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Cai Y, Yu XH, Shanklin J. A toolkit for plant lipid engineering: Surveying the efficacies of lipogenic factors for accumulating specialty lipids. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1064176. [PMID: 36589075 PMCID: PMC9795026 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1064176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce energy-dense lipids from carbohydrates using energy acquired via photosynthesis, making plant oils an economically and sustainably attractive feedstock for conversion to biofuels and value-added bioproducts. A growing number of strategies have been developed and optimized in model plants, oilseed crops and high-biomass crops to enhance the accumulation of storage lipids (mostly triacylglycerols, TAGs) for bioenergy applications and to produce specialty lipids with increased uses and value for chemical feedstock and nutritional applications. Most successful metabolic engineering strategies involve heterologous expression of lipogenic factors that outperform those from other sources or exhibit specialized functionality. In this review, we summarize recent progress in engineering the accumulation of triacylglycerols containing - specialized fatty acids in various plant species and tissues. We also provide an inventory of specific lipogenic factors (including accession numbers) derived from a wide variety of organisms, along with their reported efficacy in supporting the accumulation of desired lipids. A review of previously obtained results serves as a foundation to guide future efforts to optimize combinations of factors to achieve further enhancements to the production and accumulation of desired lipids in a variety of plant tissues and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqi Cai
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, United States
| | - Xiao-Hong Yu
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - John Shanklin
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, United States
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Yin Y, Raboanatahiry N, Chen K, Chen X, Tian T, Jia J, He H, He J, Guo Z, Yu L, Li M. Class A lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2 from Camelina sativa promotes very long-chain fatty acids accumulation in phospholipid and triacylglycerol. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:1141-1158. [PMID: 36209492 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are important industrial raw materials and can be produced by genetically modified oil plants. For a long time, class A lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) was considered unable to promote the accumulation of VLCFA in oil crops. The bottlenecks that the transgenic high VLCFA lines have an oil content penalty and the low amount of VLCFA in phosphatidylcholine remains intractable. In the present study, a class A LPAT2 from Camelina sativa (CsaLPAT2) promoting VLCFAs accumulation in phospholipid was found. Overexpression of CsaLPAT2 alone in Arabidopsis seeds significantly increased the VLCFA content in triacylglycerol, including C20:0, C20:2, C20:3, C22:0, and C22:1. The proportion of phosphatidic acid molecules containing VLCFAs in transgenic seeds reached up to 45%, which was 2.8-fold greater than that in wild type. The proportion of phosphatidylcholine and diacylglycerol molecules containing VLCFAs also increased significantly. Seed size in CsaLPAT2 transgenic lines showed a slight increase without an oil content penalty. The total phospholipid content in the seed of the CsaLPAT2 transgenic line was significantly increased. Furthermore, the function of class A LPAT in promoting the accumulation of VLCFAs is conserved in the representative oil crops of Brassicaceae, such as C. sativa, Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, and Brassica oleracea. The findings of this study provide a promising gene resource for the production of VLCFAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongtai Yin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Nadia Raboanatahiry
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xinfeng Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jia Jia
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Hongsheng He
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jianjie He
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhenyi Guo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Longjiang Yu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Maoteng Li
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
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Nawade B, Kumar A, Maurya R, Subramani R, Yadav R, Singh K, Rangan P. Longer Duration of Active Oil Biosynthesis during Seed Development Is Crucial for High Oil Yield-Lessons from Genome-Wide In Silico Mining and RNA-Seq Validation in Sesame. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2980. [PMID: 36365434 PMCID: PMC9657858 DOI: 10.3390/plants11212980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sesame, one of the ancient oil crops, is an important oilseed due to its nutritionally rich seeds with high protein content. Genomic scale information for sesame has become available in the public databases in recent years. The genes and their families involved in oil biosynthesis in sesame are less studied than in other oilseed crops. Therefore, we retrieved a total of 69 genes and their translated amino acid sequences, associated with gene families linked to the oil biosynthetic pathway. Genome-wide in silico mining helped identify key regulatory genes for oil biosynthesis, though the findings require functional validation. Comparing sequences of the SiSAD (stearoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP)-desaturase) coding genes with known SADs helped identify two SiSAD family members that may be palmitoyl-ACP-specific. Based on homology with lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) sequences, an uncharacterized gene has been identified as SiLPAAT1. Identified key regulatory genes associated with high oil content were also validated using publicly available transcriptome datasets of genotypes contrasting for oil content at different developmental stages. Our study provides evidence that a longer duration of active oil biosynthesis is crucial for high oil accumulation during seed development. This underscores the importance of early onset of oil biosynthesis in developing seeds. Up-regulating, identified key regulatory genes of oil biosynthesis during early onset of seed development, should help increase oil yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhagwat Nawade
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Rasna Maurya
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Rajkumar Subramani
