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Wang S, Wang X, Yue L, Li H, Zhu L, Dong Z, Long Y. Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Lignin Synthesis Genes in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6710. [PMID: 38928419 PMCID: PMC11203529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Lignin is a crucial substance in the formation of the secondary cell wall in plants. It is widely distributed in various plant tissues and plays a significant role in various biological processes. However, the number of copies, characteristics, and expression patterns of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in maize are not fully understood. In this study, bioinformatic analysis and gene expression analysis were used to discover the lignin synthetic genes, and two representative maize inbred lines were used for stem strength phenotypic analysis and gene identification. Finally, 10 gene families harboring 117 related genes involved in the lignin synthesis pathway were retrieved in the maize genome. These genes have a high number of copies and are typically clustered on chromosomes. By examining the lignin content of stems and the expression patterns of stem-specific genes in two representative maize inbred lines, we identified three potential stem lodging resistance genes and their interactions with transcription factors. This study provides a foundation for further research on the regulation of lignin biosynthesis and maize lodging resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhenying Dong
- Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Research Institute of Biology and Agriculture, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; (S.W.); (X.W.); (L.Y.); (H.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yan Long
- Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Research Institute of Biology and Agriculture, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; (S.W.); (X.W.); (L.Y.); (H.L.); (L.Z.)
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2
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Funnell-Harris DL, Sattler SE, O'Neill PM, Gries T, Ge Z, Nersesian N. Effects of Altering Three Steps of Monolignol Biosynthesis on Sorghum Responses to Stalk Pathogens and Water Deficit. PLANT DISEASE 2023; 107:3984-3995. [PMID: 37430480 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-08-22-1959-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The drought-resilient crop sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is grown worldwide for multiple uses, including forage or potential lignocellulosic bioenergy feedstock. A major impediment to biomass yield and quality are the pathogens Fusarium thapsinum and Macrophomina phaseolina, which cause Fusarium stalk rot and charcoal rot, respectively. These fungi are more virulent with abiotic stresses such as drought. Monolignol biosynthesis plays a critical role in plant defense. The genes Brown midrib (Bmr)6, Bmr12, and Bmr2 encode the monolignol biosynthesis enzymes cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, caffeic acid O-methyltransferase, and 4-coumarate:CoA ligase, respectively. Plant stalks from lines overexpressing these genes and containing bmr mutations were screened for pathogen responses with controlled adequate or deficit watering. Additionally, near-isogenic bmr12 and wild-type lines in five backgrounds were screened for response to F. thapsinum with adequate and deficit watering. All mutant and overexpression lines were no more susceptible than corresponding wild-type under both watering conditions. The bmr2 and bmr12 lines, near-isogenic to wild-type, had significantly shorter mean lesion lengths (were more resistant) than RTx430 wild-type when inoculated with F. thapsinum under water deficit. Additionally, bmr2 plants grown under water deficit had significantly smaller mean lesions when inoculated with M. phaseolina than under adequate-water conditions. When well-watered, bmr12 in cultivar Wheatland and one of two Bmr2 overexpression lines in RTx430 had shorter mean lesion lengths than corresponding wild-type lines. This research demonstrates that modifying monolignol biosynthesis for increased usability may not impair plant defenses but can even enhance resistance to stalk pathogens under drought conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna L Funnell-Harris
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Lincoln, NE 68583
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL), Lincoln, NE 68583
| | - Scott E Sattler
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Lincoln, NE 68583
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583
| | - Patrick M O'Neill
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Lincoln, NE 68583
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL), Lincoln, NE 68583
| | - Tammy Gries
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Lincoln, NE 68583
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583
| | - Zhengxiang Ge
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583
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Kolkman JM, Moreta DE, Repka A, Bradbury P, Nelson RJ. Brown midrib mutant and genome-wide association analysis uncover lignin genes for disease resistance in maize. THE PLANT GENOME 2023; 16:e20278. [PMID: 36533711 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Brown midrib (BMR) maize (Zea mays L.) harbors mutations that result in lower lignin levels and higher feed digestibility, making it a desirable silage market class for ruminant nutrition. Northern leaf blight (NLB) epidemics in upstate New York highlighted the disease susceptibility of commercially grown BMR maize hybrids. We found the bm1, bm2, bm3, and bm4 mutants in a W64A genetic background to be more susceptible to foliar fungal (NLB, gray leaf spot [GLS], and anthracnose leaf blight [ALB]) and bacterial (Stewart's wilt) diseases. The bm1, bm2, and bm3 mutants showed enhanced susceptibility to anthracnose stalk rot (ASR), and the bm1 and bm3 mutants were more susceptible to Gibberella ear rot (GER). Colocalization of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and correlations between stalk strength and disease traits in recombinant inbred line families suggest possible pleiotropies. The role of lignin in plant defense was explored using high-resolution, genome-wide association analysis for resistance to NLB in the Goodman diversity panel. Association analysis identified 100 single and clustered single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations for resistance to NLB but did not implicate natural functional variation at bm1-bm5. Strong associations implicated a suite of diverse candidate genes including lignin-related genes such as a β-glucosidase gene cluster, hct11, knox1, knox2, zim36, lbd35, CASP-like protein 8, and xat3. The candidate genes are targets for breeding quantitative resistance to NLB in maize for use in silage and nonsilage purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith M Kolkman
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Danilo E Moreta
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Ace Repka
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | | | - Rebecca J Nelson
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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Genetic structure and molecular mechanism underlying the stalk lodging traits in maize ( Zea mays L.). Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 21:485-494. [PMID: 36618981 PMCID: PMC9803694 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stalk lodging seriously affects yield and quality of crops, and it can be caused by several factors, such as environments, developmental stages, and internal chemical components of plant stalks. Breeding of stalk lodging-resistant varieties is thus an important task for maize breeders. To better understand the genetic basis underlying stalk lodging resistance, several methods such as quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association study (GWAS) have been used to mine potential gene resources. Based on different types of genetic populations and mapping methods, many significant loci associated with stalk lodging resistance have been identified so far. However, few work has been performed to compare and integrate these reported genetic loci. In this study, we first collected hundreds of QTLs and quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) related to stalk lodging traits in maize. Then we mapped and integrated the QTLs and QTNs in maize genome to identify overlapped hotspot regions. Based on the genomic confidence intervals harboring these overlapped hotspot regions, we predicted candidate genes related to stalk lodging traits. Meanwhile, we mapped reported genes to these hotspot regions. Finally, we constructed molecular regulatory networks underlying stalk lodging resistance in maize. Collectively, this study provides not only useful genetic loci for deeply exploring molecular mechanisms of stalk lodging resistance traits, but also potential candidate genes and targeted strategies for improving stalk lodging resistance to increase crop yields in future.
