1
|
Lorenzo CD, Debray K, Herwegh D, Develtere W, Impens L, Schaumont D, Vandeputte W, Aesaert S, Coussens G, De Boe Y, Demuynck K, Van Hautegem T, Pauwels L, Jacobs TB, Ruttink T, Nelissen H, Inzé D. BREEDIT: a multiplex genome editing strategy to improve complex quantitative traits in maize. Plant Cell 2023; 35:218-238. [PMID: 36066192 PMCID: PMC9806654 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Ensuring food security for an ever-growing global population while adapting to climate change is the main challenge for agriculture in the 21st century. Although new technologies are being applied to tackle this problem, we are approaching a plateau in crop improvement using conventional breeding. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene engineering have paved the way to accelerate plant breeding to meet this increasing demand. However, many traits are governed by multiple small-effect genes operating in complex interactive networks. Here, we present the gene discovery pipeline BREEDIT, which combines multiplex genome editing of whole gene families with crossing schemes to improve complex traits such as yield and drought tolerance. We induced gene knockouts in 48 growth-related genes into maize (Zea mays) using CRISPR/Cas9 and generated a collection of over 1,000 gene-edited plants. The edited populations displayed (on average) 5%-10% increases in leaf length and up to 20% increases in leaf width compared with the controls. For each gene family, edits in subsets of genes could be associated with enhanced traits, allowing us to reduce the gene space to be considered for trait improvement. BREEDIT could be rapidly applied to generate a diverse collection of mutants to identify promising gene modifications for later use in breeding programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Denia Herwegh
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ward Develtere
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Lennert Impens
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Dries Schaumont
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Wout Vandeputte
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Stijn Aesaert
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Yara De Boe
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Tom Van Hautegem
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Thomas B Jacobs
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Tom Ruttink
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gong P, Demuynck K, De Block J, Aesaert S, Coussens G, Pauwels L, Inzé D, Nelissen H. Modulation of the DA1 pathway in maize shows that translatability of information from Arabidopsis to crops is complex. Plant Sci 2022; 321:111295. [PMID: 35696903 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Modern agriculture is struggling to meet the increasing food, silage and raw material demands due to the rapid growth of population and climate change. In Arabidopsis, DA1 and DAR1 are proteases that negatively regulate cell proliferation and control organ size. DA1 and DAR1 are activated by ubiquitination catalyzed by the E3 ligase BIG BROTHER (BB). Here, we characterized the DA1, DAR1 and BB gene families in maize and analyzed whether perturbation of these genes regulates organ size similar to what was observed in Arabidopsis. We generated da1_dar1a_dar1b triple CRISPR maize mutants and bb1_bb2 double mutants. Detailed phenotypic analysis showed that the size of leaf, stem, cob, and seed was not consistently enlarged in these mutants. Also overexpression of a dominant-negative DA1R333K allele, resembling the da1-1 allele of Arabidopsis which has larger leaves and seeds, did not alter the maize phenotype. The mild negative effects on plant height of the DA1R333K_bb1_bb2 mutant indicate that the genes in the DA1 pathway may control organ size in maize, albeit less obvious than in Arabidopsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Gong
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jolien De Block
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stijn Aesaert
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Aesaert S, Impens L, Coussens G, Van Lerberge E, Vanderhaeghen R, Desmet L, Vanhevel Y, Bossuyt S, Wambua AN, Van Lijsebettens M, Inzé D, De Keyser E, Jacobs TB, Karimi M, Pauwels L. Optimized Transformation and Gene Editing of the B104 Public Maize Inbred by Improved Tissue Culture and Use of Morphogenic Regulators. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:883847. [PMID: 35528934 PMCID: PMC9072829 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.883847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Plant transformation is a bottleneck for the application of gene editing in plants. In Zea mays (maize), a breakthrough was made using co-transformation of the morphogenic transcription factors BABY BOOM (BBM) and WUSCHEL (WUS) to induce somatic embryogenesis. Together with adapted tissue culture media, this was shown to increase transformation efficiency significantly. However, use of the method has not been reported widely, despite a clear need for increased transformation capacity in academic settings. Here, we explore use of the method for the public maize inbred B104 that is widely used for transformation by the research community. We find that only modifying tissue culture media already boosts transformation efficiency significantly and can reduce the time in tissue culture by 1 month. On average, production of independent transgenic plants per starting embryo increased from 1 to 4% using BIALAPHOS RESISTANCE (BAR) as a selection marker. In addition, we reconstructed the BBM-WUS morphogenic gene cassette and evaluated its functionality in B104. Expression of the morphogenic genes under tissue- and development stage-specific promoters led to direct somatic embryo formation on the scutellum of zygotic embryos. However, eight out of ten resulting transgenic plants showed pleiotropic developmental defects and were not fertile. This undesirable phenotype was positively correlated with the copy number of the morphogenic gene cassette. Use of constructs in which morphogenic genes are flanked by a developmentally controlled Cre/LoxP recombination system led to reduced T-DNA copy number and fertile T0 plants, while increasing transformation efficiency from 1 to 5% using HIGHLY-RESISTANT ACETOLACTATE SYNTHASE as a selection marker. Addition of a CRISPR/Cas9 module confirmed functionality for gene editing applications, as exemplified by editing the gene VIRESCENT YELLOW-LIKE (VYL) that can act as a visual marker for gene editing in maize. The constructs, methods, and insights produced in this work will be valuable to translate the use of BBM-WUS and other emerging morphogenic regulators (MRs) to other genotypes and crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Aesaert
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lennert Impens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els Van Lerberge
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rudy Vanderhaeghen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurence Desmet
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - Yasmine Vanhevel
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Shari Bossuyt
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Angeline Ndele Wambua
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mieke Van Lijsebettens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen De Keyser
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - Thomas B. Jacobs
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mansour Karimi
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Laureyns R, Joossens J, Herwegh D, Pevernagie J, Pavie B, Demuynck K, Debray K, Coussens G, Pauwels L, Van Hautegem T, Bontinck M, Strable J, Nelissen H. An in situ sequencing approach maps PLASTOCHRON1 at the boundary between indeterminate and determinate cells. Plant Physiol 2022; 188:782-794. [PMID: 34791481 PMCID: PMC8825424 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The plant shoot apex houses the shoot apical meristem, a highly organized and active stem-cell tissue where molecular signaling in discrete cells determines when and where leaves are initiated. We optimized a spatial transcriptomics approach, in situ sequencing (ISS), to colocalize the transcripts of 90 genes simultaneously on the same section of tissue from the maize (Zea mays) shoot apex. The RNA ISS technology reported expression profiles that were highly comparable with those obtained by in situ hybridizations (ISHs) and allowed the discrimination between tissue domains. Furthermore, the application of spatial transcriptomics to the shoot apex, which inherently comprised phytomers that are in gradual developmental stages, provided a spatiotemporal sequence of transcriptional events. We illustrate the power of the technology through PLASTOCHRON1 (PLA1), which was specifically expressed at the boundary between indeterminate and determinate cells and partially overlapped with ROUGH SHEATH1 and OUTER CELL LAYER4 transcripts. Also, in the inflorescence, PLA1 transcripts localized in cells subtending the lateral primordia or bordering the newly established meristematic region, suggesting a more general role of PLA1 in signaling between indeterminate and determinate cells during the formation of lateral organs. Spatial transcriptomics builds on RNA ISH, which assays relatively few transcripts at a time and provides a powerful complement to single-cell transcriptomics that inherently removes cells from their native spatial context. Further improvements in resolution and sensitivity will greatly advance research in plant developmental biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reinout Laureyns
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Jessica Joossens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Denia Herwegh
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Julie Pevernagie
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Benjamin Pavie
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- VIB Bio Imaging Core, Gent 9052, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Kevin Debray
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Tom Van Hautegem
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | | | - Josh Strable
