1
|
Moreira E, Ferreira J, Coimbra S, Melo P. The significance of the two cytosolic glutamine synthetase enzymes, GLN1;3 and GLN1;5, in the context of seed development and germination in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol Biochem 2024; 210:108631. [PMID: 38657550 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108631] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS), an initial enzyme in nitrogen (N) plant metabolism, exists as a group of isoenzymes found in both cytosolic (GS1) and plastids (GS2) and has gathered significant attention for enhancing N use efficiency and crop yield. This work focuses on the A. thaliana GLN1;3 and GLN1;5 genes, the two predicted most expressed genes in seeds, among the five isogenes encoding GS1 in this species. The expression patterns were studied using transgenic marker line plants and qPCR during seed development and germination. The observed patterns highlight distinct functions for the two genes and confirm GLN1;5 as the most highly expressed GS1 gene in seeds. The GLN1;5, expression, oriented towards hypocotyl and cotyledons, suggests a role in protein turnover during germination, while the radicle-oriented expression of GLN1;3 supports a function in early external N uptake. While the single mutants exhibited a normal phenotype, except for a decrease in seed parameters, the double gln1;3/gln1;5 mutant displayed a germination delay, substantial impairment in growth, nitrogen metabolism, and number and quality of the seeds, as well as a diminishing in flowering. Although seed and pollen-specific, GLN1;5 expression is upregulated in the meristems of the gln1;3 mutants, filling the lack of GLN1;3 and ensuring the normal functioning of the gln1;3 mutants. These findings validate earlier in silico data on the expression patterns of GLN1;3 and GL1;5 genes in seeds, explore their different functions, and underscore their essential role in plant growth, seed production, germination, and early stages of plant development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Moreira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal; INOV4Agro - GreenUPorto - Research Centre on Sustainable Agri-Food Production, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| | - João Ferreira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Sílvia Coimbra
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal; LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paula Melo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal; INOV4Agro - GreenUPorto - Research Centre on Sustainable Agri-Food Production, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kobercová E, Melo P, Fischer L. Validating the role of glutamine synthetase GLN2 during photorespiration in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol 2023; 194:324-328. [PMID: 37787606 PMCID: PMC10756748 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eliška Kobercová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Charles University, Viničná 5, Prague 2, 128 44, Czech Republic
| | - Paula Melo
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and GreenUPorto - Research Centre on Sustainable Agrifood Production, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Lukáš Fischer
- Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Charles University, Viničná 5, Prague 2, 128 44, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee KT, Liao HS, Hsieh MH. Glutamine Metabolism, Sensing and Signaling in Plants. Plant Cell Physiol 2023; 64:1466-1481. [PMID: 37243703 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad054] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine (Gln) is the first amino acid synthesized in nitrogen (N) assimilation in plants. Gln synthetase (GS), converting glutamate (Glu) and NH4+ into Gln at the expense of ATP, is one of the oldest enzymes in all life domains. Plants have multiple GS isoenzymes that work individually or cooperatively to ensure that the Gln supply is sufficient for plant growth and development under various conditions. Gln is a building block for protein synthesis and an N-donor for the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleic acids, amino sugars and vitamin B coenzymes. Most reactions using Gln as an N-donor are catalyzed by Gln amidotransferase (GAT) that hydrolyzes Gln to Glu and transfers the amido group of Gln to an acceptor substrate. Several GAT domain-containing proteins of unknown function in the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana suggest that some metabolic fates of Gln have yet to be identified in plants. In addition to metabolism, Gln signaling has emerged in recent years. The N regulatory protein PII senses Gln to regulate arginine biosynthesis in plants. Gln promotes somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis with unknown mechanisms. Exogenous Gln has been implicated in activating stress and defense responses in plants. Likely, Gln signaling is responsible for some of the new Gln functions in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim-Teng Lee
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences, The Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Sheng Liao
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsiun Hsieh
