Phosphorylation of transitory starch by α-glucan, water dikinase during starch turnover affects the surface properties and morphology of starch granules

Starch phosphorylation regulates starch granule morphological homogeneity in Arabidopsis thaliana

Starch granule morphological homogeneity presents a gap in starch research. Transitory starch granules in wild-type plants are discoid, regardless of species. Notably, while the shape of starch granules can differ among mutants, it typically remains homogeneous within a genotype. We found an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, dpe2sex4, lacking both the cytosolic disproportionating enzyme 2 (DPE2) and glucan phosphatase SEX4, showing an unprecedented bimodal starch granule diameter distribution when grown under a light/dark rhythm. dpe2sex4 contained 2 types of starch granules: large granules and small granules. In contrast to the double starch initiation in wheat (Triticum aestivum) endosperm, where A-type granules are initiated first and B-type granules are initiated later, dpe2sex4 small and large granules developed simultaneously in the same chloroplast. Compared with the large granules, the small granules had more branched amylopectin and less surface starch-phosphate, thus having a more compact structure that may hinder starch synthesis. During plant aging, the small granules barely grew. In in vitro experiments, fewer glucosyl residues were incorporated in small granules. Under continuous light, dpe2sex4 starch granules were morphologically homogeneous. Omitting the dark phase after a 2-wk light/dark cycle by moving plants into continuous light also reduced morphological variance between these 2 types of granules. These data shed light on the impact of starch phosphorylation on starch granule morphology homogeneity.

Glucan, water dikinase (GWD) penetrates the starch granule surface and introduces C6 phosphate in the vicinity of branching points

Starch phosphorylation mediated by α-glucan, water dikinase is an integral part of starch metabolism. So far however, it is not fully understood. For getting deeper insights, several in vitro assays and intensive mass spectrometry analyses were performed. Such analyses allowed us to determine the phosphorylation position within the amylopectin in detail. Thus, unique features of the starch structure and GWD action were correlated. Therefore, recombinant potato GWD (Solanum tuberosum L.; StGWD) was used for detailed analyses of the phosphorylation pattern of various starches. Additionally, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.; EgGWD) GWD was cloned and characterized, representing the first characterization of GWD of a monocot species. The distribution patterns of single phosphorylated glucan chains catalyzed by both GWDs were compared. The phosphorylation distribution patterns of both GWDs varied for different starches. It was proven that GWD phosphorylates different positions within the amylopectin of native starch granules. GWD enters the starch granule surface and phosphorylates the glucosyl units in the proximity of branching points to convert the highly ordered glucan chains into a less ordered state and to render them accessible for the downstream acting hydrolases. This enables deciphering the GWD actions and the related structural properties of starch granules.

Gradual Analytics of Starch-Interacting Proteins Revealed the Involvement of Starch-Phosphorylating Enzymes during Synthesis of Storage Starch in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tubers

The complete mechanism behind starch regulation has not been fully characterized. However, significant progress can be achieved through proteomic approaches. In this work, we aimed to characterize the starch-interacting proteins in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree) tubers under variable circumstances. Starch-interacting proteins were extracted from developing tubers of wild type and transgenic lines containing antisense inhibition of glucan phosphorylases. Further, proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and characterized through mass spectrometry. Additionally, starch-interacting proteins were analyzed in potato tubers stored at different temperatures. Most of the proteins strongly interacting with the potato starch granules corresponded to proteins involved in starch metabolism. GWD and PWD, two dikinases associated with starch degradation, were consistently found bound to the starch granules. This indicates that their activity is not only restricted to degradation but is also essential during storage starch synthesis. We confirmed the presence of protease inhibitors interacting with the potato starch surface as previously revealed by other authors. Starch interacting protein profiles of transgenic tubers appeared differently from wild type when tubers were stored under different temperatures, indicating a differential expression in response to changing environmental conditions.

Dpe2/phs1 revealed unique starch metabolism with three distinct phases characterized by different starch granule numbers per chloroplast, allowing insights into the control mechanism of granule number regulation by gene co-regulation and metabolic profiling

An Arabidopsis mutant lacking both the cytosolic Disproportionating enzyme 2 (DPE2) and the plastidial glucan Phosphorylase 1 (PHS1) revealed a unique starch metabolism. Dpe2/phs1 has been reported to have only one starch granule number per chloroplast when grown under diurnal rhythm. For this study, we analyzed dpe2/phs1 in details following the mutant development, and found that it showed three distinct periods of granule numbers per chloroplast, while there was no obvious change observed in Col-0. In young plants, the starch granule number was similar to that in Col-0 at first, and then decreased significantly, down to one or no granule per chloroplast, followed by an increase in the granule number. Thus, in dpe2/phs1, control over the starch granule number is impaired, but it is not defective in starch granule initiation. The data also indicate that the granule number is not fixed, and is regulated throughout plant growth. Furthermore, the chloroplasts revealed alterations during these three periods, with a partially strong aberrant morphology in the middle phase. Interestingly, the unique metabolism was perpetuated when starch degradation was further impaired through an additional lack of Isoamylase 3 (ISA3) or Starch excess 4 (SEX4). Transcriptomic studies and metabolic profiling revealed the co-regulation of starch metabolism-related genes and a clear metabolic separation between the periods. Most senescence-induced genes were found to be up-regulated more than twice in the starch-less mature leaves. Thus, dpe2/phs1 is a unique plant material source, with which we may study starch granule number regulation to obtain a more detailed understanding.