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Rashmi Yadav
- Division of Germplasm Evaluation, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Kuldeep Singh
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Parimalan Rangan
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Wang XD, Xu CY, Zheng YJ, Wu YF, Zhang YT, Zhang T, Xiong ZY, Yang HK, Li J, Fu C, Qiu FY, Dai XY, Liu XL, He XS, Zhou SS, Li SX, Fu T, Xie H, Chen YL, Zhang QQ, Wang HQ, Wang YD, Zhou C, Jiang XM. Chromosome-level genome assembly and resequencing of camphor tree ( Cinnamomum camphora) provides insight into phylogeny and diversification of terpenoid and triglyceride biosynthesis of Cinnamomum. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2022; 9:uhac216. [PMID: 36479586 PMCID: PMC9720445 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cinnamomum species attract attentions owing to their scents, medicinal properties, and ambiguous relationship in the phylogenetic tree. Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly of Cinnamomum camphora, based on which two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events were detected in the C. camphora genome: one was shared with Magnoliales, and the other was unique to Lauraceae. Phylogenetic analyses illustrated that Lauraceae species formed a compact sister clade to the eudicots. We then performed whole-genome resequencing on 24 Cinnamomum species native to China, and the results showed that the topology of Cinnamomum species was not entirely consistent with morphological classification. The rise and molecular basis of chemodiversity in Cinnamomum were also fascinating issues. In this study, six chemotypes were classified and six main terpenoids were identified as major contributors of chemodiversity in C. camphora by the principal component analysis. Through in vitro assays and subcellular localization analyses, we identified two key terpene synthase (TPS) genes (CcTPS16 and CcTPS54), the products of which were characterized to catalyze the biosynthesis of two uppermost volatiles (i.e. 1,8-cineole and (iso)nerolidol), respectively, and meditate the generation of two chemotypes by transcriptional regulation and compartmentalization. Additionally, the pathway of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) biosynthesis in Lauraceae was investigated for the first time. Synteny analysis suggested that the divergent synthesis of MCT and long-chain triglyceride (LCT) in Lauraceae kernels was probably controlled by specific medium-chain fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase (FatB), type-B lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (type-B LPAAT), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2b (DGAT 2b) isoforms during co-evolution with retentions or deletions in the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yue-Ting Zhang
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Lab for Plant Biotechnology, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Xiong
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Lab for Plant Biotechnology, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hai-Kuan Yang
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Jiang Li
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Chao Fu
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Feng-Ying Qiu
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Dai
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Xin-Liang Liu
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Xiao-San He
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Song-Song Zhou
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Sheng-Xing Li
- Camphor Engineering and Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330032, China
| | - Tao Fu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Han Xie
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | | | | | - Hong-Qi Wang
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
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Zhang K, He J, Yin Y, Chen K, Deng X, Yu P, Li H, Zhao W, Yan S, Li M. Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2 and 5 commonly, but differently, promote seed oil accumulation in Brassica napus. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:83. [PMID: 35962411 PMCID: PMC9375321 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02182-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Increasing seed oil content (SOC) of Brassica napus has become one of the main plant breeding goals over the past decades. Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) performs an important molecular function by regulating the production of phosphatidic acid (PA), a key intermediate in the synthesis of membrane and storage lipids. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of LPAT on the SOC of B. napus remains unclear. Results In the present study, significant elevation of SOC was achieved by overexpressing BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 in B. napus. RNAi and CRISPR–Cas9 were also successfully used to knock down and knock out these two genes in B. napus where SOC significantly decreased. Meanwhile, we found an accumulation of lipid droplets and oil bodies in seeds of BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 overexpression lines, whereas an increase of sugar and protein in Bnlpat2 and Bnlpat5 mutant seeds. Sequential transcriptome analysis was further performed on the developing seeds of the BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 overexpression, knockdown, and knockout rapeseed lines. Most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were expressed in the middle and late stages of seed development were enriched in photosynthesis and lipid metabolism, respectively. The DEGs involved in fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis were active in the overexpression lines but were relatively inactive in the knockdown and knockout lines. Further analysis revealed that the biological pathways related to fatty acid/lipid anabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were specifically enriched in the BnLPAT2 overexpression lines. Conclusions BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 are essential for seed oil accumulation. BnLPAT2 preferentially promoted diacylglycerol synthesis to increase SOC, whereas BnLPAT5 tended to boost PA synthesis for membrane lipid generation. Taken together, BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 can jointly but differently promote seed oil accumulation in B. napus. This study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms governing the promotion of SOC by BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 in the seeds of B. napus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13068-022-02182-2.
