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Karimzadegan V, Koirala M, Sobhanverdi S, Merindol N, Majhi BB, Gélinas SE, Timokhin VI, Ralph J, Dastmalchi M, Desgagné-Penix I. Characterization of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (CYP73A) and p-coumaroyl 3'-hydroxylase (CYP98A) from Leucojum aestivum, a source of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Plant Physiol Biochem 2024; 210:108612. [PMID: 38598867 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Biosynthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AA) starts with the condensation of tyramine with 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. The latter derives from the phenylpropanoid pathway that involves modifications of trans-cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and possibly 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, all potentially catalyzed by hydroxylase enzymes. Leveraging bioinformatics, molecular biology techniques, and cell biology tools, this research identifies and characterizes key enzymes from the phenylpropanoid pathway in Leucojum aestivum. Notably, we focused our work on trans-cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (LaeC4H) and p-coumaroyl shikimate/quinate 3'-hydroxylase (LaeC3'H), two key cytochrome P450 enzymes, and on the ascorbate peroxidase/4-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (LaeAPX/C3H). Although LaeAPX/C3H consumed p-coumaric acid, it did not result in the production of caffeic acid. Yeasts expressing LaeC4H converted trans-cinnamate to p-coumaric acid, whereas LaeC3'H catalyzed specifically the 3-hydroxylation of p-coumaroyl shikimate, rather than of free p-coumaric acid or 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. In vivo assays conducted in planta in this study provided further evidence for the contribution of these enzymes to the phenylpropanoid pathway. Both enzymes demonstrated typical endoplasmic reticulum membrane localization in Nicotiana benthamiana adding spatial context to their functions. Tissue-specific gene expression analysis revealed roots as hotspots for phenylpropanoid-related transcripts and bulbs as hubs for AA biosynthetic genes, aligning with the highest AAs concentration. This investigation adds valuable insights into the phenylpropanoid pathway within Amaryllidaceae, laying the foundation for the development of sustainable production platforms for AAs and other bioactive compounds with diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Karimzadegan
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Manoj Koirala
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Sajjad Sobhanverdi
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Natacha Merindol
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Bharat Bhusan Majhi
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Sarah-Eve Gélinas
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Vitaliy I Timokhin
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI, 53726, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Mehran Dastmalchi
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabel Desgagné-Penix
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.
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Yoshioka K, Kim H, Lu F, De Ridder N, Vanholme R, Kajita S, Boerjan W, Ralph J. Hydroxycinnamaldehyde-derived benzofuran components in lignins. Plant Physiol 2024; 194:1370-1382. [PMID: 37773018 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Lignin is an abundant polymer in plant secondary cell walls. Prototypical lignins derive from the polymerization of monolignols (hydroxycinnamyl alcohols), mainly coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol, via combinatorial radical coupling reactions and primarily via the endwise coupling of a monomer with the phenolic end of the growing polymer. Hydroxycinnamaldehyde units have long been recognized as minor components of lignins. In plants deficient in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, the last enzyme in the monolignol biosynthesis pathway that reduces hydroxycinnamaldehydes to monolignols, chain-incorporated aldehyde unit levels are elevated. The nature and relative levels of aldehyde components in lignins can be determined from their distinct and dispersed correlations in 2D 1H-13C-correlated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. We recently became aware of aldehyde NMR peaks, well resolved from others, that had been overlooked. NMR of isolated low-molecular-weight oligomers from biomimetic radical coupling reactions involving coniferaldehyde revealed that the correlation peaks belonged to hydroxycinnamaldehyde-derived benzofuran moieties. Coniferaldehyde 8-5-coupling initially produces the expected phenylcoumaran structures, but the derived phenolic radicals undergo preferential disproportionation rather than radical coupling to extend the growing polymer. As a result, the hydroxycinnamaldehyde-derived phenylcoumaran units are difficult to detect in lignins, but the benzofurans are now readily observed by their distinct and dispersed correlations in the aldehyde region of NMR spectra from any lignin or monolignol dehydrogenation polymer. Hydroxycinnamaldehydes that are coupled to coniferaldehyde can be distinguished from those coupled with a generic guaiacyl end-unit. These benzofuran peaks may now be annotated and reported and their structural ramifications further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Yoshioka
- The US Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Hoon Kim
- The US Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Fachuang Lu
- The US Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Nette De Ridder
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 71, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 71, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Shinya Kajita
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 71, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- The US Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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3
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Hurricane OA, Callahan DA, Casey DT, Christopherson AR, Kritcher AL, Landen OL, Maclaren SA, Nora R, Patel PK, Ralph J, Schlossberg D, Springer PT, Young CV, Zylstra AB. Energy Principles of Scientific Breakeven in an Inertial Fusion Experiment. Phys Rev Lett 2024; 132:065103. [PMID: 38394600 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.065103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Fusion "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain G_{target}, total fusion energy out > laser energy input) has been achieved for the first time (here, G_{target}∼1.5). This Letter reports on the physics principles of the design changes that led to the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce target gain greater than unity and exceeded the previously obtained conditions needed for ignition by the Lawson criterion. Key elements of the success came from reducing "coast time" (the time duration between the end of the laser pulse and implosion peak compression) and maximizing the internal energy delivered to the "hot spot" (the yield producing part of the fusion fuel). The link between coast time and maximally efficient conversion of kinetic energy into internal energy is explained. The energetics consequences of asymmetry and hydrodynamic-induced mixing were part of high-yield big radius implosion design experimental and design strategy. Herein, it is shown how asymmetry and mixing consolidate into one key relationship. It is shown that mixing distills into a kinetic energy cost similar to the impact of implosion asymmetry, shifting the threshold for ignition to higher implosion kinetic energy-a factor not normally included in most statements of the generalized Lawson criterion, but the key needed modifications clearly emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- O A Hurricane
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - D A Callahan
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - D T Casey
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - A R Christopherson
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - A L Kritcher
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - O L Landen
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - S A Maclaren
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - R Nora
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - P K Patel
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - J Ralph
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - D Schlossberg
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - P T Springer
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - C V Young
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - A B Zylstra
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-472, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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Huang X, Wang W, Gong T, Wickell D, Kuo LY, Zhang X, Wen J, Kim H, Lu F, Zhao H, Chen S, Li H, Wu W, Yu C, Chen S, Fan W, Chen S, Bao X, Li L, Zhang D, Jiang L, Khadka D, Yan X, Liao Z, Zhou G, Guo Y, Ralph J, Sederoff RR, Wei H, Zhu P, Li FW, Ming R, Li Q. Author Correction: The flying spider-monkey tree fern genome provides insights into fern evolution and arborescence. Nat Plants 2024; 10:344. [PMID: 38307950 PMCID: PMC10881380 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01631-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wenling Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - David Wickell
- Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Li-Yaung Kuo
- Institute of Molecular & Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Xingtan Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jialong Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fachuang Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Hansheng Zhao
- State Forestry Administration Key Open Laboratory on the Science and Technology of Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China
| | - Song Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Changjiang Yu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Su Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiuqi Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Longyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dipak Khadka
- GoldenGate International College, Tribhuvan University, Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Xiaojing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyang Liao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gongke Zhou
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yalong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ronald R Sederoff
- Forest Biotechnology Group, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hairong Wei
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA.
| | - Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Fay-Wei Li
- Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Ray Ming
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Quanzi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
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5
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Lam LPY, Tobimatsu Y, Suzuki S, Tanaka T, Yamamoto S, Takeda-Kimura Y, Osakabe Y, Osakabe K, Ralph J, Bartley LE, Umezawa T. Disruption of p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferases in rice drastically alters lignin composition. Plant Physiol 2024; 194:832-848. [PMID: 37831082 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Grasses are abundant feedstocks that can supply lignocellulosic biomass for production of cell-wall-derived chemicals. In grass cell walls, lignin is acylated with p-coumarate. These p-coumarate decorations arise from the incorporation of monolignol p-coumarate conjugates during lignification. A previous biochemical study identified a rice (Oryza sativa) BAHD acyltransferase (AT) with p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase (PMT) activity in vitro. In this study, we determined that that enzyme, which we name OsPMT1 (also known as OsAT4), and the closely related OsPMT2 (OsAT3) harbor similar catalytic activity toward monolignols. We generated rice mutants deficient in either or both OsPMT1 and OsPMT2 by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis and subjected the mutants' cell walls to analysis using chemical and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Our results demonstrated that OsPMT1 and OsPMT2 both function in lignin p-coumaroylation in the major vegetative tissues of rice. Notably, lignin-bound p-coumarate units were undetectable in the ospmt1 ospmt2-2 double-knockout mutant. Further, in-depth structural analysis of purified lignins from the ospmt1 ospmt2-2 mutant compared with control lignins from wild-type rice revealed stark changes in polymer structures, including alterations in syringyl/guaiacyl aromatic unit ratios and inter-monomeric linkage patterns, and increased molecular weights. Our results provide insights into lignin polymerization in grasses that will be useful for the optimization of bioengineering approaches for the effective use of biomass in biorefineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Pui Ying Lam
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Center for Crossover Education, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, Akita, Akita 010-0852, Japan
| | - Yuki Tobimatsu
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Shiro Suzuki
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, and The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu 501-1193Japan
| | - Takuto Tanaka
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Senri Yamamoto
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yuri Takeda-Kimura
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yuriko Osakabe
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502Japan
| | - Keishi Osakabe
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University,Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503Japan
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, and the U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Laura E Bartley
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Toshiaki Umezawa
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
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Chen M, Ralph J, Luterbacher JS, Shi QS, Xie X. Selecting Suitable Near-Native Lignins for Research. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:20751-20761. [PMID: 38065961 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