LIKE EARLY STARVATION 1 alters the glucan structures at the starch granule surface and thereby influences the action of both starch-synthesizing and starch-degrading enzymes

For starch metabolism to take place correctly, various enzymes and proteins acting on the starch granule surface are crucial. Recently, two non-catalytic starch-binding proteins, pivotal for normal starch turnover in Arabidopsis leaves, namely, EARLY STARVATION 1 (ESV1) and its homolog LIKE EARLY STARVATION 1 (LESV), have been identified. Both share nearly 38% sequence homology. As ESV1 has been found to influence glucan phosphorylation via two starch-related dikinases, α-glucan, water dikinase (GWD) and phosphoglucan, water dikinase (PWD), through modulating the surface glucan structures of the starch granules and thus affecting starch degradation, we assess the impact of its homolog LESV on starch metabolism. Thus, the 65-kDa recombinant protein LESV and the 50-kDa ESV1 were analyzed regarding their influence on the action of GWD and PWD on the surface of the starch granules. We included starches from various sources and additionally assessed the effect of these non-enzymatic proteins on other starch-related enzymes, such as starch synthases (SSI and SSIII), starch phosphorylases (PHS1), isoamylase and β-amylase. The data obtained indicate that starch phosphorylation, hydrolyses and synthesis were affected by LESV and ESV1. Furthermore, incubation with LESV and ESV1 together exerted an additive effect on starch phosphorylation. In addition, a stable alteration of the glucan structures at the starch granule surface following treatment with LESV and ESV1 was observed. Here, we discuss all the observed changes that point to modifications in the glucan structures at the surface of the native starch granules and present a model to explain the existing processes.

Carbon pathways during transitory starch degradation in Arabidopsis differentially affect the starch granule number and morphology in the dpe2/phs1 mutant background

The Arabidopsis knockout mutant lacking both the cytosolic disproportionating enzyme 2 (DPE2) and the plastidial phosphorylase (PHS1) had a dwarf-growth phenotype, a reduced and uneven distribution of starch within the plant rosettes, and a lower starch granule number per chloroplast under standard growth conditions. In contrast, a triple mutant impaired in starch degradation by its additional lack of the glucan, water dikinase (GWD) showed improved plant growth, a starch-excess phenotype, and a homogeneous starch distribution. Furthermore, the number of starch granules per chloroplast was increased and was similar to the wild type. We concluded that ongoing starch degradation is mainly responsible for the observed phenotype of dpe2/phs1. Next, we generated two further triple mutants lacking either the phosphoglucan, water dikinase (PWD), or the disproportionating enzyme 1 (DPE1) in the background of the double mutant. Analysis of the starch metabolism revealed that even minor ongoing starch degradation observed in dpe2/phs1/pwd maintained the double mutant phenotype. In contrast, an additional blockage in the glucose pathway of starch breakdown, as in dpe2/phs1/dpe1, resulted in a nearly starch-free phenotype and massive chloroplast degradation. The characterized mutants were discussed in the context of starch granule formation.

A review of starch, a unique biopolymer - Structure, metabolism and in planta modifications

Starch is a complex carbohydrate polymer produced by plants and especially by crops in huge amounts. It consists of amylose and amylopectin, which have α-1,4- and α-1,6-linked glucose units. Despite this simple chemistry, the entire starch metabolism is complex, containing various (iso)enzymes/proteins. However, whose interplay is still not yet fully understood. Starch is essential for humans and animals as a source of nutrition and energy. Nowadays, starch is also commonly used in non-food industrial sectors for a variety of purposes. However, native starches do not always satisfy the needs of a wide range of (industrial) applications. This review summarizes the structural properties of starch, analytical methods for starch characterization, and in planta starch modifications.

Starch Granule Size and Morphology of Arabidopsis thaliana Starch-Related Mutants Analyzed during Diurnal Rhythm and Development

Transitory starch plays a central role in the life cycle of plants. Many aspects of this important metabolism remain unknown; however, starch granules provide insight into this persistent metabolic process. Therefore, monitoring alterations in starch granules with high temporal resolution provides one significant avenue to improve understanding. Here, a previously established method that combines LCSM and safranin-O staining for in vivo imaging of transitory starch granules in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana was employed to demonstrate, for the first time, the alterations in starch granule size and morphology that occur both throughout the day and during leaf aging. Several starch-related mutants were included, which revealed differences among the generated granules. In ptst2 and sex1-8, the starch granules in old leaves were much larger than those in young leaves; however, the typical flattened discoid morphology was maintained. In ss4 and dpe2/phs1/ss4, the morphology of starch granules in young leaves was altered, with a more rounded shape observed. With leaf development, the starch granules became spherical exclusively in dpe2/phs1/ss4. Thus, the presented data provide new insights to contribute to the understanding of starch granule morphogenesis.

The sugar-responsive circadian clock regulator bZIP63 modulates plant growth

Adjustment to energy starvation is crucial to ensure growth and survival. In Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), this process relies in part on the phosphorylation of the circadian clock regulator bZIP63 by SUCROSE non-fermenting RELATED KINASE1 (SnRK1), a key mediator of responses to low energy. We investigated the effects of mutations in bZIP63 on plant carbon (C) metabolism and growth. Results from phenotypic, transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of bZIP63 mutants prompted us to investigate the starch accumulation pattern and the expression of genes involved in starch degradation and in the circadian oscillator. bZIP63 mutation impairs growth under light-dark cycles, but not under constant light. The reduced growth likely results from the accentuated C depletion towards the end of the night, which is caused by the accelerated starch degradation of bZIP63 mutants. The diel expression pattern of bZIP63 is dictated by both the circadian clock and energy levels, which could determine the changes in the circadian expression of clock and starch metabolic genes observed in bZIP63 mutants. We conclude that bZIP63 composes a regulatory interface between the metabolic and circadian control of starch breakdown to optimize C usage and plant growth.