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Interactions between plant lipid-binding proteins and their ligands. Prog Lipid Res 2022; 86:101156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2022.101156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Green Chemistry Production of Codlemone, the Sex Pheromone of the Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella), by Metabolic Engineering of the Oilseed Crop Camelina (Camelina sativa). J Chem Ecol 2021; 47:950-967. [PMID: 34762210 PMCID: PMC8642345 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01316-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic pheromones have been used for pest control over several decades. The conventional synthesis of di-unsaturated pheromone compounds is usually complex and costly. Camelina (Camelina sativa) has emerged as an ideal, non-food biotech oilseed platform for production of oils with modified fatty acid compositions. We used Camelina as a plant factory to produce mono- and di-unsaturated C12 chain length moth sex pheromone precursors, (E)-9-dodecenoic acid and (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienoic acid, by introducing a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase FatB gene UcTE from California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) and a bifunctional ∆9 desaturase gene Cpo_CPRQ from the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Different transgene combinations were investigated for increasing pheromone precursor yield. The most productive Camelina line was engineered with a vector that contained one copy of UcTE and the viral suppressor protein encoding P19 transgenes and three copies of Cpo_CPRQ transgene. The T2 generation of this line produced 9.4% of (E)-9-dodecenoic acid and 5.5% of (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienoic acid of the total fatty acids, and seeds were selected to advance top-performing lines to homozygosity. In the T4 generation, production levels of (E)-9-dodecenoic acid and (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienoic acid remained stable. The diene acid together with other seed fatty acids were converted into corresponding alcohols, and the bioactivity of the plant-derived codlemone was confirmed by GC-EAD and a flight tunnel assay. Trapping in orchards and home gardens confirmed significant and specific attraction of C. pomonella males to the plant-derived codlemone.
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Sarvas C, Puttick D, Forseille L, Cram D, Smith MA. Ectopic expression of cDNAs from larkspur (Consolida ajacis) for increased synthesis of gondoic acid (cis-11 eicosenoic acid) and its positional redistribution in seed triacylglycerol of Camelina sativa. PLANTA 2021; 254:32. [PMID: 34287699 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03682-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A β-ketoacyl-ACP-synthase II (KAS2) like enzyme and a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT2) from Consolida ajacis catalyze gondoic acid biosynthesis and incorporation into the sn-2 position of seed TAG in engineered Camelina sativa. Gondoic acid (cis-11 eicosenoic acid, 20:1∆11) is the predominant very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) in camelina (Camelina sativa) seed oil accounting for 12-15% of total triacylglycerol fatty acids. To explore the feasibility of engineering increased levels of this fatty acid in camelina seed, oils from a range of plant species were analyzed to identify those producing 20-Carbon (C20) fatty acids as the only VLCFAs in their seed oil. Seeds of Consolida and Delphinium species (Ranunculaceae) were found to contain moderate levels (0.2% to 25.5%) of C20 fatty acids without accompanying longer chain fatty acids. The C20 fatty acids were abundant in both sn-2 and sn-1/3 positions of seed TAG in Consolida, but were largely absent from the sn-2 position in Delphinium seed TAG. Through generation of a developing seed transcriptome, sequences were identified and cDNAs amplified from Consolida ajacis encoding a β-ketoacyl-ACP-synthase II like protein (CaKAS2B) that lacked a predicted chloroplast transit peptide, and two homologues of Arabidopsis thaliana lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2 (CaLPAT2a and CaLPAT2b). Expression of CaKAS2B in conventional (WT) camelina and a line previously engineered for high seed oleic acid content (HO) resulted in increased seed VLCFA content. Total VLCFA levels were raised from 24 to 35% and from 7 to 23% in T3 seed from representative transformants in the WT and HO backgrounds, respectively. Gondoic acid was the predominant VLCFA in transformed HO lines with low endogenous cytoplasmic fatty acid elongation activity, suggesting limited capacity of CaKAS2B to elongate beyond C20. Expression in camelina of CaLPAT2b resulted in significantly increased C20-VLCFA esterification at the sn-2 position of seed TAG with VLCFA levels of 33.8% in this position in one transformed line compared to 0.3% at sn-2 in the corresponding control line. Only small changes in total seed VLCFA content were observed in transformed lines implying that increased VLCFA esterification capacity in camelina results in positional redistribution of VLCFAs but does not significantly enhance flux through the fatty acid elongation pathway. The full potential of CaKAS2B and CaLPAT2a for the engineering of high gondoic acid levels in camelina remains to be determined. Seed fatty acid composition of Consolida and Delphinium also provides information that may be of value in the systematics of the Ranunculaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlene Sarvas
- Linnaeus Plant Sciences, 2024-110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, Canada
| | - Debbie Puttick
- Linnaeus Plant Sciences, 2024-110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, Canada
| | - Li Forseille
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, Canada
| | - Dustin Cram
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, Canada
| | - Mark A Smith
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada.
