1
|
Choi S, Prabhakar PK, Chowdhury R, Pendergast TH, Urbanowicz BR, Maranas C, Devos KM. A single amino acid change led to structural and functional differentiation of PvHd1 to control flowering in switchgrass. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:5532-5546. [PMID: 37402629 PMCID: PMC10540729 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass, a forage and bioenergy crop, occurs as two main ecotypes with different but overlapping ranges of adaptation. The two ecotypes differ in a range of characteristics, including flowering time. Flowering time determines the duration of vegetative development and therefore biomass accumulation, a key trait in bioenergy crops. No causal variants for flowering time differences between switchgrass ecotypes have, as yet, been identified. In this study, we mapped a robust flowering time quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4K in a biparental F2 population and characterized the flowering-associated transcription factor gene PvHd1, an ortholog of CONSTANS in Arabidopsis and Heading date 1 in rice, as the underlying causal gene. Protein modeling predicted that a serine to glycine substitution at position 35 (p.S35G) in B-Box domain 1 greatly altered the global structure of the PvHd1 protein. The predicted variation in protein compactness was supported in vitro by a 4 °C shift in denaturation temperature. Overexpressing the PvHd1-p.35S allele in a late-flowering CONSTANS-null Arabidopsis mutant rescued earlier flowering, whereas PvHd1-p.35G had a reduced ability to promote flowering, demonstrating that the structural variation led to functional divergence. Our findings provide us with a tool to manipulate the timing of floral transition in switchgrass cultivars and, potentially, expand their cultivation range.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Choi
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Pradeep K Prabhakar
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ratul Chowdhury
- Chemical Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Thomas H Pendergast
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Breeanna R Urbanowicz
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Costas Maranas
- Chemical Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Katrien M Devos
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
De K, Pal D, Shanks CM, Yates TB, Feng K, Jawdy SS, Hassan MM, Prabhakar PK, Yang JY, Chapla D, Moremen KW, Urbanowicz B, Binder BM, Muchero W. The Plasminogen-Apple-Nematode (PAN) domain suppresses JA/ET defense pathways in plants. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.15.545202. [PMID: 37398012 PMCID: PMC10312691 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.15.545202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Suppression of immune response is a phenomenon that enables biological processes such as gamete fertilization, cell growth, cell proliferation, endophyte recruitment, parasitism, and pathogenesis. Here, we show for the first time that the Plasminogen-Apple-Nematode (PAN) domain present in G-type lectin receptor-like kinases is essential for immunosuppression in plants. Defense pathways involving jasmonic acid and ethylene are critical for plant immunity against microbes, necrotrophic pathogens, parasites, and insects. Using two Salix purpurea G-type lectin receptor kinases, we demonstrated that intact PAN domains suppress jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis and tobacco. Variants of the same receptors with mutated residues in this domain could trigger induction of both defense pathways. Assessment of signaling processes revealed significant differences between receptors with intact and mutated PAN domain in MAPK phosphorylation, global transcriptional reprogramming, induction of downstream signaling components, hormone biosynthesis and resistance to Botrytis cinerea . Further, we demonstrated that the domain is required for oligomerization, ubiquitination, and proteolytic degradation of these receptors. These processes were completely disrupted when conserved residues in the domain were mutated. Additionally, we have tested the hypothesis in recently characterized Arabidopsis mutant which has predicted PAN domain and negatively regulates plant immunity against root nematodes. ern1.1 mutant complemented with mutated PAN shows triggered immune response with elevated WRKY33 expression, hyperphosphorylation of MAPK and resistant to necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea . Collectively, our results suggest that ubiquitination and proteolytic degradation mediated by the PAN domain plays a role in receptor turn-over to suppress jasmonic acid and ethylene defense signaling in plants.