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences, The Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lin YC, Tsay YF. Study of vacuole glycerate transporter NPF8.4 reveals a new role of photorespiration in C/N balance. Nat Plants 2023; 9:803-816. [PMID: 37055555 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01392-2] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The photorespiratory intermediate glycerate is known to be shuttled between the peroxisome and chloroplast. Here, localization of NPF8.4 in the tonoplast, together with the reduced vacuolar glycerate content displayed by an npf8.4 mutant and the glycerate efflux activity detected in an oocyte expression system, identifies NPF8.4 as a tonoplast glycerate influx transporter. Our study shows that expression of NPF8.4 and most photorespiration-associated genes, as well as the photorespiration rate, is upregulated in response to short-term nitrogen (N) depletion. We report growth retardation and early senescence phenotypes for npf8.4 mutants specifically upon N depletion, suggesting that the NPF8.4-mediated regulatory pathway for sequestering the photorespiratory carbon intermediate glycerate in vacuoles is important to alleviate the impact of an increased C/N ratio under N deficiency. Thus, our study of NPF8.4 reveals a novel role for photorespiration in N flux to cope with short-term N depletion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Lin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Tsay
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Aluko OO, Kant S, Adedire OM, Li C, Yuan G, Liu H, Wang Q. Unlocking the potentials of nitrate transporters at improving plant nitrogen use efficiency. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1074839. [PMID: 36895876 PMCID: PMC9989036 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1074839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nitrate ( NO 3 - ) transporters have been identified as the primary targets involved in plant nitrogen (N) uptake, transport, assimilation, and remobilization, all of which are key determinants of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, less attention has been directed toward the influence of plant nutrients and environmental cues on the expression and activities of NO 3 - transporters. To better understand how these transporters function in improving plant NUE, this review critically examined the roles of NO 3 - transporters in N uptake, transport, and distribution processes. It also described their influence on crop productivity and NUE, especially when co-expressed with other transcription factors, and discussed these transporters' functional roles in helping plants cope with adverse environmental conditions. We equally established the possible impacts of NO 3 - transporters on the uptake and utilization efficiency of other plant nutrients while suggesting possible strategic approaches to improving NUE in plants. Understanding the specificity of these determinants is crucial to achieving better N utilization efficiency in crops within a given environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oluwaseun Olayemi Aluko
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Surya Kant
- Agriculture Victoria, Grains Innovation Park, Horsham, VIC, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Chuanzong Li
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guang Yuan
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haobao Liu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bauwe H. Photorespiration - Rubisco's repair crew. J Plant Physiol 2023; 280:153899. [PMID: 36566670 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153899] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The photorespiratory repair pathway (photorespiration in short) was set up from ancient metabolic modules about three billion years ago in cyanobacteria, the later ancestors of chloroplasts. These prokaryotes developed the capacity for oxygenic photosynthesis, i.e. the use of water as a source of electrons and protons (with O2 as a by-product) for the sunlight-driven synthesis of ATP and NADPH for CO2 fixation in the Calvin cycle. However, the CO2-binding enzyme, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (known under the acronym Rubisco), is not absolutely selective for CO2 and can also use O2 in a side reaction. It then produces 2-phosphoglycolate (2PG), the accumulation of which would inhibit and potentially stop the Calvin cycle and subsequently photosynthetic electron transport. Photorespiration removes the 2-PG and in this way prevents oxygenic photosynthesis from poisoning itself. In plants, the core of photorespiration consists of ten enzymes distributed over three different types of organelles, requiring interorganellar transport and interaction with several auxiliary enzymes. It goes together with the release and to some extent loss of freshly fixed CO2. This disadvantageous feature can be suppressed by CO2-concentrating mechanisms, such as those that evolved in C4 plants thirty million years ago, which enhance CO2 fixation and reduce 2PG synthesis. Photorespiration itself provided a pioneer variant of such mechanisms in the predecessors of C4 plants, C3-C4 intermediate plants. This article is a review and update particularly on the enzyme components of plant photorespiration and their catalytic mechanisms, on the interaction of photorespiration with other metabolism and on its impact on the evolution of photosynthesis. This focus was chosen because a better knowledge of the enzymes involved and how they are embedded in overall plant metabolism can facilitate the targeted use of the now highly advanced methods of metabolic network modelling and flux analysis. Understanding photorespiration more than before as a process that enables, rather than reduces, plant photosynthesis, will help develop rational strategies for crop improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Bauwe