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Wang X, Chen Y, Sun X, Li J, Zhang R, Jiao Y, Wang R, Song W, Zhao J. Characteristics and candidate genes associated with excellent stalk strength in maize ( Zea mays L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:957566. [PMID: 35968121 PMCID: PMC9367994 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.957566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lodging is a major problem in maize production, which seriously affects yield and hinders mechanized harvesting. Improving stalk strength is an effective way to improve lodging. The maize inbred line Jing2416 (J2416) was an elite germplasm in maize breeding which had strong stalk mechanical strength. To explore the characteristics its stalk strength, we conducted physiological, metabolic and transcriptomic analyses of J2416 and its parents Jing24 (J24) and 5237. At the kernel dent stage, the stalk rind penetrometer strength of J2416 was significantly higher than those of its two parents in multiple environments. The rind thickness, sclerenchyma tissue thickness, and cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents of J2416 were significantly higher than those of its parents. Based on the significant differences between J2416 and 5237, we detected metabolites and gene transcripts showing differences in abundance between these two materials. A total of 212 (68.60%) metabolites and 2287 (43.34%) genes were up-regulated in J2416 compared with 5237. The phenylpropanoid and glycan synthesis/metabolism pathways were enriched in metabolites and genes that were up-regulated in J2416. Twenty-eight of the up-regulated genes in J2416 were involved in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose synthesis pathways. These analyses have revealed important physiological characteristics and candidate genes that will be useful for research and breeding of inbred lines with excellent stalk strength.
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Liu H, Wang H, Shao C, Han Y, He Y, Yin Z. Genetic Architecture of Maize Stalk Diameter and Rind Penetrometer Resistance in a Recombinant Inbred Line Population. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13040579. [PMID: 35456384 PMCID: PMC9032882 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Stalk lodging presents a major constraint on maize (Zea mays L.) quantity and quality and hampers mechanized grain harvesting. Stalk diameter (SD) and rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) are crucial indicators of stalk lodging. To dissect the genetic architecture of these indicators, we constructed a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between maize inbred lines LDC-1 and YS501 to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling SD and RPR. Corresponding phenotypes of basal second, third, and fourth internodes in four environments were determined. By integrating QTL mapping results based on individual environments and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values, we identified 12, 12, and 13 QTLs associated with SD and 17, 14, and 17 associated with RPR. Each QTL accounted for 3.83–21.72% of phenotypic variation. For SD-related QTLs, 30 of 37 were enriched in 12 QTL clusters; similarly, RPR-related QTLs had 38 of 48 enriched in 12 QTL clusters. The stable QTL qSD9-2 for SD on chromosome 9 was validated and delimited within a physical region of 9.97 Mb. Confidence intervals of RPR-related QTLs contained 169 genes involved in lignin and polysaccharide biosynthesis, with 12 of these less than 500 kb from the peak of the corresponding QTL. Our results deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanism of maize stalk strength and provide a basis for breeding lodging resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (H.W.); (C.S.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (H.W.); (C.S.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Cong Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (H.W.); (C.S.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Youle Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (H.W.); (C.S.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yonghui He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (H.W.); (C.S.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhitong Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (H.W.); (C.S.); (Y.H.); (Y.H.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence:
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7
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Zhang Y, Li D, Feng X, Wang X, Wang M, Han W, Manzoor MA, Li G, Chen T, Wang H, Cai Y. Whole-genome analysis of CGS, SAHH, SAMS gene families in five Rosaceae species and their expression analysis in Pyrus bretschneideri. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13086. [PMID: 35313526 PMCID: PMC8934043 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystathionine γ-synthase (CGS), S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH), and S-adenosy-L-methionine synthetase (SAMS) play an important role in the regulation of plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism. In this study, a total of 6 CGS, 6 SAHH, and 28 SAMS genes were identified from five Rosaceae species (Pyrus bretschneideri, Prunus persica, Prunus mume, Fragaria vesca, and Malus domestica). The evolutionary relationship and microsynteny analysis in five Rosaceae species revealed that duplicated regions were conserved between three gene families (CGS, SAHH, SAMS). Moreover, the chromosomal locations, gene structures, conserved motifs, cis-elements, physicochemical properties, and Ka/Ks analysis were performed by using numerous bioinformatics tools. The expression of different organs showed that the CGS, SAHH and SAMS genes of pear have relatively high expression patterns in flowers and stems, except for PbCGS1. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR combined analysis showed that PbSAMS1 may be involved in the regulation of pear stone cell development. In summary, this study provides the basic information of CGS, SAHH and SAMS genes in five Rosaceae species, further revealing the expression patterns in the pear fruit, which provides the theoretical basis for the regulation of pear stone cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Decong Li
- Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | | | - Xinya Wang
- Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Han Wang
- Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 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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Li W, Liang Q, Mishra RC, Sanchez-Mu�oz R, Wang H, Chen X, Van Der Straeten D, Zhang C, Xiao Y. The 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate proteome links folates with C/N metabolism and reveals feedback regulation of folate biosynthesis. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:3367-3385. [PMID: 34352110 PMCID: PMC8505879 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Folates are indispensable for plant development, but their molecular mode of action remains elusive. We synthesized a probe, "5-F-THF-Dayne," comprising 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (THF) coupled to a photoaffinity tag. Exploiting this probe in an affinity proteomics study in Arabidopsis thaliana, we retrieved 51 hits. Thirty interactions were independently validated with in vitro expressed proteins to bind 5-F-THF with high or low affinity. Interestingly, the interactors reveal associations beyond one-carbon metabolism, covering also connections to nitrogen (N) metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism/photosynthesis, and proteostasis. Two of the interactions, one with the folate biosynthetic enzyme DIHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE-THYMIDYLATE SYNTHASE 1 (AtDHFR-TS1) and another with N metabolism-associated glutamine synthetase 1;4 (AtGLN1;4), were further characterized. In silico and experimental analyses revealed G35/K36 and E330 as key residues for the binding of 5-F-THF in AtDHFR-TS1 and AtGLN1;4, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis of AtGLN1;4 E330, which co-localizes with the ATP-binding pocket, abolished 5-F-THF binding as well as AtGLN1;4 activity. Furthermore, 5-F-THF was noted to competitively inhibit the activities of AtDHFR-TS1 and AtGLN1;4. In summary, we demonstrated a regulatory role for 5-F-THF in N metabolism, revealed 5-F-THF-mediated feedback regulation of folate biosynthesis, and identified a total of 14 previously unknown high-affinity binding cellular targets of 5-F-THF. Together, this sets a landmark toward understanding the role of folates in plant development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichao Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiuju Liang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ratnesh Chandra Mishra
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Gent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Raul Sanchez-Mu�oz
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Gent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Huan Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xin Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dominique Van Der Straeten