Starch granule initiation in Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts

The initiation of starch granule formation and the mechanism controlling the number of granules per plastid have been some of the most elusive aspects of starch metabolism. This review covers the advances made in the study of these processes. The analyses presented herein depict a scenario in which starch synthase isoform 4 (SS4) provides the elongating activity necessary for the initiation of starch granule formation. However, this protein does not act alone; other polypeptides are required for the initiation of an appropriate number of starch granules per chloroplast. The functions of this group of polypeptides include providing suitable substrates (maltooligosaccharides) to SS4, the localization of the starch initiation machinery to the thylakoid membranes, and facilitating the correct folding of SS4. The number of starch granules per chloroplast is tightly regulated and depends on the developmental stage of the leaves and their metabolic status. Plastidial phosphorylase (PHS1) and other enzymes play an essential role in this process since they are necessary for the synthesis of the substrates used by the initiation machinery. The mechanism of starch granule formation initiation in Arabidopsis seems to be generalizable to other plants and also to the synthesis of long-term storage starch. The latter, however, shows specific features due to the presence of more isoforms, the absence of constantly recurring starch synthesis and degradation, and the metabolic characteristics of the storage sink organs.

Starch Granules in Arabidopsis thaliana Mesophyll and Guard Cells Show Similar Morphology but Differences in Size and Number

Transitory starch granules result from complex carbon turnover and display specific situations during starch synthesis and degradation. The fundamental mechanisms that specify starch granule characteristics, such as granule size, morphology, and the number per chloroplast, are largely unknown. However, transitory starch is found in the various cells of the leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana, but comparative analyses are lacking. Here, we adopted a fast method of laser confocal scanning microscopy to analyze the starch granules in a series of Arabidopsis mutants with altered starch metabolism. This allowed us to separately analyze the starch particles in the mesophyll and in guard cells. In all mutants, the guard cells were always found to contain more but smaller plastidial starch granules than mesophyll cells. The morphological properties of the starch granules, however, were indiscernible or identical in both types of leaf cells.

Starch-A complex and undeciphered biopolymer

Starch is a natural storage carbohydrate in plants and algae. It consists of two relatively simple homo-biopolymers, amylopectin and amylose, with only α-1,4 and α-1,6 linked glucosyl units. Starch is an essential source of nutrition and animal food, as well as an important raw material for industry. However, despite increasing knowledge, detailed information about its structure and turnover are largely lacking. In the last decades, most data were generated using bulk experiments, a method which obviously presents limitations regarding a deeper understanding of the starch metabolism. Here, we discuss some unavoidable questions arising from the existing data. We focus on a few examples related to starch biosynthesis, degradation, and structure - where these limitations strongly emerge. Closing these knowledge gaps will also be extremely important for taking the necessary steps in order to set up starch-providing crops for the challenges of the ongoing climate changes, as well as for increasing the usability of starches for industrial applications by biotechnology.

Starch and Glycogen Analyses: Methods and Techniques

For complex carbohydrates, such as glycogen and starch, various analytical methods and techniques exist allowing the detailed characterization of these storage carbohydrates. In this article, we give a brief overview of the most frequently used methods, techniques, and results. Furthermore, we give insights in the isolation, purification, and fragmentation of both starch and glycogen. An overview of the different structural levels of the glucans is given and the corresponding analytical techniques are discussed. Moreover, future perspectives of the analytical needs and the challenges of the currently developing scientific questions are included.

Starch phosphorylation and the in vivo regulation of starch metabolism and characteristics

Starch is the most significant carbon and energy reserve in plants and is also a sustainable feedstock for many industrial applications. Substantial research effort has been devoted to enhancing the yield and quality of starch. Over the past century, starch phosphorylation has aroused increasing interest as the only naturally occurring covalent modification in starch. Many studies have investigated the role of phosphorylation in starch metabolism and its impact on the starch granule. In this review, the two key enzymes involved in starch phosphorylation and their catalytic mechanisms are described at the molecular level; the vital roles of phosphorylation in starch degradation and biosynthesis are illuminated in detail; and the multiple influences of phosphorylation on starch composition, granule structure and physicochemical properties are discussed. This review systematically summarizes the importance of phosphorylation in starch metabolism, and describes the advanced methods used to precisely measure phosphate and increase the level of starch phosphorylation.

Identification of Two Arabidopsis thaliana Plasma Membrane Transporters Able to Transport Glucose 1-Phosphate

Primary carbohydrate metabolism in plants includes several sugar and sugar-derivative transport processes. Over recent years, evidences have shown that in starch-related transport processes, in addition to glucose 6-phosphate, maltose, glucose and triose-phosphates, glucose 1-phosphate also plays a role and thereby increases the possible fluxes of sugar metabolites in planta. In this study, we report the characterization of two highly similar transporters, At1g34020 and At4g09810, in Arabidopsis thaliana, which allow the import of glucose 1-phosphate through the plasma membrane. Both transporters were expressed in yeast and were biochemically analyzed to reveal an antiport of glucose 1-phosphate/phosphate. Furthermore, we showed that the apoplast of Arabidopsis leaves contained glucose 1-phosphate and that the corresponding mutant of these transporters had higher glucose 1-phosphate amounts in the apoplast and alterations in starch and starch-related metabolism.

Starch phosphorylation associated SNPs found by genome-wide association studies in the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Background

The natural variation of starch phosphate content in potatoes has been previously reported. It is known that, in contrast to raw starch, commercially phosphorylated starch is more stable at high temperatures and shear rates and has higher water capacity. The genetic improvement of phosphate content in potato starch by selection or engineering would allow the production of phosphorylated starch in a natural, environmentally friendly way without chemicals. The aim of the current research is to identify genomic SNPs associated with starch phosphorylation by carrying out a genome-wide association study in potatoes.