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Kalinger RS, Williams D, Ahmadi Pirshahid A, Pulsifer IP, Rowland O. Production of C6-C14 Medium-Chain Fatty Acids in Seeds and Leaves via Overexpression of Single Hotdog-Fold Acyl-Lipid Thioesterases. Lipids 2021; 56:327-344. [PMID: 33547664 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
ACYL-LIPID THIOESTERASES (ALT) are a type of plant acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase that generate a wide range of medium-chain fatty acids and methylketone (MK) precursors when expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli. While this makes ALT-type thioesterases attractive as metabolic engineering targets to increase production of high-value medium-chain fatty acids and MKs in plant systems, the behavior of ALT enzymes in planta was not well understood before this study. To profile the substrate specificities of ALT-type thioesterases in different plant tissue types, AtALT1-4 from Arabidopsis thaliana, which have widely varied chain length and oxidation state preferences in E. coli, were overexpressed in Arabidopsis seeds, Camelina sativa seeds, and Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Seed-specific overexpression of ALT enzymes led to medium-chain fatty acid accumulation in Arabidopsis and Camelina seed triacylglycerols, and transient overexpression in N. benthamiana demonstrated that the substrate preferences of ALT-type thioesterases in planta generally agree with those previously determined in E. coli. AtALT1 and AtALT4 overexpression in leaves and seeds resulted in the accumulation of 12-14 carbon-length fatty acids and 6-8 carbon-length fatty acids, respectively. While it was difficult to completely profile the products of ALT-type thioesterases that generate MK precursors (i.e. β-keto fatty acids), our results nonetheless demonstrate that ALT enzymes are catalytically diverse in planta. The knowledge gained from this study is a significant step towards being able to use ALT-type thioesterases as metabolic engineering tools to modify the fatty acid profiles of oilseed crops, other plants, and microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Kalinger
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Danielle Williams
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Ali Ahmadi Pirshahid
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Ian P Pulsifer
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Owen Rowland
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
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Chen GQ, Kim WN, Johnson K, Park ME, Lee KR, Kim HU. Transcriptome Analysis and Identification of Lipid Genes in Physaria lindheimeri, a Genetic Resource for Hydroxy Fatty Acids in Seed Oil. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020514. [PMID: 33419225 PMCID: PMC7825617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) have numerous industrial applications but are absent in most vegetable oils. Physaria lindheimeri accumulating 85% HFA in its seed oil makes it a valuable resource for engineering oilseed crops for HFA production. To discover lipid genes involved in HFA synthesis in P. lindheimeri, transcripts from developing seeds at various stages, as well as leaf and flower buds, were sequenced. Ninety-seven percent clean reads from 552,614,582 raw reads were assembled to 129,633 contigs (or transcripts) which represented 85,948 unique genes. Gene Ontology analysis indicated that 60% of the contigs matched proteins involved in biological process, cellular component or molecular function, while the remaining matched unknown proteins. We identified 42 P. lindheimeri genes involved in fatty acid and seed oil biosynthesis, and 39 of them shared 78-100% nucleotide identity with Arabidopsis orthologs. We manually annotated 16 key genes and 14 of them contained full-length protein sequences, indicating high coverage of clean reads to the assembled contigs. A detailed profiling of the 16 genes revealed various spatial and temporal expression patterns. The further comparison of their protein sequences uncovered amino acids conserved among HFA-producing species, but these varied among non-HFA-producing species. Our findings provide essential information for basic and applied research on HFA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Q. Chen
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
- Correspondence: (G.Q.C.); (H.U.K.)
| | - Won Nyeong Kim
- Department of Bioindustry and Bioresource Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
| | - Kumiko Johnson
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
| | - Mid-Eum Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
| | - Kyeong-Ryeol Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54974, Korea;
| | - Hyun Uk Kim
- Department of Bioindustry and Bioresource Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea;
- Correspondence: (G.Q.C.); (H.U.K.)
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Yin Y, Guo Z, Chen K, Tian T, Tan J, Chen X, Chen J, Yang B, Tang S, Peng K, Liu S, Liang Y, Zhang K, Yu L, Li M. Ultra-high α-linolenic acid accumulating developmental defective embryo was rescued by lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:2151-2167. [PMID: 32573846 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
For decades, genetic engineering approaches to produce unusual fatty acids (UFAs) in crops has reached a bottleneck, including reduced seed oil production and seed vigor. Currently, plant models in the field of research are primarily used to investigate defects in oil production and seedling development, while the role of UFAs in embryonic developmental defects remains unknown. In this study, we developed a transgenic Arabidopsis plant model, in which the embryo exhibits severely wrinkled appearance owing to α-linolenic acid (ALA) accumulation. RNA-sequencing analysis in the defective embryo suggested that brassinosteroid synthesis, FA synthesis and photosynthesis were inhibited, while FA degradation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress were activated. Lipidomics analysis showed that ultra-accumulated ALA is released from phosphatidylcholine as a free FA in cells, inducing severe endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress. Furthermore, we identified that overexpression of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2 rescued the defective phenotype. In the rescue line, the pool capacity of the Kennedy pathway was increased, and the esterification of ALA indirectly to triacylglycerol was enhanced to avoid stress. This study provides a plant model that aids in understanding the molecular mechanism of embryonic developmental defects and generates strategies to produce higher levels of UFAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongtai Yin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resource Comprehensive Utilization, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Characteristic Resources Exploitation of Dabie Mountains, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, 438000, China
| | - Zhenyi Guo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jiajun Tan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xinfeng Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shuyan Tang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kangfu Peng