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Gent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Chunyi Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Youli Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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Khasin M, Bernhardson LF, O'Neill PM, Palmer NA, Scully ED, Sattler SE, Funnell-Harris DL. Pathogen and drought stress affect cell wall and phytohormone signaling to shape host responses in a sorghum COMT bmr12 mutant. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:391. [PMID: 34418969 PMCID: PMC8379876 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03149-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As effects of global climate change intensify, the interaction of biotic and abiotic stresses increasingly threatens current agricultural practices. The secondary cell wall is a vanguard of resistance to these stresses. Fusarium thapsinum (Fusarium stalk rot) and Macrophomina phaseolina (charcoal rot) cause internal damage to the stalks of the drought tolerant C4 grass, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), resulting in reduced transpiration, reduced photosynthesis, and increased lodging, severely reducing yields. Drought can magnify these losses. Two null alleles in monolignol biosynthesis of sorghum (brown midrib 6-ref, bmr6-ref; cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD; and bmr12-ref; caffeic acid O-methyltransferase, COMT) were used to investigate the interaction of water limitation with F. thapsinum or M. phaseolina infection. RESULTS The bmr12 plants inoculated with either of these pathogens had increased levels of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) across both watering conditions and significantly reduced lesion sizes under water limitation compared to adequate watering, which suggested that drought may prime induction of pathogen resistance. RNA-Seq analysis revealed coexpressed genes associated with pathogen infection. The defense response included phytohormone signal transduction pathways, primary and secondary cell wall biosynthetic genes, and genes encoding components of the spliceosome and proteasome. CONCLUSION Alterations in the composition of the secondary cell wall affect immunity by influencing phenolic composition and phytohormone signaling, leading to the action of defense pathways. Some of these pathways appear to be activated or enhanced by drought. Secondary metabolite biosynthesis and modification in SA and JA signal transduction may be involved in priming a stronger defense response in water-limited bmr12 plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Khasin
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 251 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska-East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Lois F Bernhardson
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 251 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska-East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Patrick M O'Neill
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 251 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska-East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Nathan A Palmer
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 251 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska-East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Erin D Scully
- Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit, Center for Grain and Animal Health, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, 66502, USA
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66502, USA
| | - Scott E Sattler
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 251 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska-East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Deanna L Funnell-Harris
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 251 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska-East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA.
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA.
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Sorghum Brown Midrib19 ( Bmr19) Gene Links Lignin Biosynthesis to Folate Metabolism. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050660. [PMID: 33924915 PMCID: PMC8146451 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic analysis of brown midrib sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) mutant lines assembled in our program has previously shown that the mutations fall into four allelic groups, bmr2, bmr6, bmr12 or bmr19. Causal genes for allelic groups bmr2, bmr6 and bmr12, have since been identified. In this report, we provide evidence for the nature of the bmr19 mutation. This was accomplished by introgressing each of the four bmr alleles into nine different genetic backgrounds. Polymorphisms from four resequenced bulks of sorghum introgression lines containing either mutation, relative to those of a resequenced bulk of the nine normal midrib recurrent parent lines, were used to locate their respective causal mutations. The analysis confirmed the previously reported causal mutations for bmr2 and bmr6 but failed in the case of bmr12-bulk due to a mixture of mutant alleles at the locus among members of that mutant bulk. In the bmr19-bulk, a common G → A mutation was found among all members in Sobic.001G535500. This gene encodes a putative folylpolyglutamate synthase with high homology to maize Bm4. The brown midrib phenotype co-segregated with this point mutation in two separate F2 populations. Furthermore, an additional variant allele at this locus obtained from a TILLING population also showed a brown midrib phenotype, confirming this locus as Bmr19.
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12
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Xiong W, Li Y, Wu Z, Ma L, Liu Y, Qin L, Liu J, Hu Z, Guo S, Sun J, Yang G, Chai M, Zhang C, Lu X, Fu C. Characterization of Two New brown midrib1 Mutations From an EMS-Mutagenic Maize Population for Lignocellulosic Biomass Utilization. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:594798. [PMID: 33312186 PMCID: PMC7703671 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.594798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gene mutations linked to lignin biosynthesis are responsible for the brown midrib (bm) phenotypes. The bm mutants have a brown-reddish midrib associated with changes in lignin content and composition. Maize bm1 is caused by a mutation of the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene ZmCAD2. Here, we generated two new bm1 mutant alleles (bm1-E1 and bm1-E2) through EMS mutagenesis, which contained a single nucleotide mutation (Zmcad2-1 and Zmcad2-2). The corresponding proteins, ZmCAD2-1 and ZmCAD2-2 were modified with Cys103Ser and Gly185Asp, which resulted in no enzymatic activity in vitro. Sequence alignment showed that CAD proteins have high similarity across plants and that Cys103 and Gly185 are conserved in higher plants. The lack of enzymatic activity when Cys103 was replaced for other amino acids indicates that Cys103 is required for its enzyme activity. Enzymatic activity of proteins encoded by CAD genes in bm1-E plants is 23-98% lower than in the wild type, which leads to lower lignin content and different lignin composition. The bm1-E mutants have higher saccharification efficiency in maize and could therefore provide new and promising breeding resources in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangdan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Grassland Agri-Husbandry Research Center, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenying Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Lichao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Grassland Agri-Husbandry Research Center, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Li Qin
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Jisheng Liu
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhubing Hu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Crop Stress Biology, Henan Province and Institute of Plant Stress Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Siyi Guo
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Crop Stress Biology, Henan Province and Institute of Plant Stress Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Juan Sun
- Grassland Agri-Husbandry Research Center, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guofeng Yang
- Grassland Agri-Husbandry Research Center, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Maofeng Chai
- Grassland Agri-Husbandry Research Center, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chunyi Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoduo Lu
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Chunxiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
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13