There are several methods to isolate near-native lignins, including milled-wood lignin, enzymatic lignin, cellulolytic enzyme lignin, and enzymatic mild-acidolysis lignin. Which one is the most representative of the native lignin? Herein, near-native lignins were isolated from different plant groups and structurally analyzed to determine how well these lignins represented their native lignin counterparts. Analytical methods were applied to understand the molecular weight, monomer composition, and distribution of interunit linkages in the structure of the lignins. The results indicated that either enzymatic lignin or cellulolytic enzyme lignin may be used to represent native lignin in softwoods and hardwoods. None of the lignins, however, appeared to represent native lignins in grasses (monocot plants) because of substantial syringyl/guaiacyl differences. Complicating the understanding of grass lignin structure, large amounts of hydroxycinnamates acylate their polysaccharides and, when released, are often conflated with actual lignin monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application (MARA), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome (MARA), State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, People's Republic of China
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Jeremy S Luterbacher
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Qing-Shan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application (MARA), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome (MARA), State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobao Xie
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application (MARA), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome (MARA), State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, People's Republic of China
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7
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Casey D, MacGowan B, Hurricane O, Landen O, Nora R, Haan S, Kritcher A, Zylstra A, Ralph J, Dewald E, Hohenberger M, Pak A, Springer P, Weber C, Milovich J, Divol L, Hartouni E, Bionta R, Hahn K, Schlossberg D, Moore A, Gatu Johnson M. Diagnosing the origin and impact of low-mode asymmetries in ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:L053203. [PMID: 38115512 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.l053203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Inertial confinement fusion ignition requires high inflight shell velocity, good energy coupling between the hotspot and shell, and high areal density at peak compression. Three-dimensional asymmetries caused by imperfections in the drive symmetry or target can grow and damage the coupling and confinement. Recent high-yield experiments have shown that low-mode asymmetries are a key degradation mechanism and contribute to variability. We show the experimental signatures and impacts of asymmetry change with increasing implosion yield given the same initial cause. This letter has implications for improving robustness to a key degradation in ignition experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Casey
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - B MacGowan
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - O Hurricane
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - O Landen
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - R Nora
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - S Haan
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - A Kritcher
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - A Zylstra
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - J Ralph
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - E Dewald
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - M Hohenberger
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - A Pak
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - P Springer
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - C Weber
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - J Milovich
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - L Divol
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - E Hartouni
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - R Bionta
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - K Hahn
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - D Schlossberg
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - A Moore
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - M Gatu Johnson
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, 02139 Massachusetts, USA
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8
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Takasuka TE, Kim H, Deng K, Bianchetti CM, Yamashita K, Beebe ET, Bergeman LF, Vander Meulen KA, Deutsch S, Ralph J, Adams PD, Northen TR, Fox BG. Quantitative Analysis of The High-Yield Hydrolysis of Kelp by Laminarinase and Alginate Lyase. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300357. [PMID: 37402642 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Kelp is an abundant, farmable biomass-containing laminarin and alginate as major polysaccharides, providing an excellent model substrate to study their deconstruction by simple enzyme mixtures. Our previous study showed strong reactivity of the glycoside hydrolase family 55 during hydrolysis of purified laminarin, raising the question of its reactivity with intact kelp. In this study, we determined that a combination of a single glycoside hydrolase family 55 β-1,3-exoglucanase with a broad-specificity alginate lyase from the polysaccharide lyase family 18 gives efficient hydrolysis of untreated kelp to a mixture of simple sugars, that is, glucose, gentiobiose, mannitol-end glucose, and mannuronic and guluronic acids and their soluble oligomers. Quantitative assignments from nanostructure initiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) and 2D HSQC NMR spectroscopy and analysis of the reaction time-course are provided. The data suggest that binary combinations of enzymes targeted to the unique polysaccharide composition of marine biomass are sufficient to deconstruct kelp into soluble sugars for microbial fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi E Takasuka
- Research Faculty of Agriculture and, Graduate School of Global Food Resources, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Global Station for Food, Land and Water Resources, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Hoon Kim
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Present address: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Kai Deng
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomanufacturing, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA 94551, USA
- US Department of Energy Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA94608, USA
| | - Christopher M Bianchetti
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kaho Yamashita
- Research Faculty of Agriculture and, Graduate School of Global Food Resources, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Emily T Beebe
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Lai F Bergeman
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Kirk A Vander Meulen
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Samuel Deutsch
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomanufacturing, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA 94551, USA
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Paul D Adams
- US Department of Energy Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA94608, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Trent R Northen
- US Department of Energy Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA94608, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Brian G Fox
- Global Station for Food, Land and Water Resources, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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9
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Neeteson AM, Avendaño S, Koerhuis A, Duggan B, Souza E, Mason J, Ralph J, Rohlf P, Burnside T, Kranis A, Bailey R. Evolutions in Commercial Meat Poultry Breeding. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3150. [PMID: 37835756 PMCID: PMC10571742 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the history of commercial poultry breeding, from domestication to the development of science and commercial breeding structures. The development of breeding goals over time, from mainly focusing on production to broad goals, including bird welfare and health, robustness, environmental impact, biological efficiency and reproduction, is detailed. The paper outlines current breeding goals, including traits (e.g., on foot and leg health, contact dermatitis, gait, cardiovascular health, robustness and livability), recording techniques, their genetic basis and how trait these antagonisms, for example, between welfare and production, are managed. Novel areas like genomic selection and gut health research and their current and potential impact on breeding are highlighted. The environmental impact differences of various genotypes are explained. A future outlook shows that balanced, holistic breeding will continue to enable affordable lean animal protein to feed the world, with a focus on the welfare of the birds and a diversity of choice for the various preferences and cultures across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Santiago Avendaño
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Alfons Koerhuis
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| | | | - Eduardo Souza
- Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL 35805, USA; (E.S.); (J.M.)
| | - James Mason
- Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL 35805, USA; (E.S.); (J.M.)
| | - John Ralph
- Aviagen Turkeys Ltd., Tattenhall CH3 9GA, UK;
| | - Paige Rohlf
- Aviagen Turkeys Inc., Lewisburg, WV 24901, USA;
| | - Tim Burnside
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Andreas Kranis
- Aviagen Ltd., Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (B.D.); or (A.K.)
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Richard Bailey
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
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10
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Ralph J, Tierney E, McCafferty B, Ghaznain M, McDermott S, McKenna D. Do images affect the triage status of pigmented lesion referrals. Ir Med J 2023; 116:839. [PMID: 37791812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
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11
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Peng X, Tong B, Lee J, Wang K, Yu X, Huang X, Wen J, Makarem M, Pang H, Hinjan S, Yan X, Yao S, Lu F, Wang B, Peng F, Ralph J, Kim SH, Sederoff RR, Li Q. Overexpression of a gibberellin 20-oxidase gene in poplar xylem led to an increase in the size of nanocellulose fibrils and improved paper properties. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 314:120959. [PMID: 37173053 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cellulose, the major component of secondary cell walls, is the most abundant renewable long-chain polymer on earth. Nanocellulose has become a prominent nano-reinforcement agent for polymer matrices in various industries. We report the generation of transgenic hybrid poplar overexpressing the Arabidopsis gibberellin 20-oxidase1 gene driven by a xylem-specific promoter to increase gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis in wood. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and sum frequency generation spectroscopic (SFG) analyses showed that cellulose in transgenic trees was less crystalline, but the crystal size was larger. The nanocellulose fibrils prepared from transgenic wood had an increased size compared to those from wild type. When such fibrils were used as a reinforcing agent in sheet paper preparation, the mechanical strength of the paper was significantly enhanced. Engineering the GA pathway can therefore affect nanocellulose properties, providing a new strategy for expanding nanocellulose applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Botong Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jongcheol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kun Wang
- College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaojuan Yu
- College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Jialong Wen
- College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Mohamadamin Makarem
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hongying Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Subin Hinjan
- Bangkok Cordyceps Co., Ltd, Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12130, Thailand
| | - Xiaojing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Shuangquan Yao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Fachuang Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Baichen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Photosynthesis Research Center, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Feng Peng
- College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Seong H Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Ronald R Sederoff
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Forest Biotechnology Group, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Quanzi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
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12
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Muro-Villanueva F, Pysh LD, Kim H, Bouse T, Ralph J, Luo Z, Cooper BR, Jannasch AS, Zhang Z, Gu C, Chapple C. Pinoresinol rescues developmental phenotypes of Arabidopsis phenylpropanoid mutants overexpressing FERULATE 5-HYDROXYLASE. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216543120. [PMID: 37487096 PMCID: PMC10401026 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216543120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Most phenylpropanoid pathway flux is directed toward the production of monolignols, but this pathway also generates multiple bioactive metabolites. The monolignols coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol polymerize to form guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units in lignin, components that are characteristic of plant secondary cell walls. Lignin negatively impacts the saccharification potential of lignocellulosic biomass. Although manipulation of its content and composition through genetic engineering has reduced biomass recalcitrance, in some cases, these genetic manipulations lead to impaired growth. The reduced-growth phenotype is often attributed to poor water transport due to xylem collapse in low-lignin mutants, but alternative models suggest that it could be caused by the hyper- or hypoaccumulation of phenylpropanoid intermediates. In Arabidopsis thaliana, overexpression of FERULATE 5-HYDROXYLASE (F5H) shifts the normal G/S lignin ratio to nearly pure S lignin and does not result in substantial changes to plant growth. In contrast, when we overexpressed F5H in the low-lignin mutants cinnamyl dehydrogenase c and d (cadc cadd), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase 1, and reduced epidermal fluorescence 3, plant growth was severely compromised. In addition, cadc cadd plants overexpressing F5H exhibited defects in lateral root development. Exogenous coniferyl alcohol (CA) and its dimeric coupling product, pinoresinol, rescue these phenotypes. These data suggest that mutations in the phenylpropanoid pathway limit the biosynthesis of pinoresinol, and this effect is exacerbated by overexpression of F5H, which further draws down cellular pools of its precursor, CA. Overall, these genetic manipulations appear to restrict the synthesis of pinoresinol or a downstream metabolite that is necessary for plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Muro-Villanueva