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Si Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yu Liang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Longjiang Yu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Maoteng Li
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resource Comprehensive Utilization, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Characteristic Resources Exploitation of Dabie Mountains, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, 438000, China
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12
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Correa SM, Fernie AR, Nikoloski Z, Brotman Y. Towards model-driven characterization and manipulation of plant lipid metabolism. Prog Lipid Res 2020; 80:101051. [PMID: 32640289 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2020.101051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Plant lipids have versatile applications and provide essential fatty acids in human diet. Therefore, there has been a growing interest to better characterize the genetic basis, regulatory networks, and metabolic pathways that shape lipid quantity and composition. Addressing these issues is challenging due to context-specificity of lipid metabolism integrating environmental, developmental, and tissue-specific cues. Here we systematically review the known metabolic pathways and regulatory interactions that modulate the levels of storage lipids in oilseeds. We argue that the current understanding of lipid metabolism provides the basis for its study in the context of genome-wide plant metabolic networks with the help of approaches from constraint-based modeling and metabolic flux analysis. The focus is on providing a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art of modeling plant lipid metabolic pathways, which we then contrast with the existing modeling efforts in yeast and microalgae. We then point out the gaps in knowledge of lipid metabolism, and enumerate the recent advances of using genome-wide association and quantitative trait loci mapping studies to unravel the genetic regulations of lipid metabolism. Finally, we offer a perspective on how advances in the constraint-based modeling framework can propel further characterization of plant lipid metabolism and its rational manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M Correa
- Genetics of Metabolic Traits Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany; Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501 Beer-Sheva, Israel; Departamento de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia.
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Central Metabolism Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Zoran Nikoloski
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; Systems Biology and Mathematical Modelling Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm 14476, Germany.
| | - Yariv Brotman
- Genetics of Metabolic Traits Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany; Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501 Beer-Sheva, Israel
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13
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Zhou XR, Li J, Wan X, Hua W, Singh S. Harnessing Biotechnology for the Development of New Seed Lipid Traits in Brassica. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:1197-1204. [PMID: 31076774 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The seed oil quality of Brassica oilseed species has been improved in the last few decades, using conventional breeding approaches. Modern biotechnology has enabled the significant development of new seed lipid traits in many oil crops. Alternation of seed lipid component with gene knockout by RNAi gene silencing, artificial microRNA or gene editing within the crop is relative straightforward. Introducing a new pathway from an exogenous source via biotechnology enables the creation of a new trait, where the biosynthetic pathway for such a new trait is not available in the host crop. This review updates the recent development of new seed lipid traits in six major Brassica species and highlights the capability of biotechnology to improve the composition of important fatty acids for both industrial and nutritional purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jun Li
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xia Wan
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Hua
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
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14
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Shockey J, Lager I, Stymne S, Kotapati HK, Sheffield J, Mason C, Bates PD. Specialized lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases contribute to unusual fatty acid accumulation in exotic Euphorbiaceae seed oils. PLANTA 2019; 249:1285-1299. [PMID: 30610363 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-03086-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In vivo and in vitro analyses of Euphorbiaceae species' triacylglycerol assembly enzymes substrate selectivity are consistent with the co-evolution of seed-specific unusual fatty acid production and suggest that many of these genes will be useful for biotechnological production of designer oils. Many exotic Euphorbiaceae species, including tung tree (Vernicia fordii), castor bean (Ricinus communis), Bernardia pulchella, and Euphorbia lagascae, accumulate unusual fatty acids in their seed oils, many of which have valuable properties for the chemical industry. However, various adverse plant characteristics including low seed yields, production of toxic compounds, limited growth range, and poor resistance to abiotic stresses have limited full agronomic exploitation of these plants. Biotechnological production of these unusual fatty acids (UFA) in high yielding non-food oil crops would provide new robust sources for these valuable bio-chemicals. Previous research has shown that expression of the primary UFA biosynthetic gene alone is not enough for high-level accumulation in transgenic seed oils; other genes must be included to drive selective UFA incorporation into oils. Here, we use a series of in planta molecular genetic studies and in vitro biochemical measurements to demonstrate that lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases from two Euphorbiaceae species have high selectivity for incorporation of their respective unusual fatty acids into the phosphatidic acid intermediate of oil biosynthesis. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that unusual fatty acid accumulation arose in part via co-evolution of multiple oil biosynthesis and assembly enzymes that cooperate to enhance selective fatty acid incorporation into seed oils over that of the common fatty acids found in membrane lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Shockey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA
| | - Ida Lager
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Sten Stymne
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Hari Kiran Kotapati
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Jennifer Sheffield
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Catherine Mason
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA
| | - Philip D Bates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA.