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Mazarei M, Baxter HL, Srivastava A, Li G, Xie H, Dumitrache A, Rodriguez M, Natzke JM, Zhang JY, Turner GB, Sykes RW, Davis MF, Udvardi MK, Wang ZY, Davison BH, Blancaflor EB, Tang Y, Stewart CN. Silencing Folylpolyglutamate Synthetase1 ( FPGS1) in Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) Improves Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:843. [PMID: 32636863 PMCID: PMC7317012 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a lignocellulosic perennial grass with great potential in bioenergy field. Lignocellulosic bioenergy crops are mostly resistant to cell wall deconstruction, and therefore yield suboptimal levels of biofuel. The one-carbon pathway (also known as C1 metabolism) is critical for polymer methylation, including that of lignin and hemicelluloses in cell walls. Folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) catalyzes a biochemical reaction that leads to the formation of folylpolyglutamate, an important cofactor for many enzymes in the C1 pathway. In this study, the putatively novel switchgrass PvFPGS1 gene was identified and its functional role in cell wall composition and biofuel production was examined by RNAi knockdown analysis. The PvFPGS1-downregulated plants were analyzed in the field over three growing seasons. Transgenic plants with the highest reduction in PvFPGS1 expression grew slower and produced lower end-of-season biomass. Transgenic plants with low-to-moderate reduction in PvFPGS1 transcript levels produced equivalent biomass as controls. There were no significant differences observed for lignin content and syringyl/guaiacyl lignin monomer ratio in the low-to-moderately reduced PvFPGS1 transgenic lines compared with the controls. Similarly, sugar release efficiency was also not significantly different in these transgenic lines compared with the control lines. However, transgenic plants produced up to 18% more ethanol while maintaining congruent growth and biomass as non-transgenic controls. Severity of rust disease among transgenic and control lines were not different during the time course of the field experiments. Altogether, the unchanged lignin content and composition in the low-to-moderate PvFPGS1-downregulated lines may suggest that partial downregulation of PvFPGS1 expression did not impact lignin biosynthesis in switchgrass. In conclusion, the manipulation of PvFPGS1 expression in bioenergy crops may be useful to increase biofuel potential with no growth penalty or increased susceptibility to rust in feedstock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Mazarei
- Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Holly L. Baxter
- Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Avinash Srivastava
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Guifen Li
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Hongli Xie
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Alexandru Dumitrache
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Miguel Rodriguez
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Jace M. Natzke
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Ji-Yi Zhang
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Geoffrey B. Turner
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Robert W. Sykes
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Mark F. Davis
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Michael K. Udvardi
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Zeng-Yu Wang
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Brian H. Davison
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Elison B. Blancaflor
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
| | - Yuhong Tang
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, United States
- *Correspondence: Yuhong Tang,
| | - Charles Neal Stewart
- Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Charles Neal Stewart Jr.,
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14
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Suzuki M, Wu S, Mimura M, Alseekh S, Fernie AR, Hanson AD, McCarty DR. Construction and applications of a B vitamin genetic resource for investigation of vitamin-dependent metabolism in maize. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 101:442-454. [PMID: 31520508 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The B vitamins provide essential co-factors for central metabolism in all organisms. In plants, B vitamins have surprising emerging roles in development, stress tolerance and pathogen resistance. Hence, there is a paramount interest in understanding the regulation of vitamin biosynthesis as well as the consequences of vitamin deficiency in crop species. To facilitate genetic analysis of B vitamin biosynthesis and functions in maize, we have mined the UniformMu transposon resource to identify insertional mutations in vitamin pathway genes. A screen of 190 insertion lines for seed and seedling phenotypes identified mutations in biotin, pyridoxine and niacin biosynthetic pathways. Importantly, isolation of independent insertion alleles enabled genetic confirmation of genotype-to-phenotype associations. Because B vitamins are essential for survival, null mutations often have embryo lethal phenotypes that prevent elucidation of subtle, but physiologically important, metabolic consequences of sub-optimal (functional) vitamin status. To circumvent this barrier, we demonstrate a strategy for refined genetic manipulation of vitamin status based on construction of heterozygotes that combine strong and hypomorphic mutant alleles. Dosage analysis of pdx2 alleles in endosperm revealed that endosperm supplies pyridoxine to the developing embryo. Similarly, a hypomorphic bio1 allele enabled analysis of transcriptome and metabolome responses to incipient biotin deficiency in seedling leaves. We show that systemic pipecolic acid accumulation is an early metabolic response to sub-optimal biotin status highlighting an intriguing connection between biotin, lysine metabolism and systemic disease resistance signaling. Seed-stocks carrying insertions for vitamin pathway genes are available for free, public distribution via the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaharu Suzuki
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Shan Wu
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Manaki Mimura
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Saleh Alseekh
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Donald R McCarty
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
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15
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Wang X, Zhang R, Shi Z, Zhang Y, Sun X, Ji Y, Zhao Y, Wang J, Zhang Y, Xing J, Wang Y, Wang R, Song W, Zhao J. Multi-omics analysis of the development and fracture resistance for maize internode. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8183. [PMID: 31160669 PMCID: PMC6547879 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44690-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The maize stalk is an important mechanical supporting tissue. The stalk fracture resistance is closely related to lodging resistance, and thus the yield. In this study, we showed that the basal zone (BZ) was more fragile than the middle zone (MZ) of the stalk internode before tasseling. In order to clarify the relationship between the different zones and fragile resistance between the internodes, we systematically analyzed the phenotypic, metabolomic and transcriptomic differences. The results indicated that the BZ zone had lower stalk strength, which corresponded to the results of less lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose than that of the MZ. The 27 highly enriched metabolites and 4430 highly expressed genes in the BZ mainly participated in pentose phosphate, and in ribosome and sterol synthesis pathways, respectively. In addition, the BZ had higher vascular bundles density but smaller size compared with the MZ. By contrast, the 28 highly enriched known metabolites and 4438 highly expressed genes in the MZ were mainly involved in lignin synthesis, and secondary metabolites synthesis, respectively, especially the phenylpropanoid synthesis. The results provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between development and fracture differences in stalk, and may facilitate the improvement of field management practice to reduce lodging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaqing Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Ruyang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Zi Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 11, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Xuan Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Yulong Ji
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Yanxin Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Jidong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Yunxia Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Jinfeng Xing
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Yuandong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Ronghuan Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Wei Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China.
| | - Jiuran Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shuguang Huayuan Middle Road, Haidian District, No. 9, Beijing, 100097, China.