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | | | - Hoon Kim
- US Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI53726
| | - Tyler Bouse
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI53726
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Zhiwei Luo
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Bruce R. Cooper
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Amber S. Jannasch
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Chong Gu
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Clint Chapple
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
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13
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Chen M, Li Y, Lu F, Luterbacher JS, Ralph J. Lignin Hydrogenolysis: Phenolic Monomers from Lignin and Associated Phenolates across Plant Clades. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2023; 11:10001-10017. [PMID: 37448721 PMCID: PMC10337261 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c01320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The chemical complexity of lignin remains a major challenge for lignin valorization into commodity and fine chemicals. A knowledge of the lignin features that favor its valorization and which plants produce such lignins can be used in plant selection or to engineer them to produce lignins that are more ideally suited for conversion. Sixteen biomass samples were compositionally surveyed by NMR and analytical degradative methods, and the yields of phenolic monomers following hydrogenolytic depolymerization were assessed to elucidate the key determinants controlling the depolymerization. Hardwoods, including those incorporating monolignol p-hydroxybenzoates into their syringyl/guaiacyl copolymeric lignins, produced high monomer yields by hydrogenolysis, whereas grasses incorporating monolignol p-coumarates and ferulates gave lower yields, on a lignin basis. Softwoods, with their more condensed guaiacyl lignins, gave the lowest yields. Lignins with a high syringyl unit content released elevated monomer levels, with a high-syringyl polar transgenic being particularly striking. Herein, we distinguish phenolic monomers resulting from the core lignin vs those from pendent phenolate esters associated with the biomass cell wall, acylating either polysaccharides or lignins. The basis for these observations is rationalized as a means to select or engineer biomass for optimal conversion to worthy phenolic monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Chen
- Department
of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, United States
| | - Yanding Li
- Department
of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, United States
| | - Fachuang Lu
- Department
of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, United States
| | - Jeremy S. Luterbacher
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - John Ralph
- Department
of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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14
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Brouckaert M, Peng M, Höfer R, El Houari I, Darrah C, Storme V, Saeys Y, Vanholme R, Goeminne G, Timokhin VI, Ralph J, Morreel K, Boerjan W. QT-GWAS: A novel method for unveiling biosynthetic loci affecting qualitative metabolic traits. Mol Plant 2023; 16:1212-1227. [PMID: 37349988 PMCID: PMC7614782 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Although the plant kingdom provides an enormous diversity of metabolites with potentially beneficial applications for humankind, a large fraction of these metabolites and their biosynthetic pathways remain unknown. Resolving metabolite structures and their biosynthetic pathways is key to gaining biological understanding and to allow metabolic engineering. In order to retrieve novel biosynthetic genes involved in specialized metabolism, we developed a novel untargeted method designated as qualitative trait GWAS (QT-GWAS) that subjects qualitative metabolic traits to a genome-wide association study, while the conventional metabolite GWAS (mGWAS) mainly considers the quantitative variation of metabolites. As a proof of the validity of QT-GWAS, 23 and 15 of the retrieved associations identified in Arabidopsis thaliana by QT-GWAS and mGWAS, respectively, were supported by previous research. Furthermore, seven gene-metabolite associations retrieved by QT-GWAS were confirmed in this study through reverse genetics combined with metabolomics and/or in vitro enzyme assays. As such, we established that CYTOCHROME P450 706A5 (CYP706A5) is involved in the biosynthesis of chroman derivatives, UDP-GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASE 76C3 (UGT76C3) is able to hexosylate guanine in vitro and in planta, and SULFOTRANSFERASE 202B1 (SULT202B1) catalyzes the sulfation of neolignans in vitro. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the untargeted QT-GWAS method can retrieve valid gene-metabolite associations at the level of enzyme-encoding genes, even new associations that cannot be found by the conventional mGWAS, providing a new approach for dissecting qualitative metabolic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Brouckaert
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Meng Peng
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - René Höfer
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ilias El Houari
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chiarina Darrah
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Véronique Storme
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yvan Saeys
- Ghent University, Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Goeminne
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Metabolomics Core, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vitaliy I Timokhin
- Department of Biochemistry, and US Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, and US Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kris Morreel
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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15
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Li H, Kang X, Yang M, Kasseney BD, Zhou X, Liang S, Zhang X, Wen JL, Yu B, Liu N, Zhao Y, Mo J, Currie CR, Ralph J, Yelle DJ. Molecular insights into the evolution of woody plant decay in the gut of termites. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadg1258. [PMID: 37224258 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant cell walls represent the most abundant pool of organic carbon in terrestrial ecosystems but are highly recalcitrant to utilization by microbes and herbivores owing to the physical and chemical barrier provided by lignin biopolymers. Termites are a paradigmatic example of an organism's having evolved the ability to substantially degrade lignified woody plants, yet atomic-scale characterization of lignin depolymerization by termites remains elusive. We report that the phylogenetically derived termite Nasutitermes sp. efficiently degrades lignin via substantial depletion of major interunit linkages and methoxyls by combining isotope-labeled feeding experiments and solution-state and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Exploring the evolutionary origin of lignin depolymerization in termites, we reveal that the early-diverging woodroach Cryptocercus darwini has limited capability in degrading lignocellulose, leaving most polysaccharides intact. Conversely, the phylogenetically basal lineages of "lower" termites are able to disrupt the lignin-polysaccharide inter- and intramolecular bonding while leaving lignin largely intact. These findings advance knowledge on the elusive but efficient delignification in natural systems with implications for next-generation ligninolytic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xue Kang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengyi Yang
- Xiaoshan Management Center of Termite Control, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Housing Security and Real Estate Management Service Center, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Boris Dodji Kasseney
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, 1BP1515 Lomé, Togo
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Shiyou Liang
- Agricultural Information Center of Pingyang, Renmin Road 71, Wenzhou 325400, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhang
- Quzhou Management Center of Termite Control, Quzhou Housing Security and Real Estate Management Service Center, Quzhou 311200, China
| | - Jia-Long Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing, Haidian District 100083, China
| | - Baoting Yu
- National Termite Control Center of China, Moganshan Road 695, Hangzhou 310011, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yufen Zhao
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianchu Mo
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cameron R Currie
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53706, USA
- David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53706, USA
| | - Daniel J Yelle
- US Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, Madison, WI 53726, USA
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16
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Chaudhury D, Torkelson ER, Meyers KA, Acheson JF, Landucci L, Pu Y, Sun Z, Tonelli M, Bingman CA, Smith RA, Karlen SD, Mansfield SD, Ralph J, Fox BG. Rapid Biocatalytic Synthesis of Aromatic Acid CoA Thioesters by Using Microbial Aromatic Acid CoA Ligases. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300001. [PMID: 36821718 PMCID: PMC10467583 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Chemically labile ester linkages can be introduced into lignin by incorporation of monolignol conjugates, which are synthesized in planta by acyltransferases that use a coenzyme A (CoA) thioester donor and a nucleophilic monolignol alcohol acceptor. The presence of these esters facilitates processing and aids in the valorization of renewable biomass feedstocks. However, the effectiveness of this strategy is potentially limited by the low steady-state levels of aromatic acid thioester donors in plants. As part of an effort to overcome this, aromatic acid CoA ligases involved in microbial aromatic degradation were identified and screened against a broad panel of substituted cinnamic and benzoic acids involved in plant lignification. Functional fingerprinting of this ligase library identified four robust, highly active enzymes capable of facile, rapid, and high-yield synthesis of aromatic acid CoA thioesters under mild aqueous reaction conditions mimicking in planta activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debayan Chaudhury
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ella R Torkelson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Kaya A Meyers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Justin F Acheson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Leta Landucci
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Yucen Pu
- Department of Botany and Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Zimou Sun
- Department of Botany and Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Marco Tonelli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Craig A Bingman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Rebecca A Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Steven D Karlen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Shawn D Mansfield
- Department of Botany and Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Brian G Fox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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17
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Lankiewicz TS, Choudhary H, Gao Y, Amer B, Lillington SP, Leggieri PA, Brown JL, Swift CL, Lipzen A, Na H, Amirebrahimi M, Theodorou MK, Baidoo EEK, Barry K, Grigoriev IV, Timokhin VI, Gladden J, Singh S, Mortimer JC, Ralph J, Simmons BA, Singer SW, O'Malley MA. Lignin deconstruction by anaerobic fungi. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:596-610. [PMID: 36894634 PMCID: PMC10066034 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01336-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulose forms plant cell walls, and its three constituent polymers, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, represent the largest renewable organic carbon pool in the terrestrial biosphere. Insights into biological lignocellulose deconstruction inform understandings of global carbon sequestration dynamics and provide inspiration for biotechnologies seeking to address the current climate crisis by producing renewable chemicals from plant biomass. Organisms in diverse environments disassemble lignocellulose, and carbohydrate degradation processes are well defined, but biological lignin deconstruction is described only in aerobic systems. It is currently unclear whether anaerobic lignin deconstruction is impossible because of biochemical constraints or, alternatively, has not yet been measured. We applied whole cell-wall nuclear magnetic resonance, gel-permeation chromatography and transcriptome sequencing to interrogate the apparent paradox that anaerobic fungi (Neocallimastigomycetes), well-documented lignocellulose degradation specialists, are unable to modify lignin. We find that Neocallimastigomycetes anaerobically break chemical bonds in grass and hardwood lignins, and we further associate upregulated gene products with the observed lignocellulose deconstruction. These findings alter perceptions of lignin deconstruction by anaerobes and provide opportunities to advance decarbonization biotechnologies that depend on depolymerizing lignocellulose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Lankiewicz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Hemant Choudhary
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomanufacturing, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Yu Gao
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bashar Amer
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Stephen P Lillington
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Patrick A Leggieri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Brown
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Candice L Swift
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Anna Lipzen
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hyunsoo Na
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mojgan Amirebrahimi
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael K Theodorou
- Department of Agriculture and Environment, Harper Adams University, Newport, UK
| | - Edward E K Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kerrie Barry
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - John Gladden
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomanufacturing, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Seema Singh
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomanufacturing, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Jenny C Mortimer
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - John Ralph
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Blake A Simmons
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Steven W Singer
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.
