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Zhang WJ, Tang LP, Peng J, Zhai LM, Ma QL, Zhang XS, Su YH. A WRI1-dependent module is essential for the accumulation of auxin and lipid in somatic embryogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytol 2024; 242:1098-1112. [PMID: 38515249 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19689] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The potential for totipotency exists in all plant cells; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Earlier findings have revealed that the overexpression of LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2) can directly trigger the formation of somatic embryos on the cotyledons of Arabidopsis. Furthermore, cotyledon cells that overexpress LEC2 accumulate significant lipid reserves typically found in seeds. The precise mechanisms and functions governing lipid accumulation in this process remain unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate that WRINKLED1 (WRI1), the key regulator of lipid biosynthesis, is essential for somatic embryo formation, suggesting that WRI1-mediated lipid biosynthesis plays a crucial role in the transition from vegetative to embryonic development. Our findings indicate a direct interaction between WRI1 and LEC2, which enhances the enrichment of LEC2 at downstream target genes and stimulates their induction. Besides, our data suggest that WRI1 forms a complex with LEC1, LEC2, and FUSCA3 (FUS3) to facilitate the accumulation of auxin and lipid for the somatic embryo induction, through strengthening the activation of YUCCA4 (YUC4) and OLEOSIN3 (OLE3) genes. Our results uncover a regulatory module controlled by WRI1, crucial for somatic embryogenesis. These findings provide valuable insights into our understanding of plant cell totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jie Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Li Ping Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Jing Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Li Ming Zhai
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Qiu Li Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xian Sheng Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Ying Hua Su
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
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2
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Huang C, Li Y, Wang K, Xi J, Wang H, Zhu D, Jiang C, Si X, Shi D, Wang S, Li X, Huang J. WRINKLED1 Positively Regulates Oil Biosynthesis in Carya cathayensis. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:6763-6774. [PMID: 37014130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00358] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) is a kind of important woody oil tree species, and its nut has high nutritional value. Previous gene coexpression analysis showed that WRINKLED1 (WRI1) may be a core regulator during embryo oil accumulation in hickory. However, its specific regulatory mechanism on hickory oil biosynthesis has not been investigated. Herein, two hickory orthologs of WRI1 (CcWRI1A and CcWRI1B) containing two AP2 domains with AW-box binding sites and three intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) but lacking the PEST motif in the C-terminus were characterized. They are nucleus-located and have self-activated ability. The expression of these two genes was tissue-specific and relatively high in the developing embryo. Notably, CcWRI1A and CcWRI1B can restore the low oil content, shrinkage phenotype, composition of fatty acid, and expression of oil biosynthesis pathway genes of Arabidopsis wri1-1 mutant seeds. Additionally, CcWRI1A/B were shown to modulate the expression of some fatty acid biosynthesis genes in the transient expression system of nonseed tissues. Transcriptional activation analysis further indicated that CcWRI1s directly activated the expression of SUCROSE SYNTHASE2 (SUS2), PYRUVATE KINASE β SUBUNIT 1 (PKP-β1), and BIOTIN CARBOXYL CARRIER PROTEIN2 (BCCP2) involved in oil biosynthesis. These results suggest that CcWRI1s can promote oil synthesis by upregulating some late glycolysis- and fatty acid biosynthesis-related genes. This work reveals the positive function of CcWRI1s in oil accumulation and provides a potential target for improving plant oil by bioengineering technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Ketao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Jianwei Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Dongmei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Chenyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Xiaolin Si
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Duanshun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Song Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianqin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
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Zhai Z, Blanford JK, Cai Y, Sun J, Liu H, Shi H, Schwender J, Shanklin J. CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE 8 positively regulates oil synthesis by activating WRINKLED1 transcription. New Phytol 2023; 238:724-736. [PMID: 36683527 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18764] [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: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE 8 (CDK8), a component of the kinase module of the Mediator complex in Arabidopsis, is involved in many processes, including flowering, plant defense, drought, and energy stress responses. Here, we investigated cdk8 mutants and CDK8-overexpressing lines to evaluate whether CDK8 also plays a role in regulating lipid synthesis, an energy-demanding anabolism. Quantitative lipid analysis demonstrated significant reductions in lipid synthesis rates and lipid accumulation in developing siliques and seedlings of cdk8, and