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
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15
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Reynolds KB, Cullerne DP, El Tahchy A, Rolland V, Blanchard CL, Wood CC, Singh SP, Petrie JR. Identification of Genes Involved in Lipid Biosynthesis through de novo Transcriptome Assembly from Cocos nucifera Developing Endosperm. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:945-960. [PMID: 30608545 PMCID: PMC6498750 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cocos nucifera (coconut), a member of the Arecaceae family, is an economically important woody palm that is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions. The coconut palm is well known for its ability to accumulate large amounts of oil, approximately 63% of the seed weight. Coconut oil varies significantly from other vegetable oils as it contains a high proportion of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA; 85%). The unique composition of coconut oil raises interest in understanding how the coconut palm produces oil of a high saturated MCFA content, and if such an oil profile could be replicated via biotechnology interventions. Although some gene discovery work has been performed there is still a significant gap in the knowledge associated with coconut's oil production pathways. In this study, a de novo transcriptome was assembled for developing coconut endosperm to identify genes involved in the synthesis of lipids, particularly triacylglycerol. Of particular interest were thioesterases, acyltransferases and oleosins because of their involvement in the processes of releasing fatty acids for assembly, esterification of fatty acids into glycerolipids and protecting oils from degradation, respectively. It is hypothesized that some of these genes may exhibit a strong substrate preference for MCFA and hence may assist the future development of vegetable oils with an enriched MCFA composition. In this study, we identified and confirmed functionality of five candidate genes from the gene families of interest. This study will benefit future work in areas of increasing vegetable oil production and the tailoring of oil fatty acid compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle B Reynolds
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Department of Primary Industries, Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional Grains, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Darren P Cullerne
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna El Tahchy
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Vivien Rolland
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christopher L Blanchard
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional Grains, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Craig C Wood
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Surinder P Singh
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - James R Petrie
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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16
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Zhang K, Nie L, Cheng Q, Yin Y, Chen K, Qi F, Zou D, Liu H, Zhao W, Wang B, Li M. Effective editing for lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2/5 in allotetraploid rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) using CRISPR-Cas9 system. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:225. [PMID: 31548867 PMCID: PMC6753616 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1567-8] [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: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brassica napus is one of the most important oilseed crops, and can supply considerable amounts of edible oil as well as provide raw materials for the production of biodiesel in the biotechnology industry. Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT), a key enzyme in the Kennedy pathway, catalyses fatty acid chains into 3-phosphoglycerate and promotes further production of oil in the form of triacylglycerol. However, because B. napus is an allotetraploid with two subgenomes, the precise genes which involved in oil production remain unclear due to the intractability of efficiently knocking out all copies with high genetic redundancy. Therefore, a robust gene editing technology is necessary for gene function analysis. RESULTS An efficient gene editing technology was developed for the allotetraploid plant B. napus using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Previous studies showed poor results in either on-target or off-target activity in B. napus. In the present study, four single-gRNAs and two multi-gRNAs were deliberately designed from the conserved coding regions of BnLPAT2 which has seven homologous genes, and BnLPAT5, which has four homologous genes. The mutation frequency was found to range from 17 to 68%, while no mutation was observed in the putative off-target sites. The seeds of the Bnlpat2/Bnlpat5 mutant were wizened and showed enlarged oil bodies, disrupted distribution of protein bodies and increased accumulation of starch in mature seeds. The oil content decreased, with an average decrease of 32% for Bnlpat2 lines and 29% for Bnlpat5 lines in single-gRNA knockout lines, and a decline of 24% for Bnlpat2 mutant lines (i.e., g123) and 39% for Bnlpat2/Bnlpat5 double mutant lines (i.e., g134) in multi-gRNA knockout lines. CONCLUSIONS Seven BnLPAT2 homologous genes and four BnLPAT5 homologous genes were cleaved completely using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, which indicated that it is effective for editing all homologous genes in allotetraploid rapeseed, despite the relatively low sequence identities of both gene families. The size of the oil bodies increased significantly while the oil content decreased, confirming that BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 play a role in oil biosynthesis. The present study lays a foundation for further oil production improvement in oilseed crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Characteristic Resources Exploitation of Dabie Mountains, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China
| | - Liluo Nie
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiqi Cheng
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongtai Yin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuyu Qi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dashan Zou
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haohao Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiguo Zhao
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Baoshan Wang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250000 China
| | - Maoteng Li
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Characteristic Resources Exploitation of Dabie Mountains, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China
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17
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Maraschin FDS, Kulcheski FR, Segatto ALA, Trenz TS, Barrientos-Diaz O, Margis-Pinheiro M, Margis R, Turchetto-Zolet AC. Enzymes of glycerol-3-phosphate pathway in triacylglycerol synthesis in plants: Function, biotechnological application and evolution. Prog Lipid Res 2019; 73:46-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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18
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Abstract
Studying seed oil metabolism. The seeds of higher plants represent valuable factories capable of converting photosynthetically derived sugars into a variety of storage compounds, including oils. Oils are the most energy-dense plant reserves and fatty acids composing these oils represent an excellent nutritional source. They supply humans with much of the calories and essential fatty acids required in their diet. These oils are then increasingly being utilized as renewable alternatives to petroleum for the chemical industry and for biofuels. Plant oils therefore represent a highly valuable agricultural commodity, the demand for which is increasing rapidly. Knowledge regarding seed oil production is extensively exploited in the frame of breeding programs and approaches of metabolic engineering for oilseed crop improvement. Complementary aspects of this research include (1) the study of carbon metabolism responsible for the conversion of photosynthetically derived sugars into precursors for fatty acid biosynthesis, (2) the identification and characterization of the enzymatic actors allowing the production of the wide set of fatty acid structures found in seed oils, and (3) the investigation of the complex biosynthetic pathways leading to the production of storage lipids (waxes, triacylglycerols). In this review, we outline the most recent developments in our understanding of the underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms of seed oil production, focusing on fatty acids and oils that can have a significant impact on the emerging bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Baud
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, RD10, 78026, Versailles Cedex, France.