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18
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Kim H, Rencoret J, Elder TJ, del Río JC, Ralph J. Biomimetic oxidative copolymerization of hydroxystilbenes and monolignols. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eade5519. [PMID: 36888720 PMCID: PMC9995074 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade5519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxystilbenes are a class of polyphenolic compounds that behave as lignin monomers participating in radical coupling reactions during the lignification. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of various artificial copolymers of monolignols and hydroxystilbenes, as well as low-molecular-mass compounds, to obtain the mechanistic insights into their incorporation into the lignin polymer. Integrating the hydroxystilbenes, resveratrol and piceatannol, into monolignol polymerization in vitro, using horseradish peroxidase to generate phenolic radicals, produced synthetic lignins [dehydrogenation polymers (DHPs)]. Copolymerization of hydroxystilbenes with monolignols, especially sinapyl alcohol, by in vitro peroxidases notably improved the reactivity of monolignols and resulted in substantial yields of synthetic lignin polymers. The resulting DHPs were analyzed using two-dimensional NMR and 19 synthesized model compounds to confirm the presence of hydroxystilbene structures in the lignin polymer. The cross-coupled DHPs confirmed both resveratrol and piceatannol as authentic monomers participating in the oxidative radical coupling reactions during polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoon Kim
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Jorge Rencoret
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avenida de la Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Thomas J. Elder
- USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station 521 Devall Dr. Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - José C. del Río
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avenida de la Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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19
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Witvrouw K, Kim H, Vanholme R, Goeminne G, Ralph J, Boerjan W, Vanholme B. Reassessing the claimed cytokinin-substituting activity of dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2123301120. [PMID: 36827261 PMCID: PMC9992782 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123301120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside (DCG) is a phenylpropanoid-derived plant metabolite with reported cytokinin-substituting and cell-division-promoting activity. Despite its claimed activity, DCG did not trigger morphological changes in Arabidopsis seedlings nor did it alter transcriptional shifts in cell division and cytokinin-responsive genes. In reinvestigating the bioactivity of DCG in its original setting, the previously described stimulation of tobacco callus formation could not be confirmed. No evidence was found that DCG is actually taken up by plant cells, which could explain the absence of any observable activity in the performed experiments. The DCG content in plant tissue increased when feeding explants with the DCG aglycone dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, which is readily taken up and converted to DCG by plant cells. Despite the increased DCG content, no activity for this metabolite could be demonstrated. Our results therefore demand a reevaluation of the often-quoted cytokinin-substituting and cell-division-promoting activity that has previously been attributed to this metabolite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaas Witvrouw
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, GhentB-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, GhentB-9052, Belgium
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53706
- The U.S. Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53726
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, GhentB-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, GhentB-9052, Belgium
| | - Geert Goeminne
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, GhentB-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, GhentB-9052, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, GhentB-9052, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53706
- The U.S. Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53726
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, GhentB-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, GhentB-9052, Belgium
| | - Bartel Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, GhentB-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, GhentB-9052, Belgium
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20
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Wang Y, Chen M, Yang Y, Ralph J, Pan X. Efficient O-demethylation of lignin-derived aromatic compounds under moderate conditions. RSC Adv 2023; 13:5925-5932. [PMID: 36816077 PMCID: PMC9936356 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra00245d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lignin is a potential feedstock to produce renewable aromatic chemicals. However, lignin-derived aromatics are heavily methoxylated, which affects their reactivity in some downstream valorization attempts. Herein, we report an efficient method for the demethylation of the aromatics derived from lignin depolymerization using acidic concentrated lithium bromide (ACLB) under moderate conditions (e.g., 1.5 M HCl, 110 °C, and 2 h). Aromatics with one or two methoxy groups (G-type and S-type), alkyl hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, and electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents were used to investigate the demethylation mechanisms. S-type aromatics were demethylated faster than their G-type analogs. Alkyl hydroxyl groups were brominated under the conditions. Carbonyl groups (aldehydes and ketones) promoted unwelcome condensation. Electron-donating substituents promoted demethylation, whereas electron-withdrawing substituents retarded the demethylation. An ortho-carboxylic group enhanced the demethylation because of the formation of a stable intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqing Wang
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison 460 Henry Mall Madison WI 53706 USA
| | - Mingjie Chen
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI 53726USA
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison1101 University AvenueMadisonWI 53706USA
| | - John Ralph
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI 53726USA
| | - Xuejun Pan
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison 460 Henry Mall Madison WI 53706 USA
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21
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Hellinger J, Kim H, Ralph J, Karlen SD. p-Coumaroylation of lignin occurs outside of commelinid monocots in the eudicot genus Morus (mulberry). Plant Physiol 2023; 191:854-861. [PMID: 36269202 PMCID: PMC9922387 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence of p-coumarate (pCA) in plant cell walls is generally considered to be a trait present only in commelinid monocots. Here, we show that this long-held overgeneralizing assumption is incorrect and that mulberry trees (Morus) are eudicot plants that have lignins derived in part from monolignol pCA esters. As in commelinid monocots, the lignin-bound pCA acylates the sidechain γ-hydroxyl of both coniferyl and syringyl units. This discovery expands mulberry's potential applications to include being a source of p-coumaric acid, a supplier of nutritious berries, a forage crop, a decorative plant, and the main food source for silkworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hellinger
- Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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22
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Shafiei R, Hooper M, McClellan C, Oakey H, Stephens J, Lapierre C, Tsuji Y, Goeminne G, Vanholme R, Boerjan W, Ralph J, Halpin C. Downregulation of barley ferulate 5-hydroxylase dramatically alters straw lignin structure without impact on mechanical properties. Front Plant Sci 2023; 13:1125003. [PMID: 36726680 PMCID: PMC9886061 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1125003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Barley is a major cereal crop for temperate climates, and a diploid genetic model for polyploid wheat. Cereal straw biomass is an attractive source of feedstock for green technologies but lignin, a key determinant of feedstock recalcitrance, complicates bio-conversion processes. However, manipulating lignin content to improve the conversion process could negatively affect agronomic traits. An alternative approach is to manipulate lignin composition which influences the physical and chemical properties of straw. This study validates the function of a barley ferulate 5-hydroxylase gene and demonstrates that its downregulation using the RNA-interference approach substantially impacts lignin composition. We identified five barley genes having putative ferulate 5-hydroxylase activity. Downregulation of HvF5H1 substantially reduced the lignin syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio in straw while the lignin content, straw mechanical properties, plant growth habit, and grain characteristics all remained unaffected. Metabolic profiling revealed significant changes in the abundance of 173 features in the HvF5H1-RNAi lines. The drastic changes in the lignin polymer of transgenic lines highlight the plasticity of barley lignification processes and the associated potential for manipulating and improving lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for green technologies. On the other hand, our results highlight some differences between the lignin biosynthetic pathway in barley, a temperate climate grass, and the warm climate grass, rice, and underscore potential diversity in the lignin biosynthetic pathways in grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Shafiei
- Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Hooper
- Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher McClellan
- Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Helena Oakey
- Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jennifer Stephens
- Cell And Molecular Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yukiko Tsuji
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent, Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent, Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Claire Halpin
- Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom
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23
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Dong X, Mayes HB, Morreel K, Katahira R, Li Y, Ralph J, Black BA, Beckham GT. Energy-Resolved Mass Spectrometry as a Tool for Identification of Lignin Depolymerization Products. ChemSusChem 2023; 16:e202201441. [PMID: 36197743 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202201441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lignin is the largest source of bio-based aromatic compounds in nature, and its valorization is essential to the sustainability of lignocellulosic biorefining. Characterizing lignin-derived compounds remains challenging due to the heterogeneity of this biopolymer. Tandem mass spectrometry is a promising tool for lignin structural analytics, as fragmentation patterns of model compounds can be extrapolated to identify characteristic moieties in complex samples. This work extended previous resonance excitation-type collision-induced dissociation (CID) methods that identified lignin oligomers containing β-O-4, β-5, and β-β bonds, to also identify characteristics of 5-5, β-1, and 4-O-5 dimers, enabled by quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) CID with energy-resolved mass spectrometry (ERMS). Overall, QTOF-ERMS offers in-depth structural information and could ultimately contribute to tools for high-throughput lignin dimer identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueming Dong
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Heather B Mayes
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Kris Morreel
- RIC Group, President Kennedypark 26, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Rui Katahira
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Yanding Li
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Brenna A Black
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Gregg T Beckham
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA
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24
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Mottiar Y, Smith RA, Karlen SD, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. Evolution of p-coumaroylated lignin in eudicots provides new tools for cell wall engineering. New Phytol 2023; 237:251-264. [PMID: 36196006 PMCID: PMC10099755 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ester-linked p-coumarate (pCA) is a hallmark feature of the secondary cell walls in commelinid monocot plants. It has been shown that pCA groups arise during lignin polymerisation from the participation of monolignol conjugates assembled by p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase (PMT) enzymes, members of the BAHD superfamily of acyltransferases. Herein, we report that a eudicot species, kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), naturally contains p-coumaroylated lignin in the core tissues of the stems but not in the bast fibres. Moreover, we identified a novel acyltransferase, HcPMT, that shares <30% amino acid identity with known monocot PMT sequences. Recombinant HcPMT showed a preference in enzyme assays for p-coumaroyl-CoA and benzoyl-CoA as acyl donor substrates and sinapyl alcohol as an acyl acceptor. Heterologous expression of HcPMT in hybrid poplar trees led to the incorporation of pCA in lignin, but no improvement in the saccharification potential of the wood. This work illustrates the value in mining diverse plant taxa for new monolignol acyltransferases. Furthermore, the occurrence of pCA outside monocot lineages may represent another example of convergent evolution in lignin structure. This discovery expands textbook views on cell wall biochemistry and provides a new molecular tool for engineering the lignin of biomass feedstock plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaseen Mottiar
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Rebecca A. Smith
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Steven D. Karlen
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Shawn D. Mansfield
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BotanyUniversity of British Columbia6270 University BoulevardVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
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25
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Mottiar Y, Karlen SD, Goacher RE, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. Metabolic engineering of p-hydroxybenzoate in poplar lignin. Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21:176-188. [PMID: 36161690 PMCID: PMC9829402 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ester-linked p-hydroxybenzoate occurs naturally in poplar lignin as pendent groups that can be released by mild alkaline hydrolysis. These 'clip-off' phenolics can be separated from biomass and upgraded into diverse high-value bioproducts. We introduced a bacterial chorismate pyruvate lyase gene into transgenic poplar trees with the aim of producing more p-hydroxybenzoate from chorismate, itself a metabolic precursor to lignin. By driving heterologous expression specifically in the plastids of cells undergoing secondary wall formation, this strategy achieved a 50% increase in cell-wall-bound p-hydroxybenzoate in mature wood and nearly 10 times more in developing xylem relative to control trees. Comparable amounts also remained as soluble p-hydroxybenzoate-containing xylem metabolites, pointing to even greater engineering potential. Mass spectrometry imaging showed that the elevated p-hydroxybenzoylation was largely restricted to the cell walls of fibres. Finally, transgenic lines outperformed control trees in assays of saccharification potential. This study highlights the biotech potential of cell-wall-bound phenolate esters and demonstrates the importance of substrate supply in lignin engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaseen Mottiar
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
| | - Steven D. Karlen
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
| | - Robyn E. Goacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and PhysicsNiagara UniversityNorth TonawandaNYUSA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWIUSA
| | - Shawn D. Mansfield
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
- Department of BotanyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