- University of Rostock, Plant Physiology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, D-18051, Rostock, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yannam VRR, Caicedo M, Malvar RA, Ordás B. Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Senescence-Related Traits in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415897. [PMID: 36555534 PMCID: PMC9782587 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415897] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Senescence is a programmed process that involves the destruction of the photosynthesis apparatus and the relocation of nutrients to the grain. Identifying senescence-associated genes is essential to adapting varieties for the duration of the cultivation cycle. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 400 inbred maize lines with 156,164 SNPs to study the genetic architecture of senescence-related traits and their relationship with agronomic traits. We estimated the timing of senescence to be 45 days after anthesis in the whole plant and specifically in the husks. A list of genes identified in a previous RNAseq experiment as involved in senescence (core senescence genes) was used to propose candidate genes in the vicinity of the significant SNPs. Forty-six QTLs of moderate to high effect were found for senescence traits, including specific QTLs for husk senescence. The allele that delayed senescence primarily increased grain yield and moisture. Seven and one significant SNPs were found in the coding and promoter regions of eight core senescence genes, respectively. These genes could be potential candidates for generating a new variation by genome editing for functional analysis and breeding purposes, particularly Zm00001d014796, which could be responsible for a QTL of senescence found in multiple studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Venkata Rami Reddy Yannam
- Mision Biológica de Galicia, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 36001 Pontevedra, Spain
- Sustainable Field Crops Programme, IRTA (Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology), 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Marlon Caicedo
- Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue, Programa de Maíz, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP), Quito 170518, Ecuador
| | - Rosa Ana Malvar
- Mision Biológica de Galicia, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 36001 Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Bernardo Ordás
- Mision Biológica de Galicia, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 36001 Pontevedra, Spain
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lee KT, Chung YH, Hsieh MH. The Arabidopsis glutamine synthetase2 mutants (gln2-1 and gln2-2) do not have abnormal phenotypes. Plant Physiol 2022; 189:1906-1910. [PMID: 35567491 PMCID: PMC9342959 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The Arabidopsis glutamine synthetase2 mutants grow normally in the air, challenging the paradigm that chloroplastic GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE2 is the primary enzyme to assimilate photorespiratory NH4+.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim-Teng Lee
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsin Chung
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Moreira E, Coimbra S, Melo P. Glutamine synthetase: an unlikely case of functional redundancy in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2022; 24:713-720. [PMID: 35246892 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2) is an essential enzyme in plant metabolism, catalysing the assimilation of inorganic nitrogen into the amino acid glutamine. GS is a key enzyme in plant growth and has received special attention due to its recognized roles in plant nitrogen use efficiency and crop productivity. It occurs in plants as a collection of isoenzymes, located in the cytosol (GS1) and plastids (GS2), consistent with the multiplicity of roles played in plant metabolism. It is considered that the different isoenzymes, involved in a wide variety of physiological processes throughout the plant life cycle, perform non-redundant and non-overlapping roles. In fact, specific and non-redundant roles of GS isoenzymes in nitrogen metabolism were observed in species like Oryza sativa and Zea mays. However, in A. thaliana the GS isoenzymes, five cytosolic and one plastidic, are suggested to have functional redundancy and an isoenzyme compensation mechanism, specific to this species, was described. This review integrates analyses on the likely roles of the distinct cytosol- and plastid-located GS isoenzymes in A. thaliana, highlighting the redundancy of the GS gene family specifically occurring in this model plant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Moreira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- GreenUPorto - Research Centre on Sustainable Agrifood Production & Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - S Coimbra