conversely, elevated lipid contents in wild-type seed overexpressing CDK8. Transactivation assays show that CDK8 is necessary for maximal transactivation of the master seed oil activator WRINKLED1 (WRI1) by the seed maturation transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3, supporting a direct regulatory role of CDK8 in oil synthesis. Thermophoretic studies show GEMINIVIRUS REP INTERACTING KINASE1, an activating kinase of KIN10 (a catalytic subunit of SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING1-RELATED KINASE1), physically interacts with CDK8, resulting in its phosphorylation and degradation in the presence of KIN10. This work defines a mechanism whereby, once activated, KIN10 downregulates WRI1 expression and suppresses lipid synthesis via promoting the degradation of CDK8. The KIN10-CDK8-dependent regulation of lipid synthesis described herein is additional to our previously reported KIN10-dependent phosphorylation and degradation of WRI1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyang Zhai
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Jantana K Blanford
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Yingqi Cai
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Hai Shi
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Jorg Schwender
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - John Shanklin
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 463, 50 Bell Ave, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
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4
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Lim ARQ, Kong Q, Singh SK, Guo L, Yuan L, Ma W. Sunflower WRINKLED1 Plays a Key Role in Transcriptional Regulation of Oil Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063054. [PMID: 35328473 PMCID: PMC8951541 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063054] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide. However, the transcriptional regulation underlying oil accumulation in sunflower is not fully understood. WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is an essential transcription factor governing oil accumulation in plant cells. Here, we identify and characterize a sunflower ortholog of WRI1 (HaWRI1), which is highly expressed in developing seeds. Transient production of HaWRI1 stimulated substantial oil accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, fatty acid quantification, and gene expression analysis demonstrate that HaWRI1 acts as a pivotal transcription factor controlling the expression of genes involved in late glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis. HaWRI1 directly binds to the cis-element, AW-box, in the promoter of biotin carboxyl carrier protein isoform 2 (BCCP2). In addition, we characterize an 80 amino-acid C-terminal domain of HaWRI1 that is crucial for transactivation. Moreover, seed-specific overexpression of HaWRI1 in Arabidopsis plants leads to enhanced seed oil content as well as upregulation of the genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Taken together, our work demonstrates that HaWRI1 plays a pivotal role in the transcriptional control of seed oil accumulation, providing a potential target for bioengineering sunflower oil yield improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey R. Q. Lim
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (A.R.Q.L.); (Q.K.)
| | - Que Kong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (A.R.Q.L.); (Q.K.)
| | - Sanjay K. Singh
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (S.K.S.); (L.Y.)
| | - Liang Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; (S.K.S.); (L.Y.)
| | - Wei Ma
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (A.R.Q.L.); (Q.K.)
- Correspondence:
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5
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Huang C, Li Y, Wang K, Xi J, Xu Y, Hong J, Si X, Ye H, Lyu S, Xia G, Wang J, Li P, Xing Y, Wang Y, Huang J. Integrated transcriptome and proteome analysis of developing embryo reveals the mechanisms underlying the high levels of oil accumulation in Carya cathayensis Sarg. Tree Physiol 2022; 42:684-702. [PMID: 34409460 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab112] [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: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) is an extraordinary nut-bearing deciduous arbor with high content of oil in its embryo. However, the molecular mechanism underlying high oil accumulation is mostly unknown. Here, we reported that the lipid droplets and oil accumulation gradually increased with the embryo development and the oil content was up to ~76% at maturity. Furthermore, transcriptome and proteome analysis of developing hickory embryo identified 32,907 genes and 9857 proteins. Time-series analysis of gene expressions showed that these genes were divided into 12 clusters and lipid metabolism-related genes were enriched in Cluster 3, with the highest expression levels at 95 days after pollination (S2). Differentially expressed genes and proteins indicated high correlation, and both were enriched in the lipid metabolism. Notably, the genes involved in biosynthesis, transport of fatty acid/lipid and lipid droplets formation had high expression levels at S2, while the expression levels of other genes required for suberin/wax/cutin biosynthesis and lipid degradation were very low at all the sampling time points, ultimately promoting the accumulation of oil. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis also verified the results of RNA-seq. The co-regulatory networks of lipid metabolism were further constructed and WRINKLED1 (WRI1) was a core transcriptional factor located in the nucleus. Of note, CcWRI1A/B could directly activate the expression of some genes (CcBCCP2A, CcBCCP2B, CcFATA and CcFAD3) required for fatty acid synthesis. These results provided in-depth evidence for revealing the molecular mechanism of high oil accumulation in hickory embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Ketao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Jianwei Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Yifan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Junyan Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Xiaolin Si