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Muro-Villanueva F, Kim H, Ralph J, Chapple C. H-lignin can be deposited independently of CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE C and D in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 2022; 189:2015-2028. [PMID: 35522042 PMCID: PMC9342963 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Lignin contributes substantially to the recalcitrance of biomass toward saccharification. To circumvent this problem, researchers have genetically altered lignin, although, in a number of cases, these efforts have resulted in an undesirable yield penalty. Recent findings have shown that by knocking out two subunits (MED5A and MED5B) of the transcriptional regulatory complex Mediator, the stunted growth phenotype of mutants in p-coumaroyl shikimate 3'-hydroxylase, reduced epidermal fluorescence 8-1 (ref8-1), can be alleviated. Furthermore, these plants synthesize a lignin polymer almost entirely derived from p-coumaryl alcohol. Plants deficient in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) are notable in that they primarily incorporate coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde into their lignin. We tested the hypothesis that by stacking mutations in the genes encoding for the CAD paralogs C and D on an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) med5a/5b ref8-1 genetic background, the biosynthesis of p-coumaryl alcohol would be blocked, making p-coumaraldehyde available for polymerization into a novel kind of lignin. The med5a/5b ref8-1 cadc cadd plants are viable, but lignin analysis demonstrated that they continue to synthesize p-hydroxyphenyl lignin despite being mutated for the CADs typically considered to be required for monolignol biosynthesis. In addition, enzyme activity tests showed that even in the absence of CADC and CADD, there is high CAD activity in stems. We tested the potential involvement of other CADs in p-coumaraldehyde biosynthesis in the quintuple mutant by mutating them using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Lignin analysis demonstrated that the resulting hextuple mutant plants continue to deposit p-coumaryl alcohol-derived lignin, demonstrating a route for the synthesis of p-hydroxyphenyl lignin in Arabidopsis independent of four CAD isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Muro-Villanueva
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Hoon Kim
- US Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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Hoengenaert L, Wouters M, Kim H, De Meester B, Morreel K, Vandersyppe S, Pollier J, Desmet S, Goeminne G, Ralph J, Boerjan W, Vanholme R. Overexpression of the scopoletin biosynthetic pathway enhances lignocellulosic biomass processing. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabo5738. [PMID: 35857515 PMCID: PMC9278857 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo5738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lignin is the main factor limiting the enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars. To reduce the recalcitrance engendered by the lignin polymer, the coumarin scopoletin was incorporated into the lignin polymer through the simultaneous expression of FERULOYL-CoA 6'-HYDROXYLASE 1 (F6'H1) and COUMARIN SYNTHASE (COSY) in lignifying cells in Arabidopsis. The transgenic lines overproduced scopoletin and incorporated it into the lignin polymer, without adversely affecting plant growth. About 3.3% of the lignin units in the transgenic lines were derived from scopoletin, thereby exceeding the levels of the traditional p-hydroxyphenyl units. Saccharification efficiency of alkali-pretreated scopoletin-overproducing lines was 40% higher than for wild type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Hoengenaert
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marlies Wouters
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and U.S. Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Barbara De Meester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Morreel
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Vandersyppe
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandrien Desmet
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Goeminne
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and U.S. Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
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De Meester B, Oyarce P, Vanholme R, Van Acker R, Tsuji Y, Vangeel T, Van den Bosch S, Van Doorsselaere J, Sels B, Ralph J, Boerjan W. Engineering Curcumin Biosynthesis in Poplar Affects Lignification and Biomass Yield. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:943349. [PMID: 35860528 PMCID: PMC9289561 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.943349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass is recalcitrant toward deconstruction into simple sugars mainly due to the presence of lignin. By engineering plants to partially replace traditional lignin monomers with alternative ones, lignin degradability and extractability can be enhanced. Previously, the alternative monomer curcumin has been successfully produced and incorporated into lignified cell walls of Arabidopsis by the heterologous expression of DIKETIDE-CoA SYNTHASE (DCS) and CURCUMIN SYNTHASE2 (CURS2). The resulting transgenic plants did not suffer from yield penalties and had an increased saccharification yield after alkaline pretreatment. Here, we translated this strategy into the bio-energy crop poplar. Via the heterologous expression of DCS and CURS2 under the control of the secondary cell wall CELLULOSE SYNTHASE A8-B promoter (ProCesA8-B), curcumin was also produced and incorporated into the lignified cell walls of poplar. ProCesA8-B:DCS_CURS2 transgenic poplars, however, suffered from shoot-tip necrosis and yield penalties. Compared to that of the wild-type (WT), the wood of transgenic poplars had 21% less cellulose, 28% more matrix polysaccharides, 23% more lignin and a significantly altered lignin composition. More specifically, ProCesA8-B:DCS_CURS2 lignin had a reduced syringyl/guaiacyl unit (S/G) ratio, an increased frequency of p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units, a decreased frequency of p-hydroxybenzoates and a higher fraction of phenylcoumaran units. Without, or with alkaline or hot water pretreatment, the saccharification efficiency of the transgenic lines was equal to that of the WT. These differences in (growth) phenotype illustrate that translational research in crops is essential to assess the value of an engineering strategy for applications. Further fine-tuning of this research strategy (e.g., by using more specific promoters or by translating this strategy to other crops such as maize) might lead to transgenic bio-energy crops with cell walls more amenable to deconstruction without settling in yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara De Meester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paula Oyarce
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Van Acker
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yukiko Tsuji
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Thijs Vangeel
- Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Bert Sels
- Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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Unda F, Mottiar Y, Mahon EL, Karlen SD, Kim KH, Loqué D, Eudes A, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. A new approach to zip-lignin: 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate is compatible with lignification. New Phytol 2022; 235:234-246. [PMID: 35377486 PMCID: PMC9325543 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Renewed interests in the development of bioenergy, biochemicals, and biomaterials have elicited new strategies for engineering the lignin of biomass feedstock plants. This study shows, for the first time, that 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB) is compatible with the radical coupling reactions that assemble polymeric lignin in plants. We introduced a bacterial 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase into hybrid poplar (Populus alba × grandidentata) to divert carbon flux away from the shikimate pathway, which lies upstream of lignin biosynthesis. Transgenic poplar wood had up to 33% less lignin with p-hydroxyphenyl units comprising as much as 10% of the lignin. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of transgenic wood released fewer ester-linked p-hydroxybenzoate groups than control trees, and revealed the novel incorporation of cell-wall-bound DHB, as well as glycosides of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) analysis uncovered DHBA-derived benzodioxane structures suggesting that DHB moieties were integrated into the lignin polymer backbone. In addition, up to 40% more glucose was released from transgenic wood following ionic liquid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. This work highlights the potential of diverting carbon flux from the shikimate pathway for lignin engineering and describes a new type of 'zip-lignin' derived from the incorporation of DHB into poplar lignin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faride Unda
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Yaseen Mottiar
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Elizabeth L. Mahon
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
| | - Steven D. Karlen
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Kwang Ho Kim
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Clean Energy Research CenterKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792Korea
| | - Dominique Loqué
- Joint BioEnergy Institute5885 Hollis StreetEmeryvilleCA94608USA
| | - Aymerick Eudes
- Joint BioEnergy Institute5885 Hollis StreetEmeryvilleCA94608USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology DivisionLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCA94720USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison433 Babcock DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Shawn D. Mansfield
- Department of Wood ScienceUniversity of British Columbia2424 Main MallVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
- Department of EnergyGreat Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1552 University AvenueMadisonWI53726USA
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30
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Smith RA, Lu F, Muro-Villanueva F, Cusumano JC, Chapple C, Ralph J. Manipulation of Lignin Monomer Composition Combined with the Introduction of Monolignol Conjugate Biosynthesis Leads to Synergistic Changes in Lignin Structure. Plant Cell Physiol 2022; 63:744-754. [PMID: 35275214 PMCID: PMC9245121 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The complexity of lignin structure impedes efficient cell wall digestibility. Native lignin is composed of a mixture of three dominant monomers, coupled together through a variety of linkages. Work over the past few decades has demonstrated that lignin composition can be altered through a variety of mutational and transgenic approaches such that the polymer is derived almost entirely from a single monomer. In this study, we investigated changes to lignin structure and digestibility in Arabidopsis thaliana in near-single-monolignol transgenics and mutants and determined whether novel monolignol conjugates, produced by a FERULOYL-CoA MONOLIGNOL TRANSFERASE (FMT) or a p-COUMAROYL-CoA MONOLIGNOL TRANSFERASE (PMT), could be integrated into these novel polymers to further improve saccharification efficiency. Monolignol conjugates, including a new conjugate of interest, p-coumaryl p-coumarate, were successfully integrated into high-H, high-G and high-S lignins in A. thaliana. Regardless of lignin composition, FMT- and PMT-expressing plants produced monolignol ferulates and monolignol p-coumarates, respectively, and incorporated them into their lignin. Through the production and incorporation of monolignol conjugates into near-single-monolignol lignins, we demonstrated that substrate availability, rather than monolignol transferase substrate preference, is the most important determining factor in the production of monolignol conjugates, and lignin composition helps dictate cell wall digestibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fachuang Lu
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University
of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | | | - Joanne C Cusumano
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Clint Chapple
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University
of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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31
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Smith RA, Beebe ET, Bingman CA, Vander Meulen K, Eugene A, Steiner AJ, Karlen SD, Ralph J, Fox BG. Identification and characterization of a set of monocot BAHD monolignol transferases. Plant Physiol 2022; 189:37-48. [PMID: 35134228 PMCID: PMC9070852 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plant BAHD acyltransferases perform a wide range of enzymatic tasks in primary and secondary metabolism. Acyl-CoA monolignol transferases, which couple a CoA substrate to a monolignol creating an ester linkage, represent a more recent class of such acyltransferases. The resulting conjugates may be used for plant defense but are also deployed as important "monomers" for lignification, in which they are incorporated into the growing lignin polymer chain. p-Coumaroyl-CoA monolignol transferases (PMTs) increase the production of monolignol p-coumarates, and feruloyl-CoA monolignol transferases (FMTs) catalyze the production of monolignol ferulate conjugates. We identified putative FMT and PMT enzymes in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and have compared their activities to those of known monolignol transferases. The putative FMT enzymes produced both monolignol ferulate and monolignol p-coumarate conjugates, whereas the putative PMT enzymes produced monolignol p-coumarate conjugates. Enzyme activity measurements revealed that the putative FMT enzymes are not as efficient as the rice (Oryza sativa) control OsFMT enzyme under the conditions tested, but the SbPMT enzyme is as active as the control OsPMT enzyme. These putative FMTs and PMTs were transformed into Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to test their activities and abilities to biosynthesize monolignol conjugates for lignification in planta. The presence of ferulates and p-coumarates on the lignin of these transformants indicated that the putative FMTs and PMTs act as functional feruloyl-CoA and p-coumaroyl-CoA monolignol transferases within plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily T Beebe
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Craig A Bingman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Kirk Vander Meulen
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Alexis Eugene
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | | | - Steven D Karlen
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Brian G Fox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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32
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Huang X, Wang W, Gong T, Wickell D, Kuo LY, Zhang X, Wen J, Kim H, Lu F, Zhao H, Chen S, Li H, Wu W, Yu C, Chen S, Fan W, Chen S, Bao X, Li L, Zhang D, Jiang L, Khadka D, Yan X, Liao Z, Zhou G, Guo Y, Ralph J, Sederoff RR, Wei H, Zhu P, Li FW, Ming R, Li Q. The flying spider-monkey tree fern genome provides insights into fern evolution and arborescence. Nat Plants 2022; 8:500-512. [PMID: 35534720 PMCID: PMC9122828 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-022-01146-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
To date, little is known about the evolution of fern genomes, with only two small genomes published from the heterosporous Salviniales. Here we assembled the genome of Alsophila spinulosa, known as the flying spider-monkey tree fern, onto 69 pseudochromosomes. The remarkable preservation of synteny, despite resulting from an ancient whole-genome duplication over 100 million years ago, is unprecedented in plants and probably speaks to the uniqueness of tree ferns. Our detailed investigations into stem anatomy and lignin biosynthesis shed new light on the evolution of stem formation in tree ferns. We identified a phenolic compound, alsophilin, that is abundant in xylem, and we provided the molecular basis for its biosynthesis. Finally, analysis of demographic history revealed two genetic bottlenecks, resulting in rapid demographic declines of A. spinulosa. The A. spinulosa genome fills a crucial gap in the plant genomic landscape and helps elucidate many unique aspects of tree fern biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wenling Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - David Wickell
- Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Li-Yaung Kuo
- Institute of Molecular & Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Xingtan Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jialong Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fachuang Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Hansheng Zhao
- State Forestry Administration Key Open Laboratory on the Science and Technology of Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China
| | - Song Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Changjiang Yu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Su Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiuqi Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Longyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dipak Khadka
- GoldenGate International College, Tribhuvan University, Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Xiaojing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyang Liao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gongke Zhou
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yalong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ronald R Sederoff
- Forest Biotechnology Group, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hairong Wei
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA.
| | - Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines; NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products; CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Fay-Wei Li
- Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Ray Ming
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Quanzi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
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Elder T, Del Río JC, Ralph J, Rencoret J, Kim H. Density functional theory study on the coupling and reactions of diferuloylputrescine as a lignin monomer. Phytochemistry 2022; 197:113122. [PMID: 35131641 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diferuloylputrescine has been found in a variety of plant species, and recent work has provided evidence of its covalent bonding into lignin. Results from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed the presence of bonding patterns consistent with homo-coupling of diferuloylputrescine and the possibility of cross-coupling with lignin. In the present work, density functional theory calculations have been applied to assess the energetics associated with radical coupling, rearomatization, and dehydrogenation for possible homo-coupled dimers of diferuloylputrescine and cross-coupled dimers of diferuloylputrescine and coniferyl alcohol. The values obtained for these reaction energetics are consistent with those reported for monolignols and other novel lignin monomers. As such, this study shows that there would be no thermodynamic impediment to the incorporation of diferuloylputrescine into the lignin polymer and its addition to the growing list of non-canonical lignin monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Elder
- USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 521 Devall Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - José C Del Río
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jorge Rencoret
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
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Hu S, Kamimura N, Sakamoto S, Nagano S, Takata N, Liu S, Goeminne G, Vanholme R, Uesugi M, Yamamoto M, Hishiyama S, Kim H, Boerjan W, Ralph J, Masai E, Mitsuda N, Kajita S. Rerouting of the lignin biosynthetic pathway by inhibition of cytosolic shikimate recycling in transgenic hybrid aspen. Plant J 2022; 110:358-376. [PMID: 35044002 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lignin is a phenolic polymer deposited in the plant cell wall, and is mainly polymerized from three canonical monomers (monolignols), i.e. p-coumaryl, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols. After polymerization, these alcohols form different lignin substructures. In dicotyledons, monolignols are biosynthesized from phenylalanine, an aromatic amino acid. Shikimate acts at two positions in the route to the lignin building blocks. It is part of the shikimate pathway that provides the precursor for the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, and is involved in the transesterification of p-coumaroyl-CoA to p-coumaroyl shikimate, one of the key steps in the biosynthesis of coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols. The shikimate residue in p-coumaroyl shikimate is released in later steps, and the resulting shikimate becomes available again for the biosynthesis of new p-coumaroyl shikimate molecules. In this study, we inhibited cytosolic shikimate recycling in transgenic hybrid aspen by accelerated phosphorylation of shikimate in the cytosol through expression of a bacterial shikimate kinase (SK). This expression elicited an increase in p-hydroxyphenyl units of lignin and, by contrast, a decrease in guaiacyl and syringyl units. Transgenic plants with high SK activity produced a lignin content comparable to that in wild-type plants, and had an increased processability via enzymatic saccharification. Although expression of many genes was altered in the transgenic plants, elevated SK activity did not exert a significant effect on the expression of the majority of genes responsible for lignin biosynthesis. The present results indicate that cytosolic shikimate recycling is crucial to the monomeric composition of lignin rather than for lignin content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Hu
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naofumi Kamimura
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan
| | - Shingo Sakamoto
- Plant Gene Regulation Research Group, Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Smart CO2 Utilization Research Team, Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Soichiro Nagano
- Forest Tree Breeding Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Naoki Takata
- Forest Bio-Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Sarah Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, and US Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Geert Goeminne
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core Ghent, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mikiko Uesugi
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanobu Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shojiro Hishiyama
- Department of Forest Resource Chemistry, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, and US Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, and US Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Eiji Masai
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Mitsuda
- Plant Gene Regulation Research Group, Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Smart CO2 Utilization Research Team, Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shinya Kajita
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
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Zhang B, Munske GR, Timokhin VI, Ralph J, Davydov DR, Vermerris W, Sattler SE, Kang C. Functional and structural insight into the flexibility of cytochrome P450 reductases from Sorghum bicolor and its implications for lignin composition. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101761. [PMID: 35202651 PMCID: PMC8942828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is a multidomain enzyme that donates electrons for hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by class II cytochrome P450 monooxygenases involved in the synthesis of many primary and secondary metabolites. These P450 enzymes include trans-cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, p-coumarate-3′-hydroxylase, and ferulate-5-hydroxylase involved in monolignol biosynthesis. Because of its role in monolignol biosynthesis, alterations in CPR activity could change the composition and overall output of lignin. Therefore, to understand the structure and function of three CPR subunits from sorghum, recombinant subunits SbCPR2a, SbCPR2b, and SbCPR2c were subjected to X-ray crystallography and kinetic assays. Steady-state kinetic analyses demonstrated that all three CPR subunits supported the oxidation reactions catalyzed by SbC4H1 (CYP73A33) and SbC3′H (CYP98A1). Furthermore, comparing the SbCPR2b structure with the well-investigated CPRs from mammals enabled us to identify critical residues of functional importance and suggested that the plant flavin mononucleotide–binding domain might be more flexible than mammalian homologs. In addition, the elucidated structure of SbCPR2b included the first observation of NADP+ in a native CPR. Overall, we conclude that the connecting domain of SbCPR2, especially its hinge region, could serve as a target to alter biomass composition in bioenergy and forage sorghums through protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bixia Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Gerhard R Munske
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Vitaliy I Timokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dmitri R Davydov
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science and UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Scott E Sattler
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - ChulHee Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
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de Vries L, MacKay HA, Smith RA, Mottiar Y, Karlen SD, Unda F, Muirragui E, Bingman C, Vander Meulen K, Beebe ET, Fox BG, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. pHBMT1, a BAHD-family monolignol acyltransferase, mediates lignin acylation in poplar. Plant Physiol 2022; 188:1014-1027. [PMID: 34977949 PMCID: PMC8825253 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Poplar (Populus) lignin is naturally acylated with p-hydroxybenzoate ester moieties. However, the enzyme(s) involved in the biosynthesis of the monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates have remained largely unknown. Here, we performed an in vitro screen of the Populus trichocarpa BAHD acyltransferase superfamily (116 genes) using a wheatgerm cell-free translation system and found five enzymes capable of producing monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates. We then compared the transcript abundance of the five corresponding genes with p-hydroxybenzoate concentrations using naturally occurring unrelated genotypes of P. trichocarpa and revealed a positive correlation between the expression of p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA monolig-nol transferase (pHBMT1, Potri.001G448000) and p-hydroxybenzoate levels. To test whether pHBMT1 is responsible for the biosynthesis of monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates, we overexpressed pHBMT1 in hybrid poplar (Populus alba × P. grandidentata) (35S::pHBMT1 and C4H::pHBMT1). Using three complementary analytical methods, we showed that there was an increase in soluble monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates and cell-wall-bound monolignol-p-hydroxybenzoates in the poplar transgenics. As these pendent groups are ester-linked, saponification releases p-hydroxybenzoate, a precursor to parabens that are used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. This identified gene could therefore be used to engineer lignocellulosic biomass with increased value for emerging biorefinery strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne de Vries
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Heather A MacKay
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Rebecca A Smith
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Yaseen Mottiar
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Steven D Karlen
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Faride Unda
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Emilia Muirragui
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Craig Bingman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Kirk Vander Meulen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Emily T Beebe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Brian G Fox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Shawn D Mansfield
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Author for communication:
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Mahon EL, de Vries L, Jang SK, Middar S, Kim H, Unda F, Ralph J, Mansfield SD. Exogenous chalcone synthase expression in developing poplar xylem incorporates naringenin into lignins. Plant Physiol 2022; 188:984-996. [PMID: 34718804 PMCID: PMC8825309 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab499] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Lignin, a polyphenolic polymer, is a major chemical constituent of the cell walls of terrestrial plants. The biosynthesis of lignin is a highly plastic process, as highlighted by an increasing number of noncanonical monomers that have been successfully identified in an array of plants. Here, we engineered hybrid poplar (Populus alba x grandidentata) to express chalcone synthase 3 (MdCHS3) derived from apple (Malus domestica) in lignifying xylem. Transgenic trees displayed an accumulation of the flavonoid naringenin in xylem methanolic extracts not inherently observed in wild-type trees. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed the presence of naringenin in the extract-free, cellulase-treated xylem lignin of MdCHS3-poplar, indicating the incorporation of this flavonoid-derived compound into poplar secondary cell wall lignins. The transgenic trees also displayed lower total cell wall lignin content and increased cell wall carbohydrate content and performed significantly better in limited saccharification assays than their wild-type counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Mahon
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lisanne de Vries
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Soo-Kyeong Jang
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sandeep Middar
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hoon Kim
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Faride Unda
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John Ralph
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Shawn D Mansfield
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- US Department of Energy, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Author for communication:
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Rencoret J, Rosado MJ, Kim H, Timokhin VI, Gutiérrez A, Bausch F, Rosenau T, Potthast A, Ralph J, del Río JC. Flavonoids naringenin chalcone, naringenin, dihydrotricin, and tricin are lignin monomers in papyrus. Plant Physiol 2022; 188:208-219. [PMID: 34662399 PMCID: PMC8774827 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate that several polyphenolic compounds produced from beyond the canonical monolignol biosynthetic pathways can behave as lignin monomers, participating in radical coupling reactions and being incorporated into lignin polymers. Here, we show various classes of flavonoids, the chalconoid naringenin chalcone, the flavanones naringenin and dihydrotricin, and the flavone tricin, incorporated into the lignin polymer of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) rind. These flavonoids were released from the rind lignin by Derivatization Followed by Reductive Cleavage (DFRC), a chemical degradative method that cleaves the β-ether linkages, indicating that at least a fraction of each was integrated into the lignin as β-ether-linked structures. Due to the particular structure of tricin and dihydrotricin, whose C-3' and C-5' positions at their B-rings are occupied by methoxy groups, these compounds can only be incorporated into the lignin through 4'-O-β bonds. However, naringenin chalcone and naringenin have no substituents at these positions and can therefore form additional carbon-carbon linkages, including 3'- or 5'-β linkages that form phenylcoumaran structures not susceptible to cleavage by DFRC. Furthermore, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance analysis indicated that naringenin chalcone can also form additional linkages through its conjugated double bond. The discovery expands the range of flavonoids incorporated into natural lignins, further broadens the traditional definition of lignin, and enhances the premise that any phenolic compound present at the cell wall during lignification could be oxidized and potentially integrated into the lignin structure, depending only on its chemical compatibility. This study indicates that papyrus lignin has a unique structure, as it is the only lignin known to date that integrates such a diversity of phenolic compounds from different classes of flavonoids. This discovery will open up new ways to engineer and design lignins with specific properties and for enhanced value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Rencoret