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16
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Low Lignin Mutants and Reduction of Lignin Content in Grasses for Increased Utilisation of Lignocellulose. AGRONOMY-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/agronomy9050256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Biomass rich in lignocellulose from grasses is a major source for biofuel production and animal feed. However, the presence of lignin in cell walls limits its efficient utilisation such as in its bioconversion to biofuel. Reduction of the lignin content or alteration of its structure in crop plants have been pursued, either by regulating genes encoding enzymes in the lignin biosynthetic pathway using biotechnological techniques or by breeding naturally-occurring low lignin mutant lines. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of these studies, focusing on lignin (monolignol) biosynthesis and composition in grasses and, where possible, the impact on recalcitrance to bioconversion. An overview of transgenic crops of the grass family with regulated gene expression in lignin biosynthesis is presented, including the effect on lignin content and changes in the ratio of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units. Furthermore, a survey is provided of low-lignin mutants in grasses, including cereals in particular, summarising their origin and phenotypic traits together with genetics and the molecular function of the various genes identified.
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17
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Xie H, Engle NL, Venketachalam S, Yoo CG, Barros J, Lecoultre M, Howard N, Li G, Sun L, Srivastava AC, Pattathil S, Pu Y, Hahn MG, Ragauskas AJ, Nelson RS, Dixon RA, Tschaplinski TJ, Blancaflor EB, Tang Y. Combining loss of function of FOLYLPOLYGLUTAMATE SYNTHETASE1 and CAFFEOYL- COA 3- O- METHYLTRANSFERASE1 for lignin reduction and improved saccharification efficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:108. [PMID: 31073332 PMCID: PMC6498598 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1446-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Downregulation of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis and related biochemical pathways has been used as a strategy to improve biofuel production. Plant C1 metabolism provides the methyl units used for the methylation reactions carried out by two methyltransferases in the lignin biosynthetic pathway: caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT). Mutations in these genes resulted in lower lignin levels and altered lignin compositions. Reduced lignin levels can also be achieved by mutations in the C1 pathway gene, folylpolyglutamate synthetase1 (FPGS1), in both monocotyledons and dicotyledons, indicating a link between the C1 and lignin biosynthetic pathways. To test if lignin content can be further reduced by combining genetic mutations in C1 metabolism and the lignin biosynthetic pathway, fpgs1ccoaomt1 double mutants were generated and functionally characterized. RESULTS Double fpgs1ccoaomt1 mutants had lower thioacidolysis lignin monomer yield and acetyl bromide lignin content than the ccoaomt1 or fpgs1 mutants and the plants themselves displayed no obvious long-term negative growth phenotypes. Moreover, extracts from the double mutants had dramatically improved enzymatic polysaccharide hydrolysis efficiencies than the single mutants: 15.1% and 20.7% higher than ccoaomt1 and fpgs1, respectively. The reduced lignin and improved sugar release of fpgs1ccoaomt1 was coupled with changes in cell-wall composition, metabolite profiles, and changes in expression of genes involved in cell-wall and lignin biosynthesis. CONCLUSION Our observations demonstrate that additional reduction in lignin content and improved sugar release can be achieved by simultaneous downregulation of a gene in the C1 (FPGS1) and lignin biosynthetic (CCOAOMT) pathways. These improvements in sugar accessibility were achieved without introducing unwanted long-term plant growth and developmental defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Xie
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Nancy L. Engle
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Sivasankari Venketachalam
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Chang Geun Yoo
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Jaime Barros
- BioDiscovery Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Mitch Lecoultre
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Nikki Howard
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Guifen Li
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
| | - Liang Sun
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
| | - Avinash C. Srivastava
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Sivakumar Pattathil
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Yunqiao Pu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Michael G. Hahn
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Arthur J. Ragauskas
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Richard S. Nelson
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Richard A. Dixon
- BioDiscovery Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Timothy J. Tschaplinski
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Elison B. Blancaflor
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Yuhong Tang
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
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18
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Xiong W, Wu Z, Liu Y, Li Y, Su K, Bai Z, Guo S, Hu Z, Zhang Z, Bao Y, Sun J, Yang G, Fu C. Mutation of 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase 1 gene affects lignin biosynthesis and increases the cell wall digestibility in maize brown midrib5 mutants. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:82. [PMID: 31007716 PMCID: PMC6456989 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1421-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maize brown midrib (bm) mutants associated with impaired lignin biosynthesis are a potential source for the breed of novel germplasms with improved cell wall digestibility. The spontaneous bm5 mutants had been identified since 2008. However, the gene responsible for the bm5 locus, and the comprehensive effects of bm5 mutation on lignin biosynthesis, soluble phenolics accumulation, and cell wall degradation have yet to be elucidated. RESULTS The bm5 locus was identified to encode a major 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (Zm4CL1) through analyzing MutMap-assisted gene mapping data. Two alleles of Zm4CL1 isolated from bm5 mutants contained two transposons inserted in the first exon and the second intron, respectively, and consequently, the activities of 4CLs in the crude enzyme extracts from bm5 midribs were reduced by 51-62% compared with the wild type. Furthermore, five 4CLs were retrieved from maize genome, and Zm4CL1 was the most highly expressed one in the lignified tissues. Mutation of Zm4CL1 mainly impeded the biosynthesis of guaiacyl (G) lignins and increased the level of soluble feruloyl derivatives without impacting maize growth and development. Moreover, both neutral detergent fiber digestibility and saccharification efficiency of cell walls were significantly elevated in the bm5 mutant. CONCLUSIONS Zm4CL1 was identified as the Bm5 gene, since two independent alleles of Zm4CL1 were associated with the same mutant phenotype. Mutation of Zm4CL1 mainly affected G lignin biosynthesis and soluble feruloyl derivatives accumulation in maize lignified tissues. The reduced recalcitrance of the bm5 mutant suggests that Zm4CL1 is an elite target for cell wall engineering, and genetic manipulation of this gene will facilitate the utilization of crop straw and stover that have to be dealt with for environmental protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangdan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Zhenying Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Kunlong Su