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - P Melo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- GreenUPorto - Research Centre on Sustainable Agrifood Production & Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cecchin M, Cazzaniga S, Martini F, Paltrinieri S, Bossi S, Maffei ME, Ballottari M. Astaxanthin and eicosapentaenoic acid production by S4, a new mutant strain of Nannochloropsis gaditana. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:117. [PMID: 35710482 PMCID: PMC9204945 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01847-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Astaxanthin is a ketocarotenoid with high antioxidant power used in different fields as healthcare, food/feed supplementation and as pigmenting agent in aquaculture. Primary producers of astaxanthin are some species of microalgae, unicellular photosynthetic organisms, as Haematococcus lacustris. Astaxanthin production by cultivation of Haematococcus lacustris is costly due to low biomass productivity, high risk of contamination and the requirement of downstream extraction processes, causing an extremely high price on the market. Some microalgae species are also primary producers of omega-3 fatty acids, essential nutrients for humans, being related to cardiovascular wellness, and required for visual and cognitive development. One of the main well-known producers of omega-3 fatty eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is the marine microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana (named also Microchloropsis gaditana): this species has been already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption and it is characterized by a fast grow phenotype. RESULTS Here we obtained by chemical mutagenesis a Nannochloropsis gaditana mutant strain, called S4, characterized by increased carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio. S4 strain showed improved photosynthetic activity, increased lipid productivity and increased ketocarotenoids accumulation, producing not only canthaxanthin but also astaxanthin, usually found only in traces in the WT strain. Ketocarotenoids produced in S4 strain were extractible in different organic solvents, with the highest efficiency observed upon microwaves pre-treatment followed by methanol extraction. By cultivation of S4 strain at different irradiances it was possible to produce up to 1.3 and 5.2 mgL-1 day-1 of ketocarotenoids and EPA respectively, in a single cultivation phase, even in absence of stressing conditions. Genome sequencing of S4 strain allowed to identify 199 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP): among the mutated genes, mutations in a carotenoid oxygenase gene and in a glutamate synthase gene could explain the different carotenoids content and the lower chlorophylls content, respectively. CONCLUSIONS By chemical mutagenesis and selection of strain with increased carotenoids to chlorophyll ratio it was possible to isolate a new Nannochloropsis gaditana strain, called S4 strain, characterized by increased lipids and ketocarotenoids accumulation. S4 strain can thus be considered as novel platform for ketocarotenoids and EPA production for different industrial applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Cecchin
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Cazzaniga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Flavio Martini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefania Paltrinieri
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Bossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Unità di Fisiologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Via Quarello 15/a, 10135, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo E Maffei
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Unità di Fisiologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Via Quarello 15/a, 10135, Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yuan T, Zhu C, Li G, Liu Y, Yang K, Li Z, Song X, Gao Z. An Integrated Regulatory Network of mRNAs, microRNAs, and lncRNAs Involved in Nitrogen Metabolism of Moso Bamboo. Front Genet 2022; 13:854346. [PMID: 35651936 PMCID: PMC9149284 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.854346] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen is a key macronutrient essential for plant growth and development, and its availability has a strong influence on biological processes. Nitrogen fertilizer has been widely applied in bamboo forests in recent decades; however, the mechanism of nitrogen metabolism in bamboo is not fully elucidated. Here, we characterized the morphological, physiological, and transcriptome changes of moso bamboo in response to different schemes for nitrogen addition to illuminate the regulation mechanism of nitrogen metabolism. The appropriate addition of nitrogen improved the chlorophyll content and Pn (net photosynthetic rate) of leaves, the nitrogen and ammonium contents of the seedling roots, the biomass of the whole seedling, the number of lateral roots, and the activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism in the roots. Based on the whole transcriptome data of the roots, a total of 8,632 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) were identified under different nitrogen additions, such as 52 nitrate transporter genes, 6 nitrate reductase genes, 2 nitrite reductase genes, 2 glutamine synthase genes, 2 glutamate synthase genes (GOGAT), 3 glutamate dehydrogenase genes, and 431 TFs belonging to 23 families. Meanwhile, 123 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 396 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were characterized as nitrogen responsive, respectively. Furthermore, 94 DEM-DEG pairs and 23 DEL-DEG pairs involved in nitrogen metabolism were identified. Finally, a predicted regulatory network of nitrogen metabolism was initially constructed, which included 17 nitrogen metabolic pathway genes, 15 TFs, 4 miRNAs, and 10 lncRNAs by conjoint analysis of DEGs, DEMs, and DELs and their regulatory relationships, which was supported by RNA-seq data and qPCR results. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network provides new insights into the regulation mechanism of nitrogen metabolism in bamboo, which facilitates further genetic improvement for bamboo to adapt to the fluctuating nitrogen environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yuan
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Chenglei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Guangzhu Li
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Kebin Yang
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Xinzhang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A and F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhimin Gao
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing, China.,International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Institute of Gene Science and Industrialization for Bamboo and Rattan Resources, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Marino D, Cañas RA, Betti M. Is plastidic glutamine synthetase essential for C 3 plants? A tale of photorespiratory mutants, ammonium tolerance and conifers. New Phytol 2022; 234:1559-1565. [PMID: 35279841 PMCID: PMC9314894 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18090] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture faces the considerable challenge of having to adapt to a progressively changing climate (including the increase in CO2 levels and temperatures); environmental impact must be reduced while at the same time crop yields need to be maintained or increased to ensure food security. Under this scenario, increasing plants' nitrogen (N) use efficiency and minimizing the energy losses associated with photorespiration are two goals of crop breeding that are long sought after. The plastidic glutamine synthetase (GS2) enzyme stands at the crossroads of N assimilation and photorespiration, and is therefore a key candidate for the improvement of crop performance. The GS2 enzyme has long been considered essential for angiosperm survival under photorespiratory conditions. Surprisingly, in Arabidopsis GS2 is not essential for plant survival, and its absence confers tolerance towards ammonium stress, which is in conflict with the idea that NH4+ accumulation is one of the main causes of ammonium stress. Altogether, it appears that the 'textbook' view of this enzyme must be revisited, especially regarding the degree to which it is essential for plant growth under photorespiratory conditions, and the role of NH4+ assimilation during ammonium stress. In this article we open the debate on whether more or less GS2 is a desirable trait for plant productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Marino
- Department of Plant Biology and EcologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)E‐48940LeioaSpain
- IkerbasqueBasque Foundation for ScienceE‐48011BilbaoSpain
| | - Rafael A. Cañas
- Integrative Molecular Biology LabUniversidad de MálagaCampus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| | - Marco Betti
- Departamento de Bioquímica Vegetal y Biología Molecular, Facultad de QuímicaUniversidad de Sevilla41012SevillaSpain
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang H, Ren C, Cao L, Zhao Q, Jin X, Wang M, Zhang M, Yu G, Zhang Y. Exogenous Melatonin Modulates Physiological Response to Nitrogen and Improves Yield in Nitrogen-Deficient Soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.). Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:865758. [PMID: 35651760 PMCID: PMC9149585 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.865758] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin (MT) is a key plant growth regulator. To investigate its effect at different growth stages on the yield of soybean under nitrogen deficiency, 100 μM MT was applied to soybean supplemented with zero nitrogen (0N), low nitrogen (LN), and control nitrogen (CK) levels, during the plant vegetative growth (V3) and filling (R5) stages. This study revealed that the application of MT mainly enhanced the nitrogen fixation of plants by increasing the root nodule number and provided more substrates for glutamine synthetase (GS) under 0N supply. However, under the LN supply, more ammonium was assimilated through the direct promotion of nitrate reductase (NR) activity by MT. MT enhanced the activity of ammonium-assimilation-related enzymes, such as GOGAT and GDH, and the expression of their coding genes, promoted the synthesis of chlorophyll and amino acids, and increased the photosynthetic capacity under nitrogen deficiency. Exogenous MT directly upregulated the expression of genes involved in the photosynthetic system and stimulated dry-matter accumulation. Thus, MT alleviated the inhibitory effect of nitrogen deficiency on soybean yield. This mitigation effect was better when MT was applied at the V3 stage, and the seed weight per plant increased by 16.69 and 12.20% at 0N and LN levels, respectively. The results of this study provide a new theoretical basis to apply MT in agriculture to improve the resilience of soybean plants to low nitrogen availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huamei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Chunyuan Ren