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avda. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012-Seville, Spain
| | - Mario J Rosado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avda. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012-Seville, Spain
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
| | - Vitaliy I Timokhin
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Ana Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avda. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012-Seville, Spain
| | - Florian Bausch
- Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Thomas Rosenau
- Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Antje Potthast
- Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - José C del Río
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avda. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012-Seville, Spain
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Cao Y, Yan X, Ran S, Ralph J, Smith RA, Chen X, Qu C, Li J, Liu L. Knockout of the lignin pathway gene BnF5H decreases the S/G lignin compositional ratio and improves Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resistance in Brassica napus. Plant Cell Environ 2022; 45:248-261. [PMID: 34697825 PMCID: PMC9084453 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Ferulate-5-hydroxylase is a key enzyme involved in the conversion of the guaiacyl monolignol to the syringyl monolignol in angiosperms. The monolignol ratio has been proposed to affect biomass recalcitrance and the resistance to plant disease. Stem rot caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Brassica napus causes severe losses in its production. To date, there is no information about the effect of the lignin monomer ratio on the resistance to S. sclerotiorum in B. napus. Four dominantly expressed ferulate-5-hydroxylase genes were concertedly knocked out by CRISPR/Cas9 in B. napus, and three mutant lines were generated. The S/G lignin compositional ratio was decreased compared to that of the wild type based on the results of Mӓule staining and 2D-NMR profiling in KO-7. The resistance to S. sclerotiorum in stems and leaves increased for the three f5h mutant lines compared with WT. Furthermore, we found that the stem strength of f5h mutant lines was significantly increased. Overall, we demonstrate for the first time that decreasing the S/G ratio by knocking out of the F5H gene improves S. sclerotiorum resistance in B. napus and increases stem strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Cao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Xingying Yan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Shuyao Ran
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and the D.O.E. Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy Institute, University of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Rebecca A. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and the D.O.E. Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy Institute, University of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Xueping Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Cunmin Qu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jiana Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Liezhao Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Academy of Agricultural SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
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Tetreault HM, Gries T, Liu S, Toy J, Xin Z, Vermerris W, Ralph J, Funnell-Harris DL, Sattler SE. The Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) Brown Midrib 30 Gene Encodes a Chalcone Isomerase Required for Cell Wall Lignification. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:732307. [PMID: 34925394 PMCID: PMC8674566 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.732307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and other C4 grasses, brown midrib (bmr) mutants have long been associated with plants impaired in their ability to synthesize lignin. The brown midrib 30 (Bmr30) gene, identified using a bulk segregant analysis and next-generation sequencing, was determined to encode a chalcone isomerase (CHI). Two independent mutations within this gene confirmed that loss of its function was responsible for the brown leaf midrib phenotype and reduced lignin concentration. Loss of the Bmr30 gene function, as shown by histochemical staining of leaf midrib and stalk sections, resulted in altered cell wall composition. In the bmr30 mutants, CHI activity was drastically reduced, and the accumulation of total flavonoids and total anthocyanins was impaired, which is consistent with its function in flavonoid biosynthesis. The level of the flavone lignin monomer tricin was reduced 20-fold in the stem relative to wild type, and to undetectable levels in the leaf tissue of the mutants. The bmr30 mutant, therefore, harbors a mutation in a phenylpropanoid biosynthetic gene that is key to the interconnection between flavonoids and monolignols, both of which are utilized for lignin synthesis in the grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Tetreault
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Tammy Gries
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Sarah Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, The DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - John Toy
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Zhanguo Xin
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, The DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Deanna L. Funnell-Harris
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Scott E. Sattler
- Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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de Vries L, Brouckaert M, Chanoca A, Kim H, Regner MR, Timokhin VI, Sun Y, De Meester B, Van Doorsselaere J, Goeminne G, Chiang VL, Wang JP, Ralph J, Morreel K, Vanholme R, Boerjan W. CRISPR-Cas9 editing of CAFFEOYL SHIKIMATE ESTERASE 1 and 2 shows their importance and partial redundancy in lignification in Populus tremula × P. alba. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2221-2234. [PMID: 34160888 PMCID: PMC8541784 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Lignins are cell wall-located aromatic polymers that provide strength and hydrophobicity to woody tissues. Lignin monomers are synthesized via the phenylpropanoid pathway, wherein CAFFEOYL SHIKIMATE ESTERASE (CSE) converts caffeoyl shikimate into caffeic acid. Here, we explored the role of the two CSE homologs in poplar (Populus tremula × P. alba). Reporter lines showed that the expression conferred by both CSE1 and CSE2 promoters is similar. CRISPR-Cas9-generated cse1 and cse2 single mutants had a wild-type lignin level. Nevertheless, CSE1 and CSE2 are not completely redundant, as both single mutants accumulated caffeoyl shikimate. In contrast, the cse1 cse2 double mutants had a 35% reduction in lignin and associated growth penalty. The reduced-lignin content translated into a fourfold increase in cellulose-to-glucose conversion upon limited saccharification. Phenolic profiling of the double mutants revealed large metabolic shifts, including an accumulation of p-coumaroyl, 5-hydroxyferuloyl, feruloyl and sinapoyl shikimate, in addition to caffeoyl shikimate. This indicates that the CSEs have a broad substrate specificity, which was confirmed by in vitro enzyme kinetics. Taken together, our results suggest an alternative path within the phenylpropanoid pathway at the level of the hydroxycinnamoyl-shikimates, and show that CSE is a promising target to improve plants for the biorefinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne de Vries
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
| | - Marlies Brouckaert
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
| | - Alexandra Chanoca
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, and U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Matthew R. Regner
- Department of Biochemistry, and U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Vitaliy I. Timokhin
- Department of Biochemistry, and U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and BreedingNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Barbara De Meester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
| | | | - Geert Goeminne
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
- VIB Metabolomics CoreGhentBelgium
| | - Vincent L. Chiang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and BreedingNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
- Forest Biotechnology GroupDepartment of Forestry and Environmental ResourcesNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
- Department of Forest BiomaterialsNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
| | - Jack P. Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and BreedingNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
- Forest Biotechnology GroupDepartment of Forestry and Environmental ResourcesNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, and U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Kris Morreel
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhentBelgium
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Joo Y, Kim H, Kang M, Lee G, Choung S, Kaur H, Oh S, Choi JW, Ralph J, Baldwin IT, Kim SG. Pith-specific lignification in Nicotiana attenuata as a defense against a stem-boring herbivore. New Phytol 2021; 232:332-344. [PMID: 34171146 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plants have developed tissue-specific defense strategies in response to various herbivores with different feeding habits. Although defense responses to leaf-chewing insects have been well studied, little is known about stem-specific responses, particularly in the pith, to stem-boring herbivores. To understand the stem-specific defense, we first conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata before and after attack by the leaf-chewing herbivore Manduca sexta and the stem borer Trichobaris mucorea. When the stem-boring herbivore attacked, lignin-associated genes were upregulated specifically in the inner parenchymal cells of the stem, the pith; lignin also accumulated highly in the attacked pith. Silencing the lignin biosynthetic gene cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase enhanced the performance of the stem-boring herbivore but had no effect on the growth of the leaf-chewing herbivore. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance results revealed that lignified pith contains feruloyltyramine as an unusual lignin component in the cell wall, as a response against stem-boring herbivore attack. Pith-specific lignification induced by the stem-boring herbivore was modulated by both jasmonate and ethylene signaling. These results suggest that lignin provides a stem-specific inducible barrier, protecting plants against stem-boring insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngsung Joo
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, 07745, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
- Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Korea
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Moonyoung Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Gisuk Lee
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, 07745, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Sungjun Choung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
| | - Harleen Kaur
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Shinyoung Oh
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology, Seoul National University, Pyoeng-Chang, 25354, Korea
| | - Jun Weon Choi
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology, Seoul National University, Pyoeng-Chang, 25354, Korea
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Ian T Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Sang-Gyu Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Korea
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Smith RA, Cass CL, Petrik DL, Padmakshan D, Ralph J, Sedbrook JC, Karlen SD. Stacking AsFMT overexpression with BdPMT loss of function enhances monolignol ferulate production in Brachypodium distachyon. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1878-1886. [PMID: 33949064 PMCID: PMC8428837 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To what degree can the lignin subunits in a monocot be derived from monolignol ferulate (ML-FA) conjugates? This simple question comes with a complex set of variables. Three potential requirements for optimizing ML-FA production are as follows: (1) The presence of an active FERULOYL-CoA MONOLIGNOL TRANSFERASE (FMT) enzyme throughout monolignol production; (2) Suppression or elimination of enzymatic pathways competing for monolignols and intermediates during lignin biosynthesis; and (3) Exclusion of alternative phenolic compounds that participate in lignification. A 16-fold increase in lignin-bound ML-FA incorporation was observed by introducing an AsFMT gene into Brachypodium distachyon. On its own, knocking out the native p-COUMAROYL-CoA MONOLIGNOL TRANSFERASE (BdPMT) pathway that competes for monolignols and the p-coumaroyl-CoA intermediate did not change ML-FA incorporation, nor did partial loss of CINNAMOYL-CoA REDUCTASE1 (CCR1) function, which reduced metabolic flux to monolignols. However, stacking AsFMT into the Bdpmt-1 mutant resulted in a 32-fold increase in ML-FA incorporation into lignin over the wild-type level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Smith
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Department of BiochemistryWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWIUSA
| | - Cynthia L. Cass
- School of Biological SciencesIllinois State UniversityNormalILUSA
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
| | - Deborah L. Petrik
- School of Biological SciencesIllinois State UniversityNormalILUSA
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
- Department of BiologyNortheastern State UniversityTahlequahOKUSA
| | - Dharshana Padmakshan
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Department of BiochemistryWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWIUSA
| | - John Ralph
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Department of BiochemistryWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWIUSA
| | - John C. Sedbrook
- School of Biological SciencesIllinois State UniversityNormalILUSA
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMadisonWIUSA
| | - Steven D. Karlen
- U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Department of BiochemistryWisconsin Energy InstituteUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWIUSA
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Nordmann G, Ralph J, Smith JE. Evolution of the deployed medical director role in an era of contingency operations: reflections from a United Nations operation. BMJ Mil Health 2021; 167:335-339. [PMID: 34083373 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
