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Senanayake M, Lin CY, Mansfield SD, Eudes A, Davison BH, Pingali SV, O'Neill H. Ectopic Production of 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoate in Planta Affects Cellulose Structure and Organization. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 38780531 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass is a highly sustainable and largely carbon dioxide neutral feedstock for the production of biofuels and advanced biomaterials. Although thermochemical pretreatment is typically used to increase the efficiency of cell wall deconstruction, genetic engineering of the major plant cell wall polymers, especially lignin, has shown promise as an alternative approach to reduce biomass recalcitrance. Poplar trees with reduced lignin content and altered composition were previously developed by overexpressing bacterial 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase (QsuB) enzyme to divert carbon flux from the shikimate pathway. In this work, three transgenic poplar lines with increasing QsuB expression levels and different lignin contents were studied using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). SANS showed that although the cellulose microfibril cross-sectional dimension remained unchanged, the ordered organization of the microfibrils progressively decreased with increased QsuB expression. This was correlated with decreasing total lignin content in the QsuB lines. WAXS showed that the crystallite dimensions of cellulose microfibrils transverse to the growth direction were not affected by the QsuB expression, but the crystallite dimensions parallel to the growth direction were decreased by ∼20%. Cellulose crystallinity was also decreased with increased QsuB expression, which could be related to high levels of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, the product of QsuB expression, disrupting microfibril crystallization. In addition, the cellulose microfibril orientation angle showed a bimodal distribution at higher QsuB expression levels. Overall, this study provides new structural insights into the impact of ectopic synthesis of small-molecule metabolites on cellulose organization and structure that can be used for future efforts aimed at reducing biomass recalcitrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjula Senanayake
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Chien-Yuan Lin
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Shawn D Mansfield
- Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Aymerick Eudes
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Brian H Davison
- BioSciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Sai Venkatesh Pingali
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Hugh O'Neill
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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Zhu Y, Li L. Wood of trees: Cellular structure, molecular formation, and genetic engineering. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:443-467. [PMID: 38032010 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13589] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Wood is an invaluable asset to human society due to its renewable nature, making it suitable for both sustainable energy production and material manufacturing. Additionally, wood derived from forest trees plays a crucial role in sequestering a significant portion of the carbon dioxide fixed during photosynthesis by terrestrial plants. Nevertheless, with the expansion of the global population and ongoing industrialization, forest coverage has been substantially decreased, resulting in significant challenges for wood production and supply. Wood production practices have changed away from natural forests toward plantation forests. Thus, understanding the underlying genetic mechanisms of wood formation is the foundation for developing high-quality, fast-growing plantation trees. Breeding ideal forest trees for wood production using genetic technologies has attracted the interest of many. Tremendous studies have been carried out in recent years on the molecular, genetic, and cell-biological mechanisms of wood formation, and considerable progress and findings have been achieved. These studies and findings indicate enormous possibilities and prospects for tree improvement. This review will outline and assess the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wood formation, as well as studies on genetically improving forest trees, and address future development prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems and College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Laigeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
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Shi J, Zhang J, Sun D, Zhao L, Chi Y, Gao C, Wang Y, Wang C. Protein profile analysis of tension wood development in response to artificial bending and gravitational stimuli in Betula platyphylla. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 339:111957. [PMID: 38122834 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Betula platyphylla Suk (birch) is an excellent short-term hardwood species with growth and wood characteristics well suited to wood industries. To investigate the molecular mechanism of wood development in birch, a tension wood (TW) induced system was used to explore the regulatory mechanism at the protein level and identify the key proteins involved in xylem development in birch. The results of dyeing with Safranin O-Fast Green indicated that the cellulose content of TW was significantly higher than that of opposite wood (OW) or normal wood (NW), and the lignin content in TW was significantly lower than that in OW and NW after artificial bending of birch stems. Protein profile analysis of TW, NW and OW by iTRAQ revealed that there were 639 and 460 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between TW/OW and TW/NW, respectively. The DEPs were mainly enriched in tyrosine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, phenylpropanoid and pyruvate metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), fructose and mannose metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, fatty acid biosynthesis, photosynthesis proteins and other pathways. The proteins in the citrate cycle were upregulated. The expression levels of PGI, PGM and FRK proteins related to cellulose synthesis increased and the expression levels of PAL, 4CL and COMT related to lignin synthesis decreased, leading to an increase in cellulose content and decreased lignin levels in TW. PPI analysis revealed that key DEPs interact with each other, indicating that these proteins form complexes to implement this function, which may provide important insights for wood formation at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jiawei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Dan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Leifei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yao Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Caiqiu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yucheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China
| | - Chao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150040, China.