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Liang Cao
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Xijun Jin
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Mengxue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Mingcong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Gaobo Yu
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Yuxian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Mechanized Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
- National Coarse Cereals Engineering Technology Center, Daqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Valderrama‐Martín JM, Ortigosa F, Ávila C, Cánovas FM, Hirel B, Cantón FR, Cañas RA. A revised view on the evolution of glutamine synthetase isoenzymes in plants. Plant J 2022; 110:946-960. [PMID: 35199893 PMCID: PMC9310647 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15712] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme responsible for the incorporation of inorganic nitrogen in the form of ammonium into the amino acid glutamine. In plants, two groups of functional GS enzymes are found: eubacterial GSIIb (GLN2) and eukaryotic GSIIe (GLN1/GS). Only GLN1/GS genes are found in vascular plants, which suggests that they are involved in the final adaptation of plants to terrestrial life. The present phylogenetic study reclassifies the different GS genes of seed plants into three clusters: GS1a, GS1b and GS2. The presence of genes encoding GS2 has been expanded to Cycadopsida gymnosperms, which suggests the origin of this gene in a common ancestor of Cycadopsida, Ginkgoopsida and angiosperms. GS1a genes have been identified in all gymnosperms, basal angiosperms and some Magnoliidae species. Previous studies in conifers and the gene expression profiles obtained in ginkgo and magnolia in the present work could explain the absence of GS1a in more recent angiosperm species (e.g. monocots and eudicots) as a result of the redundant roles of GS1a and GS2 in photosynthetic cells. Altogether, the results provide a better understanding of the evolution of plant GS isoenzymes and their physiological roles, which is valuable for improving crop nitrogen use efficiency and productivity. This new view of GS evolution in plants, including a new cytosolic GS group (GS1a), has important functional implications in the context of plant metabolism adaptation to global changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Miguel Valderrama‐Martín
- Grupo de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Departamento de Biología Molecular y BioquímicaUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
- Integrative Molecular Biology LabUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| | - Francisco Ortigosa
- Grupo de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Departamento de Biología Molecular y BioquímicaUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| | - Concepción Ávila
- Grupo de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Departamento de Biología Molecular y BioquímicaUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| | - Francisco M. Cánovas
- Grupo de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Departamento de Biología Molecular y BioquímicaUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| | - Bertrand Hirel
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Centre de Versailles‐GrignonRD 1078026Versailles CedexFrance
| | - Francisco R. Cantón
- Integrative Molecular Biology LabUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| | - Rafael A. Cañas
- Integrative Molecular Biology LabUniversidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos29071MálagaSpain
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liu X, Hu B, Chu C. Nitrogen assimilation in plants: current status and future prospects. J Genet Genomics 2021:S1673-8527(21)00376-3. [PMID: 34973427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is the driving force for crop yields, however, excessive N application in agriculture not only increases production cost, but also causes severe environmental problems. Therefore, comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanisms of N use efficiency (NUE) and breeding crops with higher NUE is essential to tackle these problems. NUE of crops is determined by N uptake, transport, assimilation, and remobilization. In the process of N assimilation, nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT, also known as glutamate synthase) are the major enzymes. NR and NiR mediate the initiation of inorganic N utilization, and GS/GOGAT cycle converts inorganic N to organic N, playing a vital role in N assimilation and the final NUE of crops. Besides, asparagine synthetase (ASN), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CPSase) are also involved. In this review, we summarize the function and regulation of these enzymes reported in three major crops, rice, maize, wheat, also in the model plant Arabidopsis, and we highlight their application in improving NUE of crops via manipulating N assimilation. Anticipated challenges and prospects toward fully understanding the function of N assimilation and further exploring the potential for NUE improvement are discussed.