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19
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Durrett TP. A New Class of Acetyl‐TAG Present in Seed Oils of
Polygala
Species. EUR J LIPID SCI TECH 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.201800246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P. Durrett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsKansas State University141 Chalmers HallManhattanKansas66506
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20
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Bansal S, Kim HJ, Na G, Hamilton ME, Cahoon EB, Lu C, Durrett TP. Towards the synthetic design of camelina oil enriched in tailored acetyl-triacylglycerols with medium-chain fatty acids. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:4395-4402. [PMID: 29982623 PMCID: PMC6093318 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The ability to manipulate expression of key biosynthetic enzymes has allowed the development of genetically modified plants that synthesise unusual lipids that are useful for biofuel and industrial applications. By taking advantage of the unique activities of enzymes from different species, tailored lipids with a targeted structure can be conceived. In this study we demonstrate the successful implementation of such an approach by metabolically engineering the oilseed crop Camelina sativa to produce 3-acetyl-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols (acetyl-TAGs) with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Different transgenic camelina lines that had been genetically modified to produce MCFAs through the expression of MCFA-specific thioesterases and acyltransferases were retransformed with the Euonymus alatus gene for diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (EaDAcT) that synthesises acetyl-TAGs. Concomitant RNAi suppression of acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase increased the levels of acetyl-TAG, with up to 77 mole percent in the best lines. However, the total oil content was reduced. Analysis of the composition of the acetyl-TAG molecular species using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry demonstrated the successful synthesis of acetyl-TAG containing MCFAs. Field growth of high-yielding plants generated enough oil for quantification of viscosity. As part of an ongoing design-test-learn cycle, these results, which include not only the synthesis of 'designer' lipids but also their functional analysis, will lead to the future production of such molecules tailored for specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Bansal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Hae Jin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - GunNam Na
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Megan E Hamilton
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Bethany College, Lindsborg, KS, USA
| | - Edgar B Cahoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Chaofu Lu
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Timothy P Durrett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
- Correspondence:
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21
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Reynolds KB, Taylor MC, Cullerne DP, Blanchard CL, Wood CC, Singh SP, Petrie JR. A reconfigured Kennedy pathway which promotes efficient accumulation of medium-chain fatty acids in leaf oils. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2017; 15:1397-1408. [PMID: 28301719 PMCID: PMC5633779 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA, C6-14 fatty acids) are an ideal feedstock for biodiesel and broader oleochemicals. In recent decades, several studies have used transgenic engineering to produce MCFA in seeds oils, although these modifications result in unbalance membrane lipid profiles that impair oil yields and agronomic performance. Given the ability to engineer nonseed organs to produce oils, we have previously demonstrated that MCFA profiles can be produced in leaves, but this also results in unbalanced membrane lipid profiles and undesirable chlorosis and cell death. Here we demonstrate that the introduction of a diacylglycerol acyltransferase from oil palm, EgDGAT1, was necessary to channel nascent MCFA directly into leaf oils and therefore bypassing MCFA residing in membrane lipids. This pathway resulted in increased flux towards MCFA rich leaf oils, reduced MCFA in leaf membrane lipids and, crucially, the alleviation of chlorosis. Deep sequencing of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) generated candidate genes of interest, which were then tested for their ability to improve oil accumulation. Thioesterases were explored for the production of lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic (C14:0). The thioesterases from Umbellularia californica and Cinnamomum camphora produced a total of 52% C12:0 and 40% C14:0, respectively, in transient leaf assays. This study demonstrated that the introduction of a complete acyl-CoA-dependent pathway for the synthesis of MFCA-rich oils avoided disturbing membrane homoeostasis and cell death phenotypes. This study outlines a transgenic strategy for the engineering of biomass crops with high levels of MCFA rich leaf oils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle B. Reynolds
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Agriculture and FoodActonACTAustralia
- Department of Primary IndustriesGraham Centre for Agricultural InnovationCharles Sturt UniversityWagga WaggaNSWAustralia
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional GrainsCharles Sturt UniversityWagga WaggaNSWAustralia
| | - Matthew C. Taylor
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganizationLand and WaterActonACTAustralia
| | - Darren P. Cullerne
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Agriculture and FoodActonACTAustralia
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNSWAustralia
| | - Christopher L. Blanchard
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional GrainsCharles Sturt UniversityWagga WaggaNSWAustralia
| | - Craig C. Wood
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Agriculture and FoodActonACTAustralia
| | - Surinder P. Singh
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Agriculture and FoodActonACTAustralia
| | - James R. Petrie
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Agriculture and FoodActonACTAustralia
