERF subfamily transcription factors and their function in plant responses to abiotic stresses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1042084. [PMID: 36531407 PMCID: PMC9748296 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1042084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ethylene Responsive Factor (ERF) subfamily comprise the largest number of proteins in the plant AP2/ERF superfamily, and have been most extensively studied on the biological functions. Members of this subfamily have been proven to regulate plant resistances to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, chilling and some other adversities. Under these stresses, ERFs are usually activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase induced phosphorylation or escape from ubiquitin-ligase enzymes, and then form complex with nucleic proteins before binding to cis-element in promoter regions of stress responsive genes. In this review, we will discuss the phylogenetic relationships among the ERF subfamily proteins, summarize molecular mechanism how the transcriptional activity of ERFs been regulated and how ERFs of different subgroup regulate the transcription of stress responsive genes, such as high-affinity K+ transporter gene PalHKT1;2, reactive oxygen species related genes LcLTP, LcPrx, and LcRP, flavonoids synthesis related genes FtF3H and LhMYBSPLATTER, etc. Though increasing researches demonstrate that ERFs are involved in various abiotic stresses, very few interact proteins and target genes of them have been comprehensively annotated. Hence, future research prospects are described on the mechanisms of how stress signals been transited to ERFs and how ERFs regulate the transcriptional expression of stress responsive genes.
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De Meester B, Vanholme R, Mota T, Boerjan W. Lignin engineering in forest trees: From gene discovery to field trials. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 3:100465. [PMID: 36307984 PMCID: PMC9700206 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Wood is an abundant and renewable feedstock for the production of pulp, fuels, and biobased materials. However, wood is recalcitrant toward deconstruction into cellulose and simple sugars, mainly because of the presence of lignin, an aromatic polymer that shields cell-wall polysaccharides. Hence, numerous research efforts have focused on engineering lignin amount and composition to improve wood processability. Here, we focus on results that have been obtained by engineering the lignin biosynthesis and branching pathways in forest trees to reduce cell-wall recalcitrance, including the introduction of exotic lignin monomers. In addition, we draw general conclusions from over 20 years of field trial research with trees engineered to produce less or altered lignin. We discuss possible causes and solutions for the yield penalty that is often associated with lignin engineering in trees. Finally, we discuss how conventional and new breeding strategies can be combined to develop elite clones with desired lignin properties. We conclude this review with priorities for the development of commercially relevant lignin-engineered trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara De Meester
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thatiane Mota
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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De Meester B, Oyarce P, Vanholme R, Van Acker R, Tsuji Y, Vangeel T, Van den Bosch S, Van Doorsselaere J, Sels B, Ralph J, Boerjan W. Engineering Curcumin Biosynthesis in Poplar Affects Lignification and Biomass Yield. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:943349. [PMID: 35860528 PMCID: PMC9289561 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.943349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass is recalcitrant toward deconstruction into simple sugars mainly due to the presence of lignin. By engineering plants to partially replace traditional lignin monomers with alternative ones, lignin degradability and extractability can be enhanced. Previously, the alternative monomer curcumin has been successfully produced and incorporated into lignified cell walls of Arabidopsis by the heterologous expression of DIKETIDE-CoA SYNTHASE (DCS) and CURCUMIN SYNTHASE2 (CURS2). The resulting transgenic plants did not suffer from yield penalties and had an increased saccharification yield after alkaline pretreatment. Here, we translated this strategy into the bio-energy crop poplar. Via the heterologous expression of DCS and CURS2 under the control of the secondary cell wall CELLULOSE SYNTHASE A8-B promoter (ProCesA8-B), curcumin was also produced and incorporated into the lignified cell walls of poplar. ProCesA8-B:DCS_CURS2 transgenic poplars, however, suffered from shoot-tip necrosis and yield penalties. Compared to that of the wild-type (WT), the wood of transgenic poplars had 21% less cellulose, 28% more matrix polysaccharides, 23% more lignin and a significantly altered lignin composition. More specifically, ProCesA8-B:DCS_CURS2 lignin had a reduced syringyl/guaiacyl unit (S/G) ratio, an increased frequency of p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units, a decreased frequency of p-hydroxybenzoates and a higher fraction of phenylcoumaran units. Without, or with alkaline or hot water pretreatment, the saccharification efficiency of the transgenic lines was equal to that of the WT. These differences in (growth) phenotype illustrate that translational research in crops is essential to assess the value of an engineering strategy for applications. Further fine-tuning of this research strategy (e.g., by using more specific promoters or by translating this strategy to other crops such as maize) might lead to transgenic bio-energy crops with cell walls more amenable to deconstruction without settling in yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara De Meester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paula Oyarce
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Van Acker
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yukiko Tsuji
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Thijs Vangeel
- Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Bert Sels
- Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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Unda F, Mottiar Y, Mahon EL, Karlen SD, Kim KH, Loqué D, Eudes A, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. A new approach to zip-lignin: 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate is compatible with lignification. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:234-246. [PMID: 35377486 PMCID: PMC9325543 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Renewed interests in the development of bioenergy, biochemicals, and biomaterials have elicited new strategies for engineering the lignin of biomass feedstock plants. This study shows, for the first time, that 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB) is compatible with the radical coupling reactions that assemble polymeric lignin in plants. We introduced a bacterial 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase into hybrid poplar (Populus alba × grandidentata) to divert carbon flux away from the shikimate pathway, which lies upstream of lignin biosynthesis. Transgenic poplar wood had up to 33% less lignin with p-hydroxyphenyl units comprising as much as 10% of the lignin. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of transgenic wood released fewer ester-linked p-hydroxybenzoate groups than control trees, and revealed the novel incorporation of cell-wall-bound DHB, as well as glycosides of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) analysis uncovered DHBA-derived benzodioxane structures suggesting that DHB moieties were integrated into the lignin polymer backbone. In addition, up to 40% more glucose was released from transgenic wood following ionic liquid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. This work highlights the potential of diverting carbon flux from the shikimate pathway for lignin engineering and describes a new type of 'zip-lignin' derived from the incorporation of DHB into poplar lignin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faride Unda
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Yaseen Mottiar
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Elizabeth L. Mahon
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Steven D. Karlen
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Kwang Ho Kim
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Clean Energy Research CenterKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792Korea
| | - Dominique Loqué
- Joint BioEnergy Institute5885 Hollis StreetEmeryvilleCA94608USA
| | - Aymerick Eudes
- Joint BioEnergy Institute5885 Hollis StreetEmeryvilleCA94608USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology DivisionLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCA94720USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Shawn D. Mansfield
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
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8
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Rostami Z, Fazeli A, Hojati Z. The isolation and expression analysis of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase and chalcone synthase genes of Scrophularia striata under different abiotic elicitors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8128. [PMID: 35581313 PMCID: PMC9114027 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12361-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenylpropanoid pathway serves as a rich source of metabolites in plants, and it is considered as a starting point for the production of many other important compounds such as the flavonoids, flavonols, coumarins, and lignans. Scrophularia striata is a member of the Lamiaceae family with some biological activities similar to flavonoid compounds such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and Chalcone synthase (CHS) are key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway, leading to the biosynthesis of several secondary metabolites. In this study, two S. striata CHS and C4H were isolated and then analyzed. The investigation of the expression of these genes was performed under the effects of three salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and gibberellic acid (GA) at concentrations of 100 and 300 ppm with a completely randomized design at the transcript level using Real Time PCR method. These have different expression patterns at developmental stages. Moreover, these genes present different sensitivities to hormonal treatment. Considering the total results, it was found that the amount of expression of these genes during the reproductive phase is higher than that of the vegetative phase. Additionally, the treatment of 300 ppm SA in the reproductive phase is the most effective treatment on increasing the corresponding phenylpropanoid compounds. A correlation analysis was performed between the phenylpropanoid compounds content and both CHS and C4H expression values at different phenological development stages. The results indicate that the expression variations of both CHS and C4H are significantly related to the changes in total phenolic content. We believe that the isolation of CHS and C4H can be helpful in better understanding phenylpropanoid metabolis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Rostami
- Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilam, Ilam, Iran
| | - Arash Fazeli
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilam, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Zohreh Hojati
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
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9
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de Vries L, MacKay HA, Smith RA, Mottiar Y, Karlen SD, Unda F, Muirragui E, Bingman C, Vander Meulen K, Beebe ET, Fox BG, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. pHBMT1, a BAHD-family monolignol acyltransferase, mediates lignin acylation in poplar. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:1014-1027. [PMID: 34977949 PMCID: PMC8825253 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Poplar (Populus) lignin is naturally acylated with p-hydroxybenzoate ester moieties. However, the enzyme(s) involved in the biosynthesis of the monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates have remained largely unknown. Here, we performed an in vitro screen of the Populus trichocarpa BAHD acyltransferase superfamily (116 genes) using a wheatgerm cell-free translation system and found five enzymes capable of producing monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates. We then compared the transcript abundance of the five corresponding genes with p-hydroxybenzoate concentrations using naturally occurring unrelated genotypes of P. trichocarpa and revealed a positive correlation between the expression of p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA monolig-nol transferase (pHBMT1, Potri.001G448000) and p-hydroxybenzoate levels. To test whether pHBMT1 is responsible for the biosynthesis of monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates, we overexpressed pHBMT1 in hybrid poplar (Populus alba × P. grandidentata) (35S::pHBMT1 and C4H::pHBMT1). Using three complementary analytical methods, we showed that there was an increase in soluble monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates and cell-wall-bound monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates in the poplar transgenics. As these pendent groups are ester-linked, saponification releases p-hydroxybenzoate, a precursor to parabens that are used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. This identified gene could therefore be used to engineer lignocellulosic biomass with increased value for emerging biorefinery strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne de Vries
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Heather A MacKay