Results

A total of 90 S. tuberosum L. varieties were used for phenotyping and genotyping. The phosphorus content of starch in 90 potato cultivars was measured and then statistically analysed. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the third and eighth principal components appeared to be sensitive to variation in phosphorus content (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.002, respectively). PC3 showed the correlation of starch phosphorus content with allelic variations responsible for higher phosphorylation levels, found in four varieties. Similarly, PC8 indicated that hybrid 785/8–5 carried an allele associated with high phosphorus content, while the Impala and Red Scarlet varieties carried alleles for low phosphorus content. Genotyping was carried out using an Illumina 22 K SNP potato array. A total of 15,214 scorable SNPs (71.7% success rate) was revealed. GWAS mapping plots were obtained using TASSEL based on several statistical models, including general linear models (GLMs), with and without accounting for population structure, as well as MLM. A total of 17 significant SNPs was identified for phosphorus content in potato starch, 14 of which are assigned to 8 genomic regions on chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Most of the SNPs identified belong to protein coding regions; however, their allelic variation was not associated with changes in protein structure or function.

Conclusions

A total of 8 novel genomic regions possibly associated with starch phosphorylation on potato chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11 was revealed. Further validation of the SNPs identified and the analysis of the surrounding genomic regions for candidate genes will allow better understanding of starch phosphorylation biochemistry. The most indicative SNPs may be useful for developing diagnostic markers to accelerate the breeding of potatoes with predetermined levels of starch phosphorylation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12863-019-0729-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A banana R2R3-MYB transcription factor MaMYB3 is involved in fruit ripening through modulation of starch degradation by repressing starch degradation-related genes and MabHLH6

Starch degradation is a necessary process determining banana fruit quality during ripening. Many starch degradation-related genes are well studied. However, the transcriptional regulation of starch degradation during banana fruit ripening remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a MYB transcription factor (TF) termed MaMYB3, as a putative protein binding the promoter of MaGWD1, a member of glucan water dikinase (GWD) family which has been demonstrated as an important enzyme of starch degradation. MaMYB3 was ripening- and ethylene-repressible, and its expression was negatively correlated with starch degradation. Acting as a nucleus-localized transcriptional repressor, MaMYB3 repressed the transcription of 10 starch degradation-related genes, including MaGWD1, MaSEX4, MaBAM7-MaBAM8, MaAMY2B, MaAMY3, MaAMY3A, MaAMY3C, MaMEX1, and MapGlcT2-1, by directly binding to their promoters. Interestingly, a previously identified activator of starch degradation-related genes, MabHLH6, was also suppressed by MaMYB3. The ectopic overexpression of MaMYB3 in tomato down-regulated the expression of starch degradation-related genes, inhibited starch degradation and delayed fruit ripening. Based on these findings, we conclude that MaMYB3 negatively impacts starch degradation by directly repressing starch degradation-related genes and MabHLH6, and thereby delays banana fruit ripening. Collectively, our study expands our understanding of the complex transcriptional regulatory hierarchy modulating starch degradation during fruit ripening.

EARLY STARVATION1 specifically affects the phosphorylation action of starch-related dikinases

Starch phosphorylation by starch-related dikinases glucan, water dikinase (GWD) and phosphoglucan, water dikinase (PWD) is a key step in starch degradation. Little information is known about the precise structure of the glucan substrate utilized by the dikinases and about the mechanisms by which these structures may be influenced. A 50-kDa starch-binding protein named EARLY STARVATION1 (ESV1) was analyzed regarding its impact on starch phosphorylation. In various in vitro assays, the influences of the recombinant protein ESV1 on the actions of GWD and PWD on the surfaces of native starch granules were analyzed. In addition, we included starches from various sources as well as truncated forms of GWD. ESV1 preferentially binds to highly ordered, α-glucans, such as starch and crystalline maltodextrins. Furthermore, ESV1 specifically influences the action of GWD and PWD at the starch granule surface. Starch phosphorylation by GWD is decreased in the presence of ESV1, whereas the action of PWD increases in the presence of ESV1. The unique alterations observed in starch phosphorylation by the two dikinases are discussed in regard to altered glucan structures at the starch granule surface.

Parameters of Starch Granule Genesis in Chloroplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana

Starch is the primary storage carbohydrate in most photosynthetic organisms and allows the accumulation of carbon and energy in form of an insoluble and semi-crystalline particle. In the last decades large progress, especially in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, was made in understanding the structure and metabolism of starch and its conjunction. The process underlying the initiation of starch granules remains obscure, although this is a fundamental process and seems to be strongly regulated, as in Arabidopsis leaves the starch granule number per chloroplast is fixed with 5-7. Several single, double, and triple mutants were reported in the last years that showed massively alterations in the starch granule number per chloroplast and allowed further insights in this important process. This mini review provides an overview of the current knowledge of processes involved in the initiation and formation of starch granules. We discuss the central role of starch synthase 4 and further proteins for starch genesis and affecting metabolic factors.

Increased accuracy of starch granule type quantification using mixture distributions

BACKGROUND

The proportion of granule types in wheat starch is an important characteristic that can affect its functionality. It is widely accepted that granule types are either large, disc-shaped A-type granules or small, spherical B-type granules. Additionally, there are some reports of the tiny C-type granules. The differences between these granule types are due to its carbohydrate composition and crystallinity which is highly, but not perfectly, correlated with the granule size. A majority of the studies that have considered granule types analyse them based on a size threshold rather than chemical composition. This is understandable due to the expense of separating starch into different types. While the use of a size threshold to classify granule type is a low-cost measure, this results in misclassification. We present an alternative, statistical method to quantify the proportion of granule types by a fit of the mixture distribution, along with an R package, a web based app and a video tutorial for how to use the web app to enable its straightforward application.

RESULTS

Our results show that the reliability of the genotypic effects increase approximately 60% using the proportions of the A-type and B-type granule estimated by the mixture distribution over the standard size-threshold measure. Although there was a marginal drop in reliability for C-type granules. The latter is likely due to the low observed genetic variance for C-type granules.