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Guo Y, Liu C, Zhang Y, Zheng S, Cao P, Wang X, Tian Z. Characterization key genes of Arabidopsis seedlings in response to β-caryophyllene, eugenol using combined transcriptome and WGCN analysis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1295779. [PMID: 38239209 PMCID: PMC10794411 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1295779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Weeds present a significant challenge to high crop yield and quality. In our study, we investigated the phytotoxic activity of β-caryophyllene (BCP) and eugenol, which are natural allelopathic chemical compounds, on Arabidopsis seedlings. We found that these compounds inhibited the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. When either BCP or eugenol was applied, it led to decrease in the content of cell wall components such as lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin; and increase in the levels of endogenous hormones like ETH, ABA, SA, and JA in the seedlings. Through transcriptome profiling, we identified 7181 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the roots and shoots that were induced by BCP or eugenol. The genes involved in the synthesis of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin were down-regulated, whereas genes related to synthesis and signal transduction of ABA, ETH, SA, and JA were up-regulated. However, genes related to IAA synthesis and signal transduction were found to be down-regulated. Furthermore, we characterized 24 hub genes using Weighted Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA). Among them, the identified 16 genes in response to BCP was primarily associated with hypoxia stress, while 8 genes induced by eugenol were linked to inhibition of cell division. Our results suggested that BCP and eugenol had ability to target multiple genes to inhibit growth and development of Arabidopsis plants. Therefore, they can serve as excellent candidates for natural biological herbicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yaran Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shuting Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ping Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zengyuan Tian
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Zhuang H, Qin M, Liu B, Li R, Li Z. Combination of transcriptomics, metabolomics and physiological traits reveals the effects of polystyrene microplastics on photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 205:108201. [PMID: 37995577 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Although microplastic pollution has been widely studied, the mechanism by which they influence plant photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen metabolism remains unclear. We aimed to explore the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS) on photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cucumber using 5 μm and 0.1 μm PS particles. The PS treatments significantly reduced the stability of cucumber mesophyll cells and photosynthetic parameters and increased the soluble sugar content in cucumber leaves. The 5 μm PS affected the photosynthetic pathway by changing the expression of enzyme genes required for the synthesis of NADPH and ATP, which decreased the photosynthetic capacity in cucumber leaves. However, 0.1 μm PS altered the genes expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), which affected the intercellular CO2 concentration and attenuated the negative effects on photosynthetic efficiency. Additionally, PS reduced the expression levels of nitrate/nitrite transporter (NRT) and nitrate reductase (NR), reducing the nitrogen use efficiency in cucumber leaves and mesophyll cells damage through increased accumulation of reduced glutathione (GSH), γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC), and citrulline. This study provides a new scientific basis for exploring the effects of microplastics on plant photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhuang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Mengru Qin
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Bo Liu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Ruijing Li
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Zhenxia Li
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Horticultural Plant Resource Utilization and Germplasm Enhancement, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China.