This paper examines the development and evolution of the deployed medical director (DMD) role and argues for the re-establishment of a formal selection process and training pathway. Recent deployments into new areas of operations, deployment of smaller medical treatment facilities (MTFs), the reduced numbers of deployments for clinicians, working with various multinational partners and both military and civilian organisations all pose specific problems for DMDs. The initial and then continued deployment of a secondary care role 2 MTF as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan illustrated some of these challenges. Although a novel operation, the broad categories of these new challenges were similar to the historical challenges facing the first DMDs in Afghanistan. Corporate memory loss may be unavoidable to some degree due to rapid turnover in appointments, particularly in single service and joint headquarters. However, individual memory and experience remains extant within the military medical deployable workforce. After the cessation of UK military deployed hospital care involvement in Afghanistan, the UK DMD formal training pathway ended. This paper argues for the re-establishment of a more formal DMD selection process and training pathway to ensure that organisational learning is optimised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles Nordmann
- Academic Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK .,Head of Capability Combat Service Support (Medical), Capability Directorate, UK Army Headquarters, Andover, UK
| | - J Ralph
- Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Clinical Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
| | - J E Smith
- Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.,Emergency Department, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, Devon, UK
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45
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Oates NC, Abood A, Schirmacher AM, Alessi AM, Bird SM, Bennett JP, Leadbeater DR, Li Y, Dowle AA, Liu S, Tymokhin VI, Ralph J, McQueen-Mason SJ, Bruce NC. A multi-omics approach to lignocellulolytic enzyme discovery reveals a new ligninase activity from Parascedosporium putredinis NO1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2008888118. [PMID: 33903229 PMCID: PMC8106297 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2008888118] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lignocellulose, the structural component of plant cells, is a major agricultural byproduct and the most abundant terrestrial source of biopolymers on Earth. The complex and insoluble nature of lignocellulose limits its conversion into value-added commodities, and currently, efficient transformation requires expensive pretreatments and high loadings of enzymes. Here, we report on a fungus from the Parascedosporium genus, isolated from a wheat-straw composting community, that secretes a large and diverse array of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) when grown on lignocellulosic substrates. We describe an oxidase activity that cleaves the major β-ether units in lignin, thereby releasing the flavonoid tricin from monocot lignin and enhancing the digestion of lignocellulose by polysaccharidase mixtures. We show that the enzyme, which holds potential for the biorefining industry, is widely distributed among lignocellulose-degrading fungi from the Sordariomycetes phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola C Oates
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Amira Abood
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra M Schirmacher
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M Alessi
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Susannah M Bird
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph P Bennett
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R Leadbeater
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Li
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Adam A Dowle
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726
| | - Vitaliy I Tymokhin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726
| | - Simon J McQueen-Mason
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Neil C Bruce
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom;
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Fanelli A, Rancour DM, Sullivan M, Karlen SD, Ralph J, Riaño-Pachón DM, Vicentini R, Silva TDF, Ferraz A, Hatfield RD, Romanel E. Overexpression of a Sugarcane BAHD Acyltransferase Alters Hydroxycinnamate Content in Maize Cell Wall. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:626168. [PMID: 33995431 PMCID: PMC8117936 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.626168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The purification of hydroxycinnamic acids [p-coumaric acid (pCA) and ferulic acid (FA)] from grass cell walls requires high-cost processes. Feedstocks with increased levels of one hydroxycinnamate in preference to the other are therefore highly desirable. We identified and conducted expression analysis for nine BAHD acyltransferase ScAts genes from sugarcane. The high conservation of AT10 proteins, together with their similar gene expression patterns, supported a similar role in distinct grasses. Overexpression of ScAT10 in maize resulted in up to 75% increase in total pCA content. Mild hydrolysis and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) analysis showed that pCA increase was restricted to the hemicellulosic portion of the cell wall. Furthermore, total FA content was reduced up to 88%, resulting in a 10-fold increase in the pCA/FA ratio. Thus, we functionally characterized a sugarcane gene involved in pCA content on hemicelluloses and generated a C4 plant that is promising for valorizing pCA production in biorefineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Fanelli
- Laboratório de Genômica de Plantas e Bioenergia (PGEMBL), Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Universidade de São Paulo, Lorena, Brazil
| | | | - Michael Sullivan
- U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Steven D. Karlen
- Department of Biochemistry, and The Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, and The Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Diego Mauricio Riaño-Pachón
- Laboratório de Biologia Computacional, Evolutiva e de Sistemas, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Renato Vicentini
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Tatiane da Franca Silva
- Laboratório de Genômica de Plantas e Bioenergia (PGEMBL), Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Universidade de São Paulo, Lorena, Brazil
| | - André Ferraz
- Laboratório de Ciências da Madeira, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Universidade de São Paulo, Lorena, Brazil
| | - Ronald D. Hatfield
- U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Elisson Romanel
- Laboratório de Genômica de Plantas e Bioenergia (PGEMBL), Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Universidade de São Paulo, Lorena, Brazil
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Ralph J, O'Grady C, Boggs J, Barry R. Remission of verruca vulgaris following incisional punch biopsy. Clin Exp Dermatol 2021; 46:1163-1165. [PMID: 33734465 DOI: 10.1111/ced.14613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Ralph
- Department of Dermatology, St James's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - C O'Grady
- Department of Dermatology, St James's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Boggs
- Department of Dermatology, St James's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - R Barry
- Department of Dermatology, St James's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Elder T, Rencoret J, del Río JC, Kim H, Ralph J. Radical Coupling Reactions of Hydroxystilbene Glucosides and Coniferyl Alcohol: A Density Functional Theory Study. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:642848. [PMID: 33737945 PMCID: PMC7960926 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.642848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The monolignols, p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohol, arise from the general phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. Increasingly, however, authentic lignin monomers derived from outside this process are being identified and found to be fully incorporated into the lignin polymer. Among them, hydroxystilbene glucosides, which are produced through a hybrid process that combines the phenylpropanoid and acetate/malonate pathways, have been experimentally detected in the bark lignin of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Several interunit linkages have been identified and proposed to occur through homo-coupling of the hydroxystilbene glucosides and their cross-coupling with coniferyl alcohol. In the current work, the thermodynamics of these coupling modes and subsequent rearomatization reactions have been evaluated by the application of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The objective of this paper is to determine favorable coupling and cross-coupling modes to help explain the experimental observations and attempt to predict other favorable pathways that might be further elucidated via in vitro polymerization aided by synthetic models and detailed structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Elder
- USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Jorge Rencoret
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - José C. del Río
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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Liu X, Van Acker R, Voorend W, Pallidis A, Goeminne G, Pollier J, Morreel K, Kim H, Muylle H, Bosio M, Ralph J, Vanholme R, Boerjan W. Rewired phenolic metabolism and improved saccharification efficiency of a Zea mays cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (zmcad2) mutant. Plant J 2021; 105:1240-1257. [PMID: 33258151 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant byproduct from cereal crops that can potentially be valorized as a feedstock to produce biomaterials. Zea mays CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE 2 (ZmCAD2) is involved in lignification, and is a promising target to improve the cellulose-to-glucose conversion of maize stover. Here, we analyzed a field-grown zmcad2 Mutator transposon insertional mutant. Zmcad2 mutant plants had an 18% lower Klason lignin content, whereas their cellulose content was similar to that of control lines. The lignin in zmcad2 mutants contained increased levels of hydroxycinnamaldehydes, i.e. the substrates of ZmCAD2, ferulic acid and tricin. Ferulates decorating hemicelluloses were not altered. Phenolic profiling further revealed that hydroxycinnamaldehydes are partly converted into (dihydro)ferulic acid and sinapic acid and their derivatives in zmcad2 mutants. Syringyl lactic acid hexoside, a metabolic sink in CAD-deficient dicot trees, appeared not to be a sink in zmcad2 maize. The enzymatic cellulose-to-glucose conversion efficiency was determined after 10 different thermochemical pre-treatments. Zmcad2 yielded significantly higher conversions compared with controls for almost every pre-treatment. However, the relative increase in glucose yields after alkaline pre-treatment was not higher than the relative increase when no pre-treatment was applied, suggesting that the positive effect of the incorporation of hydroxycinnamaldehydes was leveled off by the negative effect of reduced p-coumarate levels in the cell wall. Taken together, our results reveal how phenolic metabolism is affected in CAD-deficient maize, and further support mutating CAD genes in cereal crops as a promising strategy to improve lignocellulosic biomass for sugar-platform biorefineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Liu
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Van Acker
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wannes Voorend
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andreas Pallidis
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Goeminne
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Morreel
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, 53726, USA
| | - Hilde Muylle
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
- Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, 53726, USA
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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Desmet S, Saeys Y, Verstaen K, Dauwe R, Kim H, Niculaes C, Fukushima A, Goeminne G, Vanholme R, Ralph J, Boerjan W, Morreel K. Maize specialized metabolome networks reveal organ-preferential mixed glycosides. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1127-1144. [PMID: 33680356 PMCID: PMC7890092 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the scientific and economic importance of maize, little is known about its specialized metabolism. Here, five maize organs were profiled using different reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. The resulting spectral metadata, combined with candidate substrate-product pair (CSPP) networks, allowed the structural characterization of 427 of the 5,420 profiled compounds, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, benzoxazinoids, and auxin-related compounds, among others. Only 75 of the 427 compounds were already described in maize. Analysis of the CSPP networks showed that phenylpropanoids are present in all organs, whereas other metabolic classes are rather organ-enriched. Frequently occurring CSPP mass differences often corresponded with glycosyl- and acyltransferase reactions. The interplay of glycosylations and acylations yields a wide variety of mixed glycosides, bearing substructures corresponding to the different biochemical classes. For example, in the tassel, many phenylpropanoid and flavonoid-bearing glycosides also contain auxin-derived moieties. The characterized compounds and mass differences are an important step forward in metabolic pathway discovery and systems biology research. The spectral metadata of the 5,420 compounds is publicly available (DynLib spectral database, https://bioit3.irc.ugent.be/dynlib/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrien Desmet
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Yvan Saeys
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.,Data Mining and Modelling for Biomedicine, Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kevin Verstaen
- Data Mining and Modelling for Biomedicine, Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Dauwe
- Unité de Recherche BIOPI EA3900, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80000 Amiens, France
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and the U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, United States
| | - Claudiu Niculaes
- Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Atsushi Fukushima
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Geert Goeminne
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.,VIB Metabolomics Core Ghent, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - John Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and the U.S. Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, United States
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kris Morreel
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
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