CONCLUSIONS

The determination of the proportion of granule types from size-distribution is better achieved by using the mixing probabilities from the fit of the mixture distribution rather than using a size-threshold.

Reduced starch granule number per chloroplast in the dpe2/phs1 mutant is dependent on initiation of starch degradation

An Arabidopsis double knock-out mutant lacking cytosolic disproportionating enzyme 2 (DPE2) and the plastidial phosphorylase (PHS1) revealed a dwarf-growth phenotype, reduced starch content, an uneven distribution of starch within the plant rosette, and a reduced number of starch granules per chloroplast under standard growth conditions. In contrast, the wild type contained 5–7 starch granules per chloroplast. Mature and old leaves of the double mutant were essentially starch free and showed plastidial disintegration. Several analyses revealed that the number of starch granules per chloroplast was affected by the dark phase. So far, it was unclear if it was the dark phase per se or starch degradation in the dark that was connected to the observed decrease in the number of starch granules per chloroplast. Therefore, in the background of the double mutant dpe2/phs1, a triple mutant was generated lacking the initial starch degrading enzyme glucan, water dikinase (GWD). The triple mutant showed improved plant growth, a starch-excess phenotype, and a homogeneous starch distribution. Furthermore, the number of starch granules per chloroplast was increased and was similar to wild type. However, starch granule morphology was only slightly affected by the lack of GWD as in the triple mutant and, like in dpe2/phs1, more spherical starch granules were observed. The characterized triple mutant was discussed in the context of the generation of starch granules and the formation of starch granule morphology.

Alpha-Glucan, Water Dikinase 1 Affects Starch Metabolism and Storage Root Growth in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Regulation of storage root development by source strength remains largely unknown. The cassava storage root delay (srd) T-DNA mutant postpones storage root development but manifests normal foliage growth as wild-type plants. The SRD gene was identified as an orthologue of α-glucan, water dikinase 1 (GWD1), whose expression is regulated under conditions of light/dark cycles in leaves and is associated with storage root development. The GWD1-RNAi cassava plants showed both retarded plant and storage root growth, as a result of starch excess phenotypes with reduced photosynthetic capacity and decreased levels of soluble saccharides in their leaves. These leaves contained starch granules having greatly increased amylose content and type C semi-crystalline structures with increased short chains that suggested storage starch. In storage roots of GWD1-RNAi lines, maltose content was dramatically decreased and starches with much lower phosphorylation levels showed a drastically reduced β-amylolytic rate. These results suggested that GWD1 regulates transient starch morphogenesis and storage root growth by decreasing photo-assimilation partitioning from the source to the sink and by starch mobilization in root crops.

Highly phosphorylated functionalized rice starch produced by transgenic rice expressing the potato GWD1 gene

Starch phosphorylation occurs naturally during starch metabolism in the plant and is catalysed by glucan water dikinases (GWD1) and phosphoglucan water dikinase/glucan water dikinase 3 (PWD/GWD3). We generated six stable individual transgenic lines by over-expressing the potato GWD1 in rice. Transgenic rice grain starch had 9-fold higher 6-phospho (6-P) monoesters and double amounts of 3-phospho (3-P) monoesters, respectively, compared to control grain. The shape and topography of the transgenic starch granules were moderately altered including surface pores and less well defined edges. The gelatinization temperatures of both rice flour and extracted starch were significantly lower than those of the control and hence negatively correlated with the starch phosphate content. The 6-P content was positively correlated with amylose content and relatively long amylopectin chains with DP25-36, and the 3-P content was positively correlated with short chains of DP6-12. The starch pasting temperature, peak viscosity and the breakdown were lower but the setback was higher for transgenic rice flour. The 6-P content was negatively correlated with texture adhesiveness but positively correlated with the cohesiveness of rice flour gels. Our data demonstrate a way forward to employ a starch bioengineering approach for clean modification of starch, opening up completely new applications for rice starch.

Engineering Potato Starch with a Higher Phosphate Content

Phosphate esters are responsible for valuable and unique functionalities of starch for industrial applications. Also in the cell phosphate esters play a role in starch metabolism, which so far has not been well characterized in storage starch. Laforin, a human enzyme composed of a carbohydrate-binding module and a dual-specificity phosphatase domain, is involved in the dephosphorylation of glycogen. To modify phosphate content and better understand starch (de)phosphorylation in storage starch, laforin was engineered and introduced into potato (cultivar Kardal). Interestingly, expression of an (engineered) laforin in potato resulted in significantly higher phosphate content of starch, and this result was confirmed in amylose-free potato genetic background (amf). Modified starches exhibited altered granule morphology and size compared to the control. About 20–30% of the transgenic lines of each series showed red-staining granules upon incubation with iodine, and contained higher phosphate content than the blue-stained starch granules. Moreover, low amylose content and altered gelatinization properties were observed in these red-stained starches. Principle component and correlation analysis disclosed a complex correlation between starch composition and starch physico-chemical properties. Ultimately, the expression level of endogenous genes involved in starch metabolism was analysed, revealing a compensatory response to the decrease of phosphate content in potato starch. This study provides a new perspective for engineering starch phosphate content in planta by making use of the compensatory mechanism in the plant itself.