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- Author for communication:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gong P, Bontinck M, Demuynck K, De Block J, Gevaert K, Eeckhout D, Persiau G, Aesaert S, Coussens G, Van Lijsebettens M, Pauwels L, De Jaeger G, Inzé D, Nelissen H. SAMBA controls cell division rate during maize development. Plant Physiol 2022; 188:411-424. [PMID: 34791456 PMCID: PMC8774815 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
SAMBA has been identified as a plant-specific regulator of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) that controls unidirectional cell cycle progression in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), but so far its role has not been studied in monocots. Here, we show the association of SAMBA with the APC/C is conserved in maize (Zea mays). Two samba genome edited mutants showed growth defects, such as reduced internode length, shortened upper leaves with erect leaf architecture, and reduced leaf size due to an altered cell division rate and cell expansion, which aggravated with plant age. The two mutants differed in the severity and developmental onset of the phenotypes, because samba-1 represented a knockout allele, while translation re-initiation in samba-3 resulted in a truncated protein that was still able to interact with the APC/C and regulate its function, albeit with altered APC/C activity and efficiency. Our data are consistent with a dosage-dependent role for SAMBA to control developmental processes for which a change in growth rate is pivotal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Gong
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michiel Bontinck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jolien De Block
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dominique Eeckhout
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Persiau
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stijn Aesaert
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mieke Van Lijsebettens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert De Jaeger
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Author for communication:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pedroza-Garcia JA, Eekhout T, Achon I, Nisa MU, Coussens G, Vercauteren I, Van den Daele H, Pauwels L, Van Lijsebettens M, Raynaud C, De Veylder L. Maize ATR safeguards genome stability during kernel development to prevent early endosperm endocycle onset and cell death. Plant Cell 2021; 33:2662-2684. [PMID: 34086963 PMCID: PMC8408457 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) kinases coordinate the DNA damage response. The roles described for Arabidopsis thaliana ATR and ATM are assumed to be conserved over other plant species, but molecular evidence is scarce. Here, we demonstrate that the functions of ATR and ATM are only partially conserved between Arabidopsis and maize (Zea mays). In both species, ATR and ATM play a key role in DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint activation, but whereas Arabidopsis plants do not suffer from the absence of ATR under control growth conditions, maize mutant plants accumulate replication defects, likely due to their large genome size. Moreover, contrarily to Arabidopsis, maize ATM deficiency does not trigger meiotic defects, whereas the ATR kinase appears to be crucial for the maternal fertility. Strikingly, ATR is required to repress premature endocycle onset and cell death in the maize endosperm. Its absence results in a reduction of kernel size, protein and starch content, and a stochastic death of kernels, a process being counteracted by ATM. Additionally, while Arabidopsis atr atm double mutants are viable, no such mutants could be obtained for maize. Therefore, our data highlight that the mechanisms maintaining genome integrity may be more important for vegetative and reproductive development than previously anticipated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Antonio Pedroza-Garcia
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Thomas Eekhout
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Ignacio Achon
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Maher-Un Nisa
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), CNRS, INRA, University Paris-Sud, University of Evry, Paris University, Sorbonne Paris-Cite, University of Paris-Saclay, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Ilse Vercauteren
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Hilde Van den Daele
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Mieke Van Lijsebettens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent B-9052, Belgium
| | - Cécile Raynaud