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhou Y, Kishchenko O, Stepanenko A, Chen G, Wang W, Zhou J, Pan C, Borisjuk N. The Dynamics of NO3- and NH4+ Uptake in Duckweed Are Coordinated with the Expression of Major Nitrogen Assimilation Genes. Plants (Basel) 2021; 11:11. [PMID: 35009015 PMCID: PMC8747334 DOI: 10.3390/plants11010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Duckweed plants play important roles in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. They rapidly accumulate biomass and have potential uses in bioremediation of water polluted by fertilizer runoff or other chemicals. Here we studied the assimilation of two major sources of inorganic nitrogen, nitrate (NO3- ) and ammonium (NH4+), in six duckweed species: Spirodela polyrhiza, Landoltia punctata, Lemna aequinoctialis, Lemna turionifera, Lemna minor, and Wolffia globosa. All six duckweed species preferred NH4+ over NO3- and started using NO3- only when NH4+ was depleted. Using the available genome sequence, we analyzed the molecular structure and expression of eight key nitrogen assimilation genes in S. polyrhiza. The expression of genes encoding nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase increased about 10-fold when NO3- was supplied and decreased when NH4+ was supplied. NO3- and NH4+ induced the glutamine synthetase (GS) genes GS1;2 and the GS2 by 2- to 5-fold, respectively, but repressed GS1;1 and GS1;3. NH4+ and NO3- upregulated the genes encoding ferredoxin- and NADH-dependent glutamate synthases (Fd-GOGAT and NADH-GOGAT). A survey of nitrogen assimilation gene promoters suggested complex regulation, with major roles for NRE-like and GAATC/GATTC cis-elements, TATA-based enhancers, GA/CTn repeats, and G-quadruplex structures. These results will inform efforts to improve bioremediation and nitrogen use efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nikolai Borisjuk
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, West Changjiang Road 111, Huai’an 223000, China; (Y.Z.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (W.W.); (J.Z.); (C.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mondal R, Kumar A, Chattopadhyay SK. Structural property, molecular regulation, and functional diversity of glutamine synthetase in higher plants: a data-mining bioinformatics approach. Plant J 2021; 108:1565-1584. [PMID: 34628690 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS; E.C.6.3.1.2) is a key enzyme in higher plants with two isozymes, cytosolic GS1 and plastidic GS2, and involves in the assimilation and recycling of NH4+ ions and maintenance of complex traits such as crop nitrogen-use efficiency and yield. Our present understanding of crop nitrogen-use efficiency and its correlation with the functional role of the GS family genes is inadequate, which delays harnessing the benefit of this key enzyme in crop improvement. In this report, we performed a comprehensive investigation on the phylogenetic relationship, structural properties, complex multilevel gene regulation, and expression patterns of the GS genes to enrich present understanding about the enzyme. Our Gene Ontology and protein-protein interactions analysis revealed the functional aspects of GS isozymes in stress mitigation, aging, nucleotide biosynthesis/transport, DNA repair and response to metals. The insight gained here contributes to the future research strategies in developing climate-smart crops for global sustainability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raju Mondal
- Mulberry Tissue Culture Lab, Central Sericultural Germplasm Resources Centre (CSGRC), Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textile, Govt. of India, Hosur, 635109, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Host Plant Section, Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textile, Govt. of India, Lahdoigarh, Jorhat, Assam, 785700, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hou M, Yu M, Li Z, Ai Z, Chen J. Molecular Regulatory Networks for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9040. [PMID: 34445746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen is an important factor limiting the growth and yield of rice. However, the excessive application of nitrogen will lead to water eutrophication and economic costs. To create rice varieties with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has always been an arduous task in rice breeding. The processes for improving NUE include nitrogen uptake, nitrogen transport from root to shoot, nitrogen assimilation, and nitrogen redistribution, with each step being indispensable to the improvement of NUE. Here, we summarize the effects of absorption, transport, and metabolism of nitrate, ammonium, and amino acids on NUE, as well as the role of hormones in improving rice NUE. Our discussion provide insight for further research in the future.