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22
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Aznar-Moreno JA, Durrett TP. Simultaneous Targeting of Multiple Gene Homeologs to Alter Seed Oil Production in Camelina sativa. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 58:1260-1267. [PMID: 28444368 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcx058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The ability to transform Camelina sativa easily with biosynthetic enzymes derived from other plants has made this oil seed crop an ideal platform for the production of unusual lipids valuable for different applications. However, in addition to expressing transgenic enzymes, the suppression of endogenous enzyme activity to reduce competition for common substrates or cofactors is also required to enhance the production of target compounds. As camelina possesses a relatively undifferentiated hexaploid genome, up to three gene homeologs can code for any particular enzymatic activity, complicating efforts to alter endogenous biosynthetic pathways. New genome editing technologies, such as that offered by the CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein) system, offer the capability to introduce mutations into specifically targeted genomic sites. Here, by using a carefully designed guide RNA identical to all three homeologs, we demonstrate the ability of the CRISPR/Cas genome editing system to introduce mutations in all three CsDGAT1 or CsPDAT1 homeologous genes important for triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in developing seeds. Sequence analysis from transgenic T1 plants revealed that each CsDGAT1 or each CsPDAT1 homeolog was altered by multiple mutations, resulting in a genetic mosaic in the plants. Interestingly, seed harvested from both CsDGAT1- and CsPDAT1-targeted lines was often shrunken and wrinkled. Further, lipid analysis revealed that many lines produced seed with reduced oil content and altered fatty acid composition, consistent with the role of the targeted genes in seed oil biosynthesis. The CRISPR/Cas system therefore represents a useful method to alter endogenous biosynthetic pathways efficiently in polyploid species such as camelina.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Aznar-Moreno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - T P Durrett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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Balamurugan S, Wang X, Wang HL, An CJ, Li H, Li DW, Yang WD, Liu JS, Li HY. Occurrence of plastidial triacylglycerol synthesis and the potential regulatory role of AGPAT in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:97. [PMID: 28435443 PMCID: PMC5397801 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0786-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microalgae have emerged as a potential feedstock for biofuels and bioactive components. However, lack of microalgal strains with promising triacylglycerol (TAG) content and desirable fatty acid composition have hindered its commercial feasibility. Attempts on lipid overproduction by metabolic engineering remain largely challenging in microalgae. RESULTS In this study, a microalgal 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase designated AGPAT1 was identified in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. AGPAT1 contained four conserved acyltransferase motifs I-IV. Subcellular localization prediction and thereafter immuno-electron microscopy revealed the localization of AGPAT1 to plastid membranes. AGPAT1 overexpression significantly altered the primary metabolism, with increased total lipid content but decreased content of total carbohydrates and soluble proteins. Intriguingly, AGPAT1 overexpression coordinated the expression of other key genes such as DGAT2 and GPAT involved in TAG synthesis, and consequently increased TAG content by 1.81-fold with a significant increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA. Moreover, besides increased lipid droplets in the cytosol, ultrastructural observation showed a number of TAG-rich plastoglobuli formed in plastids. CONCLUSION The results suggested that AGPAT1 overexpression could elevate TAG biosynthesis and, moreover, revealed the occurrence of plastidial TAG synthesis in the diatom. Overall, our data provide a new insight into microalgal lipid metabolism and candidate target for metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasan Balamurugan
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Hong-Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Chun-Jing An
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Da-Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Wei-Dong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Jie-Sheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Hong-Ye Li
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
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Bates PD. Understanding the control of acyl flux through the lipid metabolic network of plant oil biosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2016; 1861:1214-1225. [PMID: 27003249 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Plant oil biosynthesis involves a complex metabolic network with multiple subcellular compartments, parallel pathways, cycles, and pathways that have a dual function to produce essential membrane lipids and triacylglycerol. Modern molecular biology techniques provide tools to alter plant oil compositions through bioengineering, however with few exceptions the final composition of triacylglycerol cannot be predicted. One reason for limited success in oilseed bioengineering is the inadequate understanding of how to control the flux of fatty acids through various fatty acid modification, and triacylglycerol assembly pathways of the lipid metabolic network. This review focuses on the mechanisms of acyl flux through the lipid metabolic network, and highlights where uncertainty resides in our understanding of seed oil biosynthesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Plant Lipid Biology edited by Kent D. Chapman and Ivo Feussner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip D Bates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr. #5043, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, United States.
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