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Zetao Bai
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Siyi Guo
- Institute of Plant Stress Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Department of Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001 China
| | - Zhubing Hu
- Institute of Plant Stress Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Department of Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001 China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan China
| | - Yan Bao
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
| | - Juan Sun
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guofeng Yang
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chunxiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101 China
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Bai Z, Qi T, Liu Y, Wu Z, Ma L, Liu W, Cao Y, Bao Y, Fu C. Alteration of S-adenosylhomocysteine levels affects lignin biosynthesis in switchgrass. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:2016-2026. [PMID: 29704888 PMCID: PMC6230947 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Methionine (Met) synthesized from aspartate is a fundamental amino acid needed to produce S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) that is an important cofactor for the methylation of monolignols. As a competitive inhibitor of SAM-dependent methylation, the effect of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) on lignin biosynthesis, however, is still largely unknown in plants. Expression levels of Cystathionine γ-synthase (PvCGS) and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase 1 (PvSAHH1) were down-regulated by RNAi technology, respectively, in switchgrass, a dual-purpose forage and biofuel crop. The transgenic switchgrass lines were subjected to studying the impact of SAH on lignin biosynthesis. Our results showed that down-regulation of PvCGS in switchgrass altered the accumulation of aspartate-derived and aromatic amino acids, reduced the content of SAH, enhanced lignin biosynthesis and stunted plant growth. In contrast, down-regulation of PvSAHH1 raised SAH levels in switchgrass, impaired the biosynthesis of both guaiacyl and syringyl lignins and therefore significantly increased saccharification efficiency of cell walls. This work indicates that SAH plays a crucial role in monolignol methylation in switchgrass. Genetic regulation of either PvCGS or PvSAHH1 expression in switchgrass can change intracellular SAH contents and SAM to SAH ratios and therefore affect lignin biosynthesis. Thus, our study suggests that genes involved in Met metabolism are of interest as new valuable targets for cell wall bioengineering in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zetao Bai
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Tianxiong Qi
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Zhenying Wu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Lichao Ma
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Wenwen Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Yingping Cao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Yan Bao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Chunxiang Fu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy GeneticsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of BiofuelsQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center of Biomass Resources and EnvironmentQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
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Scully ED, Gries T, Palmer NA, Sarath G, Funnell-Harris DL, Baird L, Twigg P, Seravalli J, Clemente TE, Sattler SE. Overexpression of SbMyb60 in Sorghum bicolor impacts both primary and secondary metabolism. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 217:82-104. [PMID: 28944535 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Few transcription factors have been identified in C4 grasses that either positively or negatively regulate monolignol biosynthesis. Previously, the overexpression of SbMyb60 in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has been shown to induce monolignol biosynthesis, which leads to elevated lignin deposition and altered cell wall composition. To determine how SbMyb60 overexpression impacts other metabolic pathways, RNA-Seq and metabolite profiling were performed on stalks and leaves. 35S::SbMyb60 was associated with the transcriptional activation of genes involved in aromatic amino acid, S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) and folate biosynthetic pathways. The high coexpression values between SbMyb60 and genes assigned to these pathways indicate that SbMyb60 may directly induce their expression. In addition, 35S::SbMyb60 altered the expression of genes involved in nitrogen (N) assimilation and carbon (C) metabolism, which may redirect C and N towards monolignol biosynthesis. Genes linked to UDP-sugar biosynthesis and cellulose synthesis were also induced, which is consistent with the observed increase in cellulose deposition in the internodes of 35S::SbMyb60 plants. However, SbMyb60 showed low coexpression values with these genes and is not likely to be a direct regulator of cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis. These findings indicate that SbMyb60 can activate pathways beyond monolignol biosynthesis, including those that synthesize the substrates and cofactors required for lignin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D Scully
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, 66502, USA
| | - Tammy Gries
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Nathan A Palmer
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Gautam Sarath
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Deanna L Funnell-Harris
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Lisa Baird
- Department of Biology, Shiley Center for Science and Technology, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA
| | - Paul Twigg
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, NE, 68849, USA
| | - Javier Seravalli
- Redox Biology Center and Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Thomas E Clemente
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Scott E Sattler
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
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A gene encoding maize caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase confers quantitative resistance to multiple pathogens. Nat Genet 2017; 49:1364-1372. [PMID: 28740263 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alleles that confer multiple disease resistance (MDR) are valuable in crop improvement, although the molecular mechanisms underlying their functions remain largely unknown. A quantitative trait locus, qMdr9.02, associated with resistance to three important foliar maize diseases-southern leaf blight, gray leaf spot and northern leaf blight-has been identified on maize chromosome 9. Through fine-mapping, association analysis, expression analysis, insertional mutagenesis and transgenic validation, we demonstrate that ZmCCoAOMT2, which encodes a caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase associated with the phenylpropanoid pathway and lignin production, is the gene within qMdr9.02 conferring quantitative resistance to both southern leaf blight and gray leaf spot. We suggest that resistance might be caused by allelic variation at the level of both gene expression and amino acid sequence, thus resulting in differences in levels of lignin and other metabolites of the phenylpropanoid pathway and regulation of programmed cell death.