Collapse
|
19
|
Hachiya T, Inaba J, Wakazaki M, Sato M, Toyooka K, Miyagi A, Kawai-Yamada M, Sugiura D, Nakagawa T, Kiba T, Gojon A, Sakakibara H. Excessive ammonium assimilation by plastidic glutamine synthetase causes ammonium toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4944. [PMID: 34400629 PMCID: PMC8367978 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [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: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants use nitrate, ammonium, and organic nitrogen in the soil as nitrogen sources. Since the elevated CO2 environment predicted for the near future will reduce nitrate utilization by C3 species, ammonium is attracting great interest. However, abundant ammonium nutrition impairs growth, i.e., ammonium toxicity, the primary cause of which remains to be determined. Here, we show that ammonium assimilation by GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE 2 (GLN2) localized in the plastid rather than ammonium accumulation is a primary cause for toxicity, which challenges the textbook knowledge. With exposure to toxic levels of ammonium, the shoot GLN2 reaction produced an abundance of protons within cells, thereby elevating shoot acidity and stimulating expression of acidic stress-responsive genes. Application of an alkaline ammonia solution to the ammonium medium efficiently alleviated the ammonium toxicity with a concomitant reduction in shoot acidity. Consequently, we conclude that a primary cause of ammonium toxicity is acidic stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takushi Hachiya
- Department of Molecular and Functional Genomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Science Research, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. .,Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. .,Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Jun Inaba
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mayumi Wakazaki
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mayuko Sato
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kiminori Toyooka
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Atsuko Miyagi
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
| | - Maki Kawai-Yamada
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sugiura
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular and Functional Genomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Science Research, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Kiba
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Alain Gojon
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS/INRA/SupAgro-M/Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Hitoshi Sakakibara
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Konishi M, Okitsu T, Yanagisawa S. Nitrate-responsive NIN-like protein transcription factors perform unique and redundant roles in Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 2021; 72:5735-5750. [PMID: 34050740 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Upon sensing nitrate, NODULE INCEPTION (NIN)-like protein (NLP) transcription factors alter gene expression to promote nitrate uptake and utilization. Of the nine NLPs in Arabidopsis, the physiological roles of only three NLPs (NLP6-NLP8) have been characterized to date. To evaluate the unique and redundant roles of Arabidopsis NLPs, we assessed the phenotypes of single and higher order nlp mutants. Unlike other nlp single mutants, nlp2 and nlp7 single mutants showed a reduction in shoot fresh weight when grown in the presence of nitrate as the sole nitrogen source, indicating that NLP2, like NLP7, plays a major role in vegetative growth. Interestingly, the growth defect of nlp7 recovered upon the supply of ammonium or glutamine, whereas that of nlp2 did not. Furthermore, complementation assays using chimeric constructs revealed that the coding sequence, but not the promoter region, of NLP genes was responsible for the differences between nlp2 and nlp7 single mutant phenotypes, suggesting differences in protein function. Importantly, nitrate utilization was almost completely abolished in the nlp septuple mutant (nlp2 nlp4 nlp5 nlp6 nlp7 nlp8 nlp9), suggesting that NLPs other than NLP2 and NLP7 also assist in the regulation of nitrate-inducible gene expression and nitrate-dependent promotion of vegetative growth in Arabidopsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mineko Konishi
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Okitsu
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuichi Yanagisawa
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
The SV, Snyder R, Tegeder M. Targeting Nitrogen Metabolism and Transport Processes to Improve Plant Nitrogen Use Efficiency. Front Plant Sci 2021; 11:628366. [PMID: 33732269 PMCID: PMC7957077 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.628366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In agricultural cropping systems, relatively large amounts of nitrogen (N) are applied for plant growth and development, and to achieve high yields. However, with increasing N application, plant N use efficiency generally decreases, which results in losses of N into the environment and subsequently detrimental consequences for both ecosystems and human health. A strategy for reducing N input and environmental losses while maintaining or increasing plant performance is the development of crops that effectively obtain, distribute, and utilize the available N. Generally, N is acquired from the soil in the inorganic forms of nitrate or ammonium and assimilated in roots or leaves as amino acids. The amino acids may be used within the source organs, but they are also the principal N compounds transported from source to sink in support of metabolism and growth. N uptake, synthesis of amino acids, and their partitioning within sources and toward sinks, as well as N utilization within sinks represent potential bottlenecks in the effective use of N for vegetative and reproductive growth. This review addresses recent discoveries in N metabolism and transport and their relevance for improving N use efficiency under high and low N conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mechthild Tegeder
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|