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), CNRS, INRA, University Paris-Sud, University of Evry, Paris University, Sorbonne Paris-Cite, University of Paris-Saclay, 91405, Orsay, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Njuguna E, Coussens G, Neyt P, Aesaert S, Storme V, Demuynck K, Vanhaeren H, Dhondt S, Van Haver Y, Paul L, Inzé D, Nelissen H, Van Lijsebettens M. Functional analysis of Arabidopsis and maize transgenic lines overexpressing the ADP-ribose/NADH pyrophosphohydrolase, AtNUDX7. Int J Dev Biol 2019; 63:45-55. [PMID: 30919915 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.180360mv] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The conserved poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PAR) pathway consists of three genetic components that are potential targets to modulate the plant's energy homeostasis upon stress with the aim to improve yield stability in crops and help secure food supply. We studied the role of the PAR pathway component ADP-ribose/NADH pyrophosphohydrolase (AtNUDX7) in yield and mild drought stress by using a transgenic approach in Arabidopsis thaliana and maize (Zea mays). Arabidopsis AtNUDX7 cDNA was overexpressed in Arabidopsis and maize by means of the constitutive Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter and the strong constitutive Brachypodium distachyon pBdEF1α promoter, respectively. Overexpression of AtNUDX7 in Arabidopsis improved seed parameters that were measured by a novel, automated method, accelerated flowering and reduced inflorescence height. This combination of beneficial traits suggested that AtNUDX7 overexpression in Arabidopsis might enhance the ADP-ribose recycling step and maintain energy levels by supplying an ATP source in the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation energy homeostasis pathway. Arabidopsis and maize lines with high, medium and low overexpression levels of the AtNUDX7 gene were analysed in automated platforms and the inhibition of several growth parameters was determined under mild drought stress conditions. The data showed that the constitutive overexpression of the Arabidopsis AtNUDX7 gene in Arabidopsis and maize at varying levels did not improve tolerance to mild drought stress, but knocking down AtNUDX7 expression did, however at the expense of general growth under normal conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Njuguna
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sun X, Cahill J, Van Hautegem T, Feys K, Whipple C, Novák O, Delbare S, Versteele C, Demuynck K, De Block J, Storme V, Claeys H, Van Lijsebettens M, Coussens G, Ljung K, De Vliegher A, Muszynski M, Inzé D, Nelissen H. Altered expression of maize PLASTOCHRON1 enhances biomass and seed yield by extending cell division duration. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14752. [PMID: 28300078 PMCID: PMC5356070 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Maize is the highest yielding cereal crop grown worldwide for grain or silage. Here, we show that modulating the expression of the maize PLASTOCHRON1 (ZmPLA1) gene, encoding a cytochrome P450 (CYP78A1), results in increased organ growth, seedling vigour, stover biomass and seed yield. The engineered trait is robust as it improves yield in an inbred as well as in a panel of hybrids, at several locations and over multiple seasons in the field. Transcriptome studies, hormone measurements and the expression of the auxin responsive DR5rev:mRFPer marker suggest that PLA1 may function through an increase in auxin. Detailed analysis of growth over time demonstrates that PLA1 stimulates the duration of leaf elongation by maintaining dividing cells in a proliferative, undifferentiated state for a longer period of time. The prolonged duration of growth also compensates for growth rate reduction caused by abiotic stresses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - James Cahill
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, 50011 Iowa, USA
| | - Tom Van Hautegem
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kim Feys
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Clinton Whipple
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo 84602, Utah, USA
| | - Ondrej Novák
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators and Department of Chemical Biology and Genetics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacký University, 771 47 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 771 47 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Sofie Delbare
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Charlot Versteele
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Jolien De Block
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Veronique Storme
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Hannes Claeys
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Mieke Van Lijsebettens
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Karin Ljung
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 907 36 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alex De Vliegher
- Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Michael Muszynski
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, 50011 Iowa, USA
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Anami S, Njuguna E, Coussens G, Aesaert S, Van Lijsebettens M. Higher plant transformation: principles and molecular tools. Int J Dev Biol 2013; 57:483-94. [DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.130232mv] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
10
|