Characterization of Starch Degradation Related Genes in Postharvest Kiwifruit

Starch is one of the most important storage carbohydrates in plants. Kiwifruit typically accumulate large amounts of starch during development. The fruit retain starch until commercial maturity, and its postharvest degradation is essential for consumer acceptance. The activity of genes related to starch degradation has, however, rarely been investigated. Based on the kiwifruit genome sequence and previously reported starch degradation-related genes, 17 novel genes were isolated and the relationship between their expression and starch degradation was examined using two sets of materials: ethylene-treated (100 µL/L, 20 °C; ETH) vs. control (20 °C; CK) and controlled atmosphere stored (CA, 5% CO₂ + 2% O₂, 0 °C) vs. normal atmosphere in cold storage (NA, 0 °C). Physiological analysis indicated that ETH accelerated starch degradation and increased soluble solids content (SSC) and soluble sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose), while CA inhibited starch reduction compared with NA. Using these materials, expression patterns of 24 genes that may contribute to starch degradation (seven previously reported and 17 newly isolated) were analyzed. Among the 24 genes, AdAMY1, AdAGL3 and AdBAM3.1/3L/9 were significantly induced by ETH and positively correlated with starch degradation. Furthermore, these five genes were also inhibited by CA, conforming the likely involvement of these genes in starch degradation. Thus, the present study has identified the genes with potential for involvement in starch degradation in postharvest kiwifruit, which will be useful for understanding the regulation of kiwifruit starch content and metabolism.

Starch phosphorylation plays an important role in starch biosynthesis

Starch phosphate esters are crucial in starch metabolism and render valuable functionality to starches for various industrial applications. A potato glucan, water dikinase (GWD1) was introduced in tubers of two different potato genetic backgrounds: an amylose-containing line Kardal and the amylose-free mutant amf. In both backgrounds, this resulted in two contrasting effects, a number of plants showed higher phosphate content compared to the respective control, while others lines exhibited lower phosphate content, thereby generating two series of starches with broad-scale variation in phosphate content. The results of systematic analyses on these two series of starches revealed that starch phosphate content strongly influenced starch granule morphology, amylose content, starch fine structure, gelatinization characteristics and freeze-thaw stability of starch gels. Further analyses on the expression level of genes involved in starch metabolism suggested that starch phosphorylation regulates starch synthesis by controlling the carbon flux into starch while simultaneously modulating starch-synthesizing genes.

Formation of starch in plant cells

Starch-rich crops form the basis of our nutrition, but plants have still to yield all their secrets as to how they make this vital substance. Great progress has been made by studying both crop and model systems, and we approach the point of knowing the enzymatic machinery responsible for creating the massive, insoluble starch granules found in plant tissues. Here, we summarize our current understanding of these biosynthetic enzymes, highlighting recent progress in elucidating their specific functions. Yet, in many ways we have only scratched the surface: much uncertainty remains about how these components function together and are controlled. We flag-up recent observations suggesting a significant degree of flexibility during the synthesis of starch and that previously unsuspected non-enzymatic proteins may have a role. We conclude that starch research is not yet a mature subject and that novel experimental and theoretical approaches will be important to advance the field.

Unique carbohydrate binding platforms employed by the glucan phosphatases

Glucan phosphatases are a family of enzymes that are functionally conserved at the enzymatic level in animals and plants. These enzymes bind and dephosphorylate glycogen in animals and starch in plants. While the enzymatic function is conserved, the glucan phosphatases employ distinct mechanisms to bind and dephosphorylate glycogen or starch. The founding member of the family is a bimodular human protein called laforin that is comprised of a carbohydrate binding module 20 (CBM20) followed by a dual specificity phosphatase domain. Plants contain two glucan phosphatases: Starch EXcess4 (SEX4) and Like Sex Four2 (LSF2). SEX4 contains a chloroplast targeting peptide, dual specificity phosphatase (DSP) domain, a CBM45, and a carboxy-terminal motif. LSF2 is comprised of simply a chloroplast targeting peptide, DSP domain, and carboxy-terminal motif. SEX4 employs an integrated DSP-CBM glucan-binding platform to engage and dephosphorylate starch. LSF2 lacks a CBM and instead utilizes two surface binding sites to bind and dephosphorylate starch. Laforin is a dimeric protein in solution and it utilizes a tetramodular architecture and cooperativity to bind and dephosphorylate glycogen. This chapter describes the biological role of glucan phosphatases in glycogen and starch metabolism and compares and contrasts their ability to bind and dephosphorylate glucans.

Starch phosphorylation: insights and perspectives

During starch metabolism, the phosphorylation of glucosyl residues of starch, to be more precise of amylopectin, is a repeatedly observed process. This phosphorylation is mediated by dikinases, the glucan, water dikinase (GWD) and the phosphoglucan, water dikinase (PWD). The starch-related dikinases utilize ATP as dual phosphate donor transferring the terminal γ-phosphate group to water and the β-phosphate group selectively to either C6 position or C3 position of a glucosyl residue within amylopectin. By the collaborative action of both enzymes, the initiation of a transition of α-glucans from highly ordered, water-insoluble state to a less order state is realized and thus the initial process of starch degradation. Consequently, mutants lacking either GWD or PWD reveal a starch excess phenotype as well as growth retardation. In this review, we focus on the increased knowledge collected over the last years related to enzymatic properties, the precise definition of the substrates, the physiological implications, and discuss ongoing questions.

Structure and expression of phosphoglucan phosphatase genes of Like Sex Four1 and Like Sex Four2 in barley

Phosphoglucan phosphatases (Like-SEX4 1 and 2; LSF1 and LSF2) were reported to play roles in starch metabolism in leaves of Arabidopsis. In this study, we identified and mapped the LSF1 and LSF2 genes in barley (HvLSF1 and HvLSF2), characterized their gene and protein structures, predicted the cis-elements of their promoters, and analysed their expression patterns. HvLSF1 and HvLSF2 were mapped on the long arm of chromosome 1H (1HL) and 5H (5HL), respectively. Our results revealed varied exon-intron structures and conserved exon-intron junctions in both LSF1 and LSF2 from a range of analysed species. Alignment of protein sequences indicated that cTP and CT domains are much less varied than the functional domains (PDZ, DPS and CBM48). LSF2 was mainly expressed in anthers of barley and rice, and in leaf of Arabidopsis. LSF1 was mainly expressed in endosperm of barley and leaf of Arabidopsis and rice. The expression of LSF1 exhibited a diurnal pattern in rice only and that of LSF2 in both rice and Arabidopsis. Of the investigated stresses, only cold stress significantly reduced expression level of LSF1 and LSF2 in barley and LSF2 in Arabidopsis at late stages of the treatments. While heat treatment significantly decreased expression levels of LSF1 at middle stage (4 h) of a treatment in Arabidopsis only. The strong relationships detected between LSF2 and starch excess4 (SEX4), glucan, water dikinases or phosphoglucan, water dikinases were identified and discussed. Taken together, these results provide information of genetic manipulation of LSF1 and LSF2, especially in monocotyledon and further elucidate their regulatory mechanism in plant development.