Collapse
|
3
|
Julian JD, Zabotina OA. Xyloglucan Biosynthesis: From Genes to Proteins and Their Functions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:920494. [PMID: 35720558 PMCID: PMC9201394 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.920494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The plant's recalcitrant cell wall is composed of numerous polysaccharides, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. The most abundant hemicellulose in dicot cell walls is xyloglucan, which consists of a β-(1- > 4) glucan backbone with α-(1- > 6) xylosylation producing an XXGG or XXXG pattern. Xylose residues of xyloglucan are branched further with different patterns of arabinose, fucose, galactose, and acetylation that varies between species. Although xyloglucan research in other species lag behind Arabidopsis thaliana, significant advances have been made into the agriculturally relevant species Oryza sativa and Solanum lycopersicum, which can be considered model organisms for XXGG type xyloglucan. In this review, we will present what is currently known about xyloglucan biosynthesis in A. thaliana, O. sativa, and S. lycopersicum and discuss the recent advances in the characterization of the glycosyltransferases involved in this complex process and their organization in the Golgi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D Julian
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Olga A Zabotina
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang HT, Bharadwaj VS, Yang JY, Curry TM, Moremen KW, Bomble YJ, Urbanowicz BR. Rational enzyme design for controlled functionalization of acetylated xylan for cell-free polymer biosynthesis. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 273:118564. [PMID: 34560975 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Xylan O-acetyltransferase 1 (XOAT1) is involved in O-acetylating the backbone of hemicellulose xylan. Recent structural analysis of XOAT1 showed two unequal lobes forming a cleft that is predicted to accommodate and position xylan acceptors into proximity with the catalytic triad. Here, we used docking and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the optimal orientation of xylan in the binding cleft of XOAT1 and identify putative key residues (Gln445 and Arg444 on Minor lobe & Asn312, Met311 and Asp403 on Major lobe) involved in substrate interactions. Site-directed mutagenesis coupled with biochemical analyses revealed the major lobe of XOAT1 is important for xylan binding. Mutation of single key residues yielded XOAT1 variants with various enzymatic efficiencies that are applicable to one-pot synthesis of xylan polymers with different degrees of O-acetylation. Taken together, our results demonstrate the effectiveness of computational modeling in guiding enzyme engineering aimed at modulating xylan and redesigning plant cell walls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Tzu Wang
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Vivek S Bharadwaj
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 16253 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Jeong-Yeh Yang
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Thomas M Curry
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kelley W Moremen
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yannick J Bomble
- Bioscience Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 16253 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Breeanna R Urbanowicz
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Soto MJ, Prabhakar PK, Wang HT, Backe J, Chapla D, Bartetzko M, Black IM, Azadi P, Peña MJ, Pfrengle F, Moremen KW, Urbanowicz BR, Hahn MG. AtFUT4 and AtFUT6 Are Arabinofuranose-Specific Fucosyltransferases. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:589518. [PMID: 33633757 PMCID: PMC7900004 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.589518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The bulk of plant biomass is comprised of plant cell walls, which are complex polymeric networks, composed of diverse polysaccharides, proteins, polyphenolics, and hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs). Glycosyltransferases (GTs) work together to synthesize the saccharide components of the plant cell wall. The Arabidopsis thaliana fucosyltransferases (FUTs), AtFUT4, and AtFUT6, are members of the plant-specific GT family 37 (GT37). AtFUT4 and AtFUT6 transfer fucose (Fuc) onto arabinose (Ara) residues of arabinogalactan (AG) proteins (AGPs) and have been postulated to be non-redundant AGP-specific FUTs. AtFUT4 and AtFUT6 were recombinantly expressed in mammalian HEK293 cells and purified for biochemical analysis. We report an updated understanding on the specificities of AtFUT4 and AtFUT6 that are involved in the synthesis of wall localized AGPs. Our findings suggest that they are selective enzymes that can utilize various arabinogalactan (AG)-like and non-AG-like oligosaccharide acceptors, and only require a free, terminal arabinofuranose. We also report with GUS promoter-reporter gene studies that AtFUT4 and AtFUT6 gene expression is sub-localized in different parts of developing A. thaliana roots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Soto
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Pradeep Kumar Prabhakar
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Hsin-Tzu Wang
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Jason Backe
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Digantkumar Chapla
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Max Bartetzko
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ian M. Black
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Maria J. Peña
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Fabian Pfrengle
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kelley W. Moremen
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Breeanna R. Urbanowicz
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: Breeanna R. Urbanowicz,
| | - Michael G. Hahn
- The Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Michael G. Hahn,
| |
Collapse
|