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Rebecca A Smith
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Yaseen Mottiar
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Steven D Karlen
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Faride Unda
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Emilia Muirragui
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Craig Bingman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Kirk Vander Meulen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Emily T Beebe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Brian G Fox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Shawn D Mansfield
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Author for communication:
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Majda M. Engineering lignin: getting more from woody biomass. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:926-927. [PMID: 35135001 PMCID: PMC8825301 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Majda
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
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Yuan Z, Dong F, Pang Z, Fallah N, Zhou Y, Li Z, Hu C. Integrated Metabolomics and Transcriptome Analyses Unveil Pathways Involved in Sugar Content and Rind Color of Two Sugarcane Varieties. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:921536. [PMID: 35783968 PMCID: PMC9244704 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.921536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic composition can have potential impact on several vital agronomic traits, and metabolomics, which represents the bioactive compounds in plant tissues, is widely considered as a powerful approach for linking phenotype-genotype interactions. However, metabolites related to cane traits such as sugar content, rind color, and texture differences in different sugarcane cultivars using metabolome integrated with transcriptome remain largely inconclusive. In this study, metabolome integrated with transcriptome analyses were performed to identify and quantify metabolites composition, and have better insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning the different cane traits, namely, brix, rind color, and textures in the stems (S) and leaves (L) of sugarcane varieties FN41 and 165402. We also identified metabolites and associated genes in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, starch and sucrose metabolism. A total of 512 metabolites from 11 classes, with the vast majority (122) belonging to flavonoids were identified. Moreover, the relatively high amount of D-fructose 6-p, D-glucose6-p and glucose1-p detected in FN41L may have been transported and distributed by source and sink of the cane, and a majority of them reached the stem of sugarcane FN41L, thereby promoting the high accumulation of sugar in FN41S. Observations also revealed that genes such as C4H, CHS, F3H, F3'H, DFR, and FG2 in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were the major factors impacting the rind color and contrasting texture of FN41 and 165204. Further analysis revealed that weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) hub genes and six transcription factors, namely, Tify and NAC, MYB-related, C2C2-Dof, WRKY, and bHLH play a key role in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism. Additionally, metabolites such as L-phenylalanine, tyrosine, sinapaldehyde, pinobanksin, kaempferin, and nictoflorin were the potential drivers of phenotypic differences. Our finding also demonstrated that genes and metabolites in the starch and sucrose metabolism had a significant effect on cane sugar content. Overall, this study provided valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning high sugar accumulation and rind color in sugarcane, which we believe is important for future sugarcane breeding programs and the selection of high biomass varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaonian Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Agricultural, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Sugar Industry, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaonian Yuan,
| | - Fei Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ziqin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Agricultural, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Nyumah Fallah
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Agricultural, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yongmei Zhou
- College of Agricultural, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Agricultural, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chaohua Hu
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Agricultural, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Tetreault HM, Gries T, Liu S, Toy J, Xin Z, Vermerris W, Ralph J, Funnell-Harris DL, Sattler SE. The Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) Brown Midrib 30 Gene Encodes a Chalcone Isomerase Required for Cell Wall Lignification. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:732307. [PMID: 34925394 PMCID: PMC8674566 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.732307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and other C4 grasses, brown midrib (bmr) mutants have long been associated with plants impaired in their ability to synthesize lignin. The brown midrib 30 (Bmr30) gene, identified using a bulk segregant analysis and next-generation sequencing, was determined to encode a chalcone isomerase (CHI). Two independent mutations within this gene confirmed that loss of its function was responsible for the brown leaf midrib phenotype and reduced lignin concentration. Loss of the Bmr30 gene function, as shown by histochemical staining of leaf midrib and stalk sections, resulted in altered cell wall composition. In the bmr30 mutants, CHI activity was drastically reduced, and the accumulation of total flavonoids and total anthocyanins was impaired, which is consistent with its function in flavonoid biosynthesis. The level of the flavone lignin monomer tricin was reduced 20-fold in the stem relative to wild type, and to undetectable levels in the leaf tissue of the mutants. The bmr30 mutant, therefore, harbors a mutation in a phenylpropanoid biosynthetic gene that is key to the interconnection between flavonoids and monolignols, both of which are utilized for lignin synthesis in the grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Tetreault
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Tammy Gries
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Sarah Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, The DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - John Toy
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Zhanguo Xin
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, The DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Deanna L. Funnell-Harris
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Scott E. Sattler
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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