Structural mechanisms of plant glucan phosphatases in starch metabolism

Glucan phosphatases are a recently discovered class of enzymes that dephosphorylate starch and glycogen, thereby regulating energy metabolism. Plant genomes encode two glucan phosphatases, called Starch EXcess4 (SEX4) and Like Sex Four2 (LSF2), that regulate starch metabolism by selectively dephosphorylating glucose moieties within starch glucan chains. Recently, the structures of both SEX4 and LSF2 were determined, with and without phosphoglucan products bound, revealing the mechanism for their unique activities. This review explores the structural and enzymatic features of the plant glucan phosphatases, and outlines how they are uniquely adapted to perform their cellular functions. We outline the physical mechanisms used by SEX4 and LSF2 to interact with starch glucans: SEX4 binds glucan chains via a continuous glucan-binding platform comprising its dual-specificity phosphatase domain and carbohydrate-binding module, while LSF2 utilizes surface binding sites. SEX4 and LSF2 both contain a unique network of aromatic residues in their catalytic dual-specificity phosphatase domains that serve as glucan engagement platforms and are unique to the glucan phosphatases. We also discuss the phosphoglucan substrate specificities inherent to SEX4 and LSF2, and outline structural features within the active site that govern glucan orientation. This review defines the structural mechanism of the plant glucan phosphatases with respect to phosphatases, starch metabolism and protein-glucan interaction, thereby providing a framework for their application in both agricultural and industrial settings.

Suppression of glucan, water dikinase in the endosperm alters wheat grain properties, germination and coleoptile growth

Starch phosphate ester content is known to alter the physicochemical properties of starch, including its susceptibility to degradation. Previous work producing wheat (Triticum aestivum) with down-regulated glucan, water dikinase, the primary gene responsible for addition of phosphate groups to starch, in a grain-specific manner found unexpected phenotypic alteration in grain and growth. Here, we report on further characterization of these lines focussing on mature grain and early growth. We find that coleoptile length has been increased in these transgenic lines independently of grain size increases. No changes in starch degradation rates during germination could be identified, or any major alteration in soluble sugar levels that may explain the coleoptile growth modification. We identify some alteration in hormones in the tissues in question. Mature grain size is examined, as is Hardness Index and starch conformation. We find no evidence that the increased growth of coleoptiles in these lines is connected to starch conformation or degradation or soluble sugar content and suggest these findings provide a novel means of increasing coleoptile growth and early seedling establishment in cereal crop species.

Deep sequencing transcriptional fingerprinting of rice kernels for dissecting grain quality traits

BACKGROUND

Rice represents one the most important foods all over the world. In Europe, Italy is the first rice producer and Italian production is driven by tradition and quality. All main rice grain quality traits, like cooking properties, texture, gelatinization temperature, chalkiness and yield, are related to the content and composition of starch and seed-storage proteins in the endosperm and to grain shape. In addition, a number of nutraceutical compounds and allergens are known to have a significant effect on grain quality determination. To investigate the genetic bases underlying the qualitative differences that characterize traditional Italian rice cultivars, a comparative RNA-Seq-based transcriptomic analysis of developing caryopsis was conducted at 14 days after flowering on six popular Italian varieties (Carnaroli, Arborio, Balilla, Vialone Nano, Gigante Vercelli and Volano) phenotypically differing for qualitative grain-related traits.

RESULTS

Co-regulation analyses of differentially expressed genes showing the same expression patterns in the six genotypes highlighted clusters of loci up or down-regulated in specific varieties, with respect to the others. Among them, we detected loci involved in cell wall biosynthesis, protein metabolism and redox homeostasis, classes of genes affecting in chalkiness determination. Moreover, loci encoding for seed-storage proteins, allergens or involved in the biosynthesis of specific nutraceutical compounds were also present and specifically regulated in the different clusters. A wider investigation of all the DEGs detected in pair-wise comparisons revealed transcriptional variation, among the six genotypes, for quality-related loci involved in starch biosynthesis (e.g. GBSSI, starch synthases and AGPase), genes encoding for transcription factors, additional seed storage proteins, allergens or belonging to additional nutraceutical compounds biosynthetic pathways and loci affecting grain size. Putative functional SNPs associated to amylose content in starch, gelatinization temperature and grain size were also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The present work represents a more extended phenotypic characterization of a set of rice accessions that present a wider genetic variability than described nowadays in literature. The results provide the first transcriptional picture for several of the grain quality differences observed among the Italian rice varieties analyzed and reveal that each variety is characterized by the over-expression of a peculiar set of loci affecting grain appearance and quality. A list of candidates and SNPs affecting specific grain properties has been identified offering a starting point for further works aimed to characterize genes and molecular markers for breeding programs.