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22
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Liu S, Fu C, Gou J, Sun L, Huhman D, Zhang Y, Wang ZY. Simultaneous Downregulation of MTHFR and COMT in Switchgrass Affects Plant Performance and Induces Lesion-Mimic Cell Death. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:982. [PMID: 28676804 PMCID: PMC5476930 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has been developed into a model lignocellulosic bioenergy crop. Downregulation of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT), a key enzyme in lignin biosynthesis, has been shown to alter lignification and increase biofuel yield in switchgrass. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mediates C1 metabolism and provides methyl units consumed by COMT. It was predicted that co-silencing of MTHFR and COMT would impact lignification even more than either of the single genes. However, our results showed that strong downregulation of MTHFR in a COMT-deficient background led to altered plant growth and development, but no significant change in lignin content or composition was found when compared with COMT plants. Another unexpected finding was that the double MTHFR/COMT downregulated plants showed a novel lesion-mimic leaf phenotype. Molecular analyses revealed that the lesion-mimic phenotype was caused by the synergistic effect of MTHFR and COMT genes, with MTHFR playing a predominant role. Microarray analysis showed significant induction of genes related to oxidative and defense responses. The results demonstrated the lack of additive effects of MTHFR and COMT on lignification. Furthermore, this research revealed an unexpected role of the two genes in the modulation of lesion-mimic cell death as well as their synergistic effects on agronomic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Liu
- Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, National Energy R&D Center for BiomassBeijing, China
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, ArdmoreOK, United States
| | - Chunxiang Fu
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdao, China
| | - Jiqing Gou
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, ArdmoreOK, United States
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DOE), Oak RidgeTN, United States
| | - Liang Sun
- Computing Services, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, ArdmoreOK, United States
| | - David Huhman
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, ArdmoreOK, United States
| | - Yunwei Zhang
- Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, National Energy R&D Center for BiomassBeijing, China
| | - Zeng-Yu Wang
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, ArdmoreOK, United States
- BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DOE), Oak RidgeTN, United States
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23
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Liu XP, Yu LX. Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Loci Associated with Plant Growth and Forage Production under Salt Stress in Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:853. [PMID: 28596776 PMCID: PMC5442208 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Salinity tolerance is highly desirable to sustain alfalfa production in marginal lands that have been rendered saline. In this study, we used a diverse panel of 198 alfalfa accessions for mapping loci associated with plant growth and forage production under salt stress using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The plants were genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). A greenhouse procedure was used for phenotyping four agronomic and physiological traits affected by salt stress, including dry weight (DW), plant height (PH), leaf chlorophyll content (LCC), and stomatal conductance (SC). For each trait, a stress susceptibility index (SSI) was used to evaluate plant performance under stressed and non-stressed conditions. Marker-trait association identified a total of 42 markers significantly associated with salt tolerance. They were located on all chromosomes except chromosome 2 based on the alignment of their flanking sequences to the reference genome (Medicago truncatula). Of those identified, 13 were associated with multiple traits. Several loci identified in the present study were also identified in previous reports. BLAST search revealed that 19 putative candidate genes linked to 24 significant markers. Among them, B3 DNA-binding protein, Thiaminepyrophosphokinase and IQ calmodulin-binding motif protein were identified among multiple traits in the present and previous studies. With further investigation, these markers and candidates would be useful for developing markers for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs to improve alfalfa cultivars with enhanced tolerance to salt stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Ping Liu
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing ResearchProsser, WA, United States
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China
| | - Long-Xi Yu
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing ResearchProsser, WA, United States
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24
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Correction. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 89:1076. [PMID: 28233950 PMCID: PMC6886593 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
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Wang H, Li K, Hu X, Liu Z, Wu Y, Huang C. Genome-wide association analysis of forage quality in maize mature stalk. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 16:227. [PMID: 27769176 PMCID: PMC5073832 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-016-0919-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant digestibility of silage maize (Zea mays L.) has a large influence on nutrition intake for animal feeding. Improving forage quality will enhance the utilization efficiency and feeding value of forage maize. Dissecting the genetic basis of forage quality will improve our understanding of the complex nature of cell wall biosynthesis and degradation, which is also helpful for breeding good quality silage maize. RESULTS Acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of stalk were evaluated in a diverse maize population, which is comprised of 368 inbred lines and planted across seven environments. Using a mixed model accounting for population structure and polygenic background effects, a genome-wide association study was conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with forage quality. Scanning 559,285 SNPs across the whole genome, 73, 41 and 82 SNPs were found to be associated with ADF, NDF, and IVDMD, respectively. Each significant SNP explained 4.2 %-6.2 % of the phenotypic variation. Underlying these associated loci, 56 genes were proposed as candidate genes for forage quality. CONCLUSIONS Of all the candidate genes proposed by GWAS, we only found a C3H gene (ZmC3H2) that is directly involved in cell wall component biosynthesis. The candidate genes found in this study are mainly involved in signal transduction, stress resistance, and transcriptional regulation of cell wall biosynthetic gene expression. Adding high digestibility maize into the association panel would be helpful for increasing genetic variability and identifying more genes associated with forage quality traits. Cloning and functional validation of these genes would be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of the fiber content and digestibility. These findings provide us new insights into cell wall formation and deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwu Wang
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Kun Li
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Xiaojiao Hu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Zhifang Liu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yujin Wu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Changling Huang
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
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Eudes A, Zhao N, Sathitsuksanoh N, Baidoo EEK, Lao J, Wang G, Yogiswara S, Lee TS, Singh S, Mortimer JC, Keasling JD, Simmons BA, Loqué D. Expression of S-adenosylmethionine Hydrolase in Tissues Synthesizing Secondary Cell Walls Alters Specific Methylated Cell Wall Fractions and Improves Biomass Digestibility. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2016; 4:58. [PMID: 27486577 PMCID: PMC4949269 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2016.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant biomass is a large source of fermentable sugars for the synthesis of bioproducts using engineered microbes. These sugars are stored as cell wall polymers, mainly cellulose and hemicellulose, and are embedded with lignin, which makes their enzymatic hydrolysis challenging. One of the strategies to reduce cell wall recalcitrance is the modification of lignin content and composition. Lignin is a phenolic polymer of methylated aromatic alcohols and its synthesis in tissues developing secondary cell walls is a significant sink for the consumption of the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet). In this study, we demonstrate in Arabidopsis stems that targeted expression of AdoMet hydrolase (AdoMetase, E.C. 3.3.1.2) in secondary cell wall synthesizing tissues reduces the AdoMet pool and impacts lignin content and composition. In particular, both NMR analysis and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry of lignin in engineered biomass showed relative enrichment of non-methylated p-hydroxycinnamyl (H) units and a reduction of dimethylated syringyl (S) units. This indicates a lower degree of methylation compared to that in wild-type lignin. Quantification of cell wall-bound hydroxycinnamates revealed a reduction of ferulate in AdoMetase transgenic lines. Biomass from transgenic lines, in contrast to that in control plants, exhibits an enrichment of glucose content and a reduction in the degree of hemicellulose glucuronoxylan methylation. We also show that these modifications resulted in a reduction of cell wall recalcitrance, because sugar yield generated by enzymatic biomass saccharification was greater than that of wild-type plants. Considering that transgenic plants show no important diminution of biomass yields, and that heterologous expression of AdoMetase protein can be spatiotemporally optimized, this novel approach provides a valuable option for the improvement of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymerick Eudes
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nanxia Zhao
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Conn Center for Renewable Energy, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Edward E K Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeemeng Lao