Coussens G, Aesaert S, Verelst W, Demeulenaere M, De Buck S, Njuguna E, Inzé D, Van Lijsebettens M. Brachypodium distachyon promoters as efficient building blocks for transgenic research in maize. J Exp Bot 2012; 63:4263-73. [PMID: 22523343 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ers113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The biotechnological approach to improve performance or yield of crops or for engineering metabolic pathways requires the expression of a number of transgenes, each with a specific promoter to avoid induction of silencing mechanisms. In maize (Zea mays), used as a model for cereals, an efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system has been established that is applied for translational research. In the current transformation vectors, the promoters of the 35S gene of the cauliflower mosaic virus and of the ubiquitin gene of maize are often used to drive the bialaphos-selectable marker and the transgene, respectively. To expand the number of promoters, genes with either constitutive or seed-specific expression were selected in Brachypodium distachyon, a model grass distantly related to maize. After the corresponding Brachypodium promoters had been fused to the β-glucuronidase reporter gene, their activity was followed throughout maize development and quantified in a fluorimetric assay with the 4-methylumbelliferyl β-D-glucuronide substrate. The promoters pBdEF1α and pBdUBI10 were constitutively and highly active in maize, whereas pBdGLU1 was clearly endosperm-specific, hence, expanding the toolbox for transgene analysis in maize. The data indicate that Brachypodium is an excellent resource for promoters for transgenic research in heterologous cereal species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pérez Guerra JC, Coussens G, De Keyser A, De Rycke R, De Bodt S, Van De Velde W, Goormachtig S, Holsters M. Comparison of developmental and stress-induced nodule senescence in Medicago truncatula. Plant Physiol 2010; 152:1574-84. [PMID: 20081044 PMCID: PMC2832273 DOI: 10.1104/pp.109.151399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Accepted: 01/13/2010] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Mature indeterminate Medicago truncatula nodules are zonated with an apical meristem, an infection zone, a fixation zone with nitrogen-fixing bacteroids, and a "developmental" senescence zone that follows nodule growth with a conical front originating in the center of the fixation zone. In nitrogen-fixing cells, senescence is initiated coincidently with the expression of a family of conserved cysteine proteases that might be involved in the degradation of symbiotic structures. Environmental stress, such as prolonged dark treatment, interferes with nodule functioning and triggers a fast and global nodule senescence. Developmental and dark stress-induced senescence have several different structural and expression features, suggesting at least partly divergent underlying molecular mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marcelle Holsters
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, and Department of Plant Biotechnology and Genetics, Ghent University, B–9052 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Van Minnebruggen A, Neyt P, De Groeve S, Coussens G, Ponce MR, Micol JL, Van Lijsebettens M. The ang3 mutation identified the ribosomal protein gene RPL5B with a role in cell expansion during organ growth. Physiol Plant 2010; 138:91-101. [PMID: 19878482 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2009.01301.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The role of translation in the regulation of higher plant growth and development is not well understood. Mutational analysis is a powerful tool to identify and study the function of genes related to a biological process, such as growth. Here we analyzed functionally the angusta3 (ang3) narrow leaf mutant. The AG3 gene was cloned by fine mapping combined with candidate gene sequencing and it corresponded to the ribosomal protein gene RPL5B. Based on amino acid sequence homology, promoter DNA sequence homology and in silico gene expression analysis, RPL5B was found to be putatively functionally redundant with RPL5A. The morphological analysis of ang3 mutants showed that the leaf lamina area was significantly reduced from the third rosette leaf on, mainly because of decreased width. Cellular analysis of the abaxial epidermal cell layer of the third leaf indicated that the cell number in the mutant was similar to that of the wild type, but the cell size was significantly reduced. We postulate that the reduced cell expansion in the epidermis contributes to the narrow shape of ang3 leaves. Growth was also significantly impaired in hypocotyls and primary roots, hinting at a general role for RPL5B in organ growth, unrelated to dorsiventral axis formation. Comparison of the transcriptome of the shoot apices of the mutant and the wild type revealed a limited number of differentially expressed genes, such as MYB23 and MYB5, of which the lower expression in the ang3 mutant correlated with reduced trichome density. Our data suggest that translation is an important level of control of growth and development in plants.
Collapse
|