Mechanistic Insights into Glucan Phosphatase Activity against Polyglucan Substrates

Glucan phosphatases are central to the regulation of starch and glycogen metabolism. Plants contain two known glucan phosphatases, Starch EXcess4 (SEX4) and Like Sex Four2 (LSF2), which dephosphorylate starch. Starch is water-insoluble and reversible phosphorylation solubilizes its outer surface allowing processive degradation. Vertebrates contain a single known glucan phosphatase, laforin, that dephosphorylates glycogen. In the absence of laforin, water-soluble glycogen becomes insoluble, leading to the neurodegenerative disorder Lafora Disease. Because of their essential role in starch and glycogen metabolism glucan phosphatases are of significant interest, yet a comparative analysis of their activities against diverse glucan substrates has not been established. We identify active site residues required for specific glucan dephosphorylation, defining a glucan phosphatase signature motif (CζAGΨGR) in the active site loop. We further explore the basis for phosphate position-specific activity of these enzymes and determine that their diverse phosphate position-specific activity is governed by the phosphatase domain. In addition, we find key differences in glucan phosphatase activity toward soluble and insoluble polyglucan substrates, resulting from the participation of ancillary glucan-binding domains. Together, these data provide fundamental insights into the specific activity of glucan phosphatases against diverse polyglucan substrates.

New insights into redox control of starch degradation

Starch is one of the major sinks of fixed carbon in photosynthetic tissues of higher plants. Carbon fixation and the synthesis of primary starch occur during the day in the chloroplast stroma, whereas starch degradation typically occurs during the following night to fuel the whole plant with energy and carbon in the absence of photosynthesis. Redox-based regulatory systems play a central role in the modulation of several chloroplastic pathways. Reversible oxidations of cysteine residues are post-translational modifications that orchestrate the precise functioning of chloroplast pathways together with changes in pH, Mg(2+) and concentrations of metabolic intermediates. Leaf starch metabolism has been intensively studied. The enzymes involved in starch synthesis and degradation have been identified and characterized. However, the redox control of the enzymes responsible for starch degradation at night remains elusive, and their response to redox transitions conflicts with the timing of the physiological events. Most of the enzymes of starch degradation are activated by reducing conditions, characteristic of daytime. Thus, redox control may have only a minor role during starch degradation at night, but could become relevant for daily stomatal opening in guard cells or in the re-allocation of fixed carbon in mesophyll cells in response to stress conditions.

Conserved structure and varied expression reveal key roles of phosphoglucan phosphatase gene starch excess 4 in barley

As one of the phosphoglucan phosphatases, starch excess 4 (SEX4) encoded by SEX4 gene has recently been intensively studied because of its vital role in the degradation of leaf starch. In this study, we isolated and chromosomally mapped barley SEX4, characterized its gene and protein structure, predicted the cis-elements of its promoter, and analysed its expression based on real-time quantitative PCR and publically available microarray data. The full length of barely SEX4 (HvSEX4) was 4,598 bp and it was mapped on the long arm of chromosome 4H (4HL). This gene contained 14 exons and 13 introns in all but two of the species analysed, Arabidopsis (13 exons and 12 introns) and Oryza brachyantha (12 exons and 11 introns). An exon-intron junction composed of intron 4 to intron 7 and exon 5 to exon 8 was highly conserved among the analysed species. SEX4 is characterized with conserved functional domains (dual specificity phosphatase domain and carbohydrate-binding module 48) and varied chloroplast transit peptide and C-terminal. Expression analyses indicated that: (1) SEX4 was mainly expressed in anthers of barley, young leaf and anthers of rice, and leaf of Arabidopsis; (2) it exhibited a diurnal pattern in barley, rice and Arabidopsis; (3) significant difference in the expression of SEX4 was not detected for either barley or rice under any of the investigated stresses; and (4) it was significantly down-regulated at middle stage and up-regulated at late stage under cold treatment, down-regulated at early stage under heat treatment, and up-regulated at late stage under salt treatment in Arabidopsis. The strong relationships detected in the current study between SEX4 and glucan, water dikinases (GWD) or phosphoglucan, water dikinases (PWD) were discussed. Collectively, our results provide insights into genetic manipulation of SEX4, especially in monocotyledon and uncovering the possible roles of SEX4 in plant development.

Glucan, Water Dikinase Exerts Little Control over Starch Degradation in Arabidopsis Leaves at Night

The first step on the pathway of starch degradation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves at night is the phosphorylation of starch polymers, catalyzed by glucan, water dikinase (GWD). It has been suggested that GWD is important for the control of starch degradation, because its transcript levels undergo strong diel fluctuations, its activity is subject to redox regulation in vitro, and starch degradation is strongly decreased in gwd mutant plants. To test this suggestion, we analyzed changes in GWD protein abundance in relation to starch levels in wild-type plants, in transgenic plants in which GWD transcripts were strongly reduced by induction of RNA interference, and in transgenic plants overexpressing GWD. We found that GWD protein levels do not vary over the diel cycle and that the protein has a half-life of 2 d. Overexpression of GWD does not accelerate starch degradation in leaves, and starch degradation is not inhibited until GWD levels are reduced by 70%. Surprisingly, this degree of reduction also inhibits starch synthesis in the light. To discover the importance of redox regulation, we generated transgenic plants expressing constitutively active GWD. These plants retained normal control of degradation. We conclude that GWD exerts only a low level of control over starch degradation in Arabidopsis leaves.

The glucan phosphorylation mediated by α-glucan, water dikinase (GWD) is also essential in the light phase for a functional transitory starch turn-over

Starch phosphorylation mediated by the α-glucan, water dikinase (GWD) is crucial for transitory starch metabolism. The impact of the GWD action on transitory starch metabolism was analyzed in Arabidopsis mutants either lacking or revealing different reduced levels of GWD activity. In these mutants, glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) levels of the transitory leaf starch, the average leaf starch content, as well as alterations in the growth phenotype were determined under different light length conditions, including continuous light. Based on biochemical and growth phenotypical data, we found that the length of the light phase affects the phosphorylation state of the transitory starch and, by this, the average leaf starch content and the resulting growth of the plants. Additionally, we discuss data referring to an involvement of the GWD mediated glucan phosphorylation in starch synthesis, as, e.g., starch phosphorylation occurred even when a dark phase was omitted.