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Hongyu Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Shiheng Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Guohua Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Peipei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Yulin Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Yige Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Jianqin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, No. 666 Wusu St, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
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Di Q, Piersanti A, Zhang Q, Miceli C, Li H, Liu X. Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Candidate Genes Related to the Linoleic Acid Content in Soybean Seeds. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:454. [PMID: 35008885 PMCID: PMC8745128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) oil is a complex mixture of five fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic). The high content of linoleic acid (LA) contributes to the oil having poor oxidative stability. Therefore, soybean seed with a lower LA content is desirable. To investigate the genetic architecture of LA, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 510 soybean cultivars collected from China. The phenotypic identification results showed that the content of LA varied from 36.22% to 72.18%. The GWAS analysis showed that there were 37 genes related to oleic acid content, with a contribution rate of 7%. The candidate gene Glyma.04G116500.1 (GmWRI14) on chromosome 4 was detected in three consecutive years. The GmWRI14 showed a negative correlation with the LA content and the correlation coefficient was -0.912. To test whether GmWRI14 can lead to a lower LA content in soybean, we introduced GmWRI14 into the soybean genome. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF IMS) showed that the overexpression of GmWRI14 leads to a lower LA content in soybean seeds. Meanwhile, RNA-seq verified that GmWRI14-overexpressed soybean lines showed a lower accumulation of GmFAD2-1A and GmFAD2-1B than control lines. Our results indicate that the down-regulation of the FAD2 gene triggered by the transcription factor GmWRI14 is the underlying mechanism reducing the LA level of seed. Our results provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of LA and pinpoint potential candidate genes for further in-depth studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Di
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China;
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China;
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Angela Piersanti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Qi Zhang
- Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China;
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Hui Li
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China;
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China;
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.P.); (C.M.)
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Huang R, Liu M, Gong G, Wu P, Patra B, Yuan L, Qin H, Wang X, Wang G, Liao H, Gao L, Yang C, Li H, Zhang S. The Pumilio RNA-binding protein APUM24 regulates seed maturation by fine-tuning the BPM- WRI1 module in Arabidopsis. J Integr Plant Biol 2021; 63:1240-1259. [PMID: 33729679 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13092] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Pumilio RNA-binding proteins participate in messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation and translational repression, but their roles in plant development are largely unclear. Here, we show that Arabidopsis PUMILIO PROTEIN24 (APUM24), an atypical Pumilio-homology domain-containing protein, plays an important part in regulating seed maturation, a major stage of plant development. APUM24 is strongly expressed in maturing seeds. Reducing APUM24 expression resulted in abnormal seed maturation, wrinkled seeds, and lower seed oil contents, and APUM24 knockdown resulted in lower levels of WRINKLED 1 (WRI1), a key transcription factor controlling seed oil accumulation, and lower expression of WRI1 target genes. APUM24 reduces the mRNA stability of BTB/POZMATH (BPM) family genes, thus decreasing BPM protein levels. BPM is responsible for the 26S proteasome-mediated degradation of WRI1 and has important functions in plant growth and development. The 3' untranslated regions of BPM family genes contain putative Pumilio response elements (PREs), which are bound by APUM24. Reduced BPM or increased WRI1 expression rescued the deficient seed maturation of apum24-2 knockdown mutants, and APUM24 overexpression resulted in increased seed size and weight. Therefore, APUM24 is crucial to seed maturation through its action as a positive regulator fine-tuning the BPM-WRI1 module, making APUM24 a promising target for breeding strategies to increase crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Mengling Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Guanping Gong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Pingzhi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Barunava Patra
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546, USA
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546, USA