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - George Wang
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sasha Yogiswara
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Taek Soon Lee
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Seema Singh
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Sandia National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Jenny C Mortimer
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Blake A Simmons
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; Sandia National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Dominique Loqué
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA de Lyon, CNRS, UMR5240, Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, Villeurbanne, France
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Scully ED, Gries T, Funnell-Harris DL, Xin Z, Kovacs FA, Vermerris W, Sattler SE. Characterization of novel Brown midrib 6 mutations affecting lignin biosynthesis in sorghum. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 58:136-49. [PMID: 26172142 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The presence of lignin reduces the quality of lignocellulosic biomass for forage materials and feedstock for biofuels. In C4 grasses, the brown midrib phenotype has been linked to mutations to genes in the monolignol biosynthesis pathway. For example, the Bmr6 gene in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has been previously shown to encode cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), which catalyzes the final step of the monolignol biosynthesis pathway. Mutations in this gene have been shown to reduce the abundance of lignin, enhance digestibility, and improve saccharification efficiencies and ethanol yields. Nine sorghum lines harboring five different bmr6 alleles were identified in an EMS-mutagenized TILLING population. DNA sequencing of Bmr6 revealed that the majority of the mutations impacted evolutionarily conserved amino acids while three-dimensional structural modeling predicted that all of these alleles interfered with the enzyme's ability to bind with its NADPH cofactor. All of the new alleles reduced in vitro CAD activity levels and enhanced glucose yields following saccharification. Further, many of these lines were associated with higher reductions in acid detergent lignin compared to lines harboring the previously characterized bmr6-ref allele. These bmr6 lines represent new breeding tools for manipulating biomass composition to enhance forage and feedstock quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D Scully
- Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Tammy Gries
- Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Deanna L Funnell-Harris
- Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Zhanguo Xin
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Unit, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX, 79414, USA
| | - Frank A Kovacs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, NE, 68849, USA
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science and UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Scott E Sattler
- Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
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Barrière Y, Courtial A, Chateigner-Boutin AL, Denoue D, Grima-Pettenati J. Breeding maize for silage and biofuel production, an illustration of a step forward with the genome sequence. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 242:310-329. [PMID: 26566848 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of the gene families mostly impacting cell wall digestibility variations would significantly increase the efficiency of marker-assisted selection when breeding maize and grass varieties with improved silage feeding value and/or with better straw fermentability into alcohol or methane. The maize genome sequence of the B73 inbred line was released at the end of 2009, opening up new avenues to identify the genetic determinants of quantitative traits. Colocalizations between a large set of candidate genes putatively involved in secondary cell wall assembly and QTLs for cell wall digestibility (IVNDFD) were then investigated, considering physical positions of both genes and QTLs. Based on available data from six RIL progenies, 59 QTLs corresponding to 38 non-overlapping positions were matched up with a list of 442 genes distributed all over the genome. Altogether, 176 genes colocalized with IVNDFD QTLs and most often, several candidate genes colocalized at each QTL position. Frequent QTL colocalizations were found firstly with genes encoding ZmMYB and ZmNAC transcription factors, and secondly with genes encoding zinc finger, bHLH, and xylogen regulation factors. In contrast, close colocalizations were less frequent with genes involved in monolignol biosynthesis, and found only with the C4H2, CCoAOMT5, and CCR1 genes. Close colocalizations were also infrequent with genes involved in cell wall feruloylation and cross-linkages. Altogether, investigated colocalizations between candidate genes and cell wall digestibility QTLs suggested a prevalent role of regulation factors over constitutive cell wall genes on digestibility variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Barrière
- INRA, UR889, Unité de Génétique et d'Amélioration des Plantes Fourragères, 86600 Lusignan, France.
| | - Audrey Courtial
- LRSV, Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, UMR5546, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III / CNRS, Auzeville, BP 42617, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; INRA, US1258, Centre National de Ressources Génomiques Végétales, CS 52627, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | | | - Dominique Denoue
- INRA, UR889, Unité de Génétique et d'Amélioration des Plantes Fourragères, 86600 Lusignan, France
| | - Jacqueline Grima-Pettenati
- LRSV, Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, UMR5546, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III / CNRS, Auzeville, BP 42617, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
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Srivastava AC, Chen F, Ray T, Pattathil S, Peña MJ, Avci U, Li H, Huhman DV, Backe J, Urbanowicz B, Miller JS, Bedair M, Wyman CE, Sumner LW, York WS, Hahn MG, Dixon RA, Blancaflor EB, Tang Y. Loss of function of folylpolyglutamate synthetase 1 reduces lignin content and improves cell wall digestibility in Arabidopsis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2015; 8:224. [PMID: 26697113 PMCID: PMC4687376 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0403-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One-carbon (C1) metabolism is important for synthesizing a range of biologically important compounds that are essential for life. In plants, the C1 pathway is crucial for the synthesis of a large number of secondary metabolites, including lignin. Tetrahydrofolate and its derivatives, collectively referred to as folates, are crucial co-factors for C1 metabolic pathway enzymes. Given the link between the C1 and phenylpropanoid pathways, we evaluated whether folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a glutamate tail to folates to form folylpolyglutamates, can be a viable target for reducing cell wall recalcitrance in plants. RESULTS Consistent with its role in lignocellulosic formation, FPGS1 was preferentially expressed in vascular tissues. Total lignin was low in fpgs1 plants leading to higher saccharification efficiency of the mutant. The decrease in total lignin in fpgs1 was mainly due to lower guaiacyl (G) lignin levels. Glycome profiling revealed subtle alterations in the cell walls of fpgs1. Further analyses of hemicellulosic polysaccharides by NMR showed that the degree of methylation of 4-O-methyl glucuronoxylan was reduced in the fpgs1 mutant. Microarray analysis and real-time qRT-PCR revealed that transcripts of a number of genes in the C1 and lignin pathways had altered expression in fpgs1 mutants. Consistent with the transcript changes of C1-related genes, a significant reduction in S-adenosyl-l-methionine content was detected in the fpgs1 mutant. The modified expression of the various methyltransferases and lignin-related genes indicate possible feedback regulation of C1 pathway-mediated lignin biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS Our observations provide genetic and biochemical support for the importance of folylpolyglutamates in the lignocellulosic pathway and reinforces previous observations that targeting a single FPGS isoform for down-regulation leads to reduced lignin in plants. Because fpgs1 mutants had no dramatic defects in above ground biomass, selective down-regulation of individual components of C1 metabolism is an approach that should be explored further for the improvement of lignocellulosic feedstocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash C. Srivastava
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Fang Chen
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203 USA
| | - Tui Ray
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
| | - Sivakumar Pattathil
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- />Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Maria J. Peña
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Utku Avci
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- />Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Hongjia Li
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92507 USA
| | - David V. Huhman
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
| | - Jason Backe
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Breeanna Urbanowicz
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Miller
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Mohamed Bedair
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
| | - Charles E. Wyman
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92507 USA
| | - Lloyd W. Sumner
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
| | - William S. York
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- />Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Michael G. Hahn
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602 USA
- />Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Richard A. Dixon
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
- />Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203 USA
| | - Elison B. Blancaflor
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
| | - Yuhong Tang
- />Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401 USA
- />BioEnergy Science Center, United States Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
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