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De Meester B, Vanholme R, Mota T, Boerjan W. Lignin engineering in forest trees: From gene discovery to field trials. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 3:100465. [PMID: 36307984 PMCID: PMC9700206 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Wood is an abundant and renewable feedstock for the production of pulp, fuels, and biobased materials. However, wood is recalcitrant toward deconstruction into cellulose and simple sugars, mainly because of the presence of lignin, an aromatic polymer that shields cell-wall polysaccharides. Hence, numerous research efforts have focused on engineering lignin amount and composition to improve wood processability. Here, we focus on results that have been obtained by engineering the lignin biosynthesis and branching pathways in forest trees to reduce cell-wall recalcitrance, including the introduction of exotic lignin monomers. In addition, we draw general conclusions from over 20 years of field trial research with trees engineered to produce less or altered lignin. We discuss possible causes and solutions for the yield penalty that is often associated with lignin engineering in trees. Finally, we discuss how conventional and new breeding strategies can be combined to develop elite clones with desired lignin properties. We conclude this review with priorities for the development of commercially relevant lignin-engineered trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara De Meester
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thatiane Mota
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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Fu D, Zhang L, Li H, Li F, Yue Z, Li Y, Cai Q. Effects of the nitrogen form ratios on photosynthetic productivity of poplar under condition of phenolic acids. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION 2022; 25:1189-1198. [PMID: 36368337 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2022.2144795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Phenolic acids can reduce nitrogen utilization rate of poplar, which seriously restrict the productivity of poplar plantation. In this study, three phenolic acid concentrations (T0, T1, and T2) and three ratios of nitrogen forms (NH4+-N to NO3--were 1:3, 1:7, and 1:14) were chosen for orthogonal experiment on poplar (Populus × euramericana "Neva") seedlings to study the effects of the nitrogen form ratios on photosynthetic productivity of poplar under environment of phenolic acids. Results showed that photosynthetic physiology parameters were influenced by both phenolic acid concentration and nitrogen form ratio. The order of net photosynthetic rate (PN) values obtained from 9 treatments were T1-1:3, T0-1:3, T2-1:3, T0-1:7, T1-1:7, T0-1:14, T2-1:7, T1-1:14, and T2-1:14 (from high to low). Under environment of phenolic acids, when poplar were treated with NH4+-N to NO3--N ratio of 1:14, the major limitation factor of photosynthesis was non stomatal factor. When poplar were treated with NH4+-N to NO3-N ratio of 1:3, the major limitation factor of photosynthesis changed to stomatal factor. The leaf nitrogen content and total biomass were obviously positively related with PN (p < 0.05). Phenolic acid inhibited photosynthetic productivity of poplar in a major way and this effect decreased with increase of the content of NH4+-N.
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Affiliation(s)
- Degang Fu
- College of agriculture and forestry science, Linyi University, Lin'yi, China
- Shandong Provincial Forestry Protection and Development Service Center, Ji'nan, Shandong province, China
| | - Liudong Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Forestry Protection and Development Service Center, Ji'nan, Shandong province, China
| | - Hui Li
- College of agriculture and forestry science, Linyi University, Lin'yi, China
| | - Feng Li
- State-owned Yishan Forest Farm of Yishui County, Yi'shui, Shandong, China
| | - Zongjie Yue
- State-owned Shenxian Forest Management Center o Shenxian County, Shenxian, Shandong, China
| | - Yaobin Li
- State-owned Donming Forest Farm of Shandong Province, Dong'ming, Shandong, China
| | - Qicheng Cai
- State-owned Yishan Forest Farm of Yishui County, Yi'shui, Shandong, China
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Abstract
Unsustainable rice straw management causes environmental impacts; hence, utilisation of rice straw for bioenergy is a promising strategy for sustainable rice straw management. Although rice straw has a high potential for bioenergy generation, the whole production cycle and application may cause environmental damage that is not fully understood. Hence, environmental performance studies are required to determine the most effective rice straw utilisation options. A comprehensive approach, such as life-cycle assessment (LCA), can give comprehensive information on the possible environmental effects of rice straw utilisation for bioenergy. Therefore, this study briefly overviews the LCA of rice straw utilisation for bioenergy production. It is found that utilisation of rice straw for bioenergy could reduce global warming potential compared to energy production from fossil fuels. However, it is suggested that other impact categories in LCA be evaluated in the bioenergy production from rice straw research to determine the overall sustainability of the production.
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