| | - Hongting Qin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Xiaoxu Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Guohe Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Huimei Liao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lu Gao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Chengwei Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Hongqing Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Shengchun Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
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8
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Kong Q, Yang Y, Low PM, Guo L, Yuan L, Ma W. The function of the WRI1-TCP4 regulatory module in lipid biosynthesis. Plant Signal Behav 2020; 15:1812878. [PMID: 32880205 PMCID: PMC7588184 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2020.1812878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The plant-specific TCP transcription factors play pivotal roles in various processes of plant growth and development. However, little is known regarding the functions of TCPs in plant oil biosynthesis. Our recent work showed that TCP4 mediates oil production via interaction with WRINKLED1 (WRI1), an essential transcription factor governing plant fatty acid biosynthesis. Arabidopsis WRI1 (AtWRI1) physically interacts with multiple TCPs, including TCP4, TCP10, and TCP24. Transient co-expression of AtWRI1 with TCP4, but not TCP10 or TCP24, represses oil accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Increased TCP4 in transgenic plants overexpressing a miR319-resistant TCP4 (rTCP4) decreased the expression of AtWRI1 target genes. The tcp4 knockout mutant, the jaw-D mutant with significant reduction of TCP4 expression, and a tcp2 tcp4 tcp10 triple mutant, display increased seed oil contents compared to the wild-type Arabidopsis. The APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factor WRI1 is characterized by regulating fatty acid biosynthesis through cross-family interactions with multiple transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulators. The interacting regulator modules control the range of AtWRI1 transcriptional activity, allowing spatiotemporal modulation of lipid production. Interaction of TCP4 with AtWRI1, which results in a reduction of AtWRI1 activity, represents a newly discovered mechanism that enables the fine-tuning of plant oil biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Que Kong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yuzhou Yang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pui Man Low
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liang Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Wei Ma
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- CONTACT Wei Ma School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore637551, Singapore
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9
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Kong Q, Yang Y, Guo L, Yuan L, Ma W. Molecular Basis of Plant Oil Biosynthesis: Insights Gained From Studying the WRINKLED1 Transcription Factor. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:24. [PMID: 32117370 PMCID: PMC7011094 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Most plant species generate and store triacylglycerol (TAG) in their seeds, serving as a core supply of carbon and energy to support seedling development. Plant seed oils have a wide variety of applications, from being essential for human diets to serving as industrial renewable feedstock. WRINKLED1 (WRI1) transcription factor plays a central role in the transcriptional regulation of plant fatty acid biosynthesis. Since the discovery of Arabidopsis WRI1 gene (AtWRI1) in 2004, the function of WRI1 in plant oil biosynthesis has been studied intensively. In recent years, the identification of WRI1 co-regulators and deeper investigations of the structural features and molecular functions of WRI1 have advanced our understanding of the mechanism of the transcriptional regulation of plant oil biosynthesis. These advances also help pave the way for novel approaches that will better utilize WRI1 for bioengineering oil production in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Que Kong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yuzhou Yang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liang Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Wei Ma
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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10
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Vanhercke T, Belide S, Taylor MC, El Tahchy A, Okada S, Rolland V, Liu Q, Mitchell M, Shrestha P, Venables I, Ma L, Blundell C, Mathew A, Ziolkowski L, Niesner N, Hussain D, Dong B, Liu G, Godwin ID, Lee J, Rug M, Zhou X, Singh SP, Petrie JR. Up-regulation of lipid biosynthesis increases the oil content in leaves of Sorghum bicolor. Plant Biotechnol J 2019; 17:220-232. [PMID: 29873878 PMCID: PMC6330533 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis and accumulation of the storage lipid triacylglycerol in vegetative plant tissues has emerged as a promising strategy to meet the world's future need for vegetable oil. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a particularly attractive target crop given its high biomass, drought resistance and C4 photosynthesis. While oilseed-like triacylglycerol levels have been engineered in the C3 model plant tobacco, progress in C4 monocot crops has been lagging behind. In this study, we report the accumulation of triacylglycerol in sorghum leaf tissues to levels between 3 and 8.4% on a dry weight basis depending on leaf and plant developmental stage. This was achieved by the combined overexpression of genes encoding the Zea mays WRI1 transcription factor, Umbelopsis ramanniana UrDGAT2a acyltransferase and Sesamum indicum Oleosin-L oil body protein. Increased oil content was visible as lipid droplets, primarily in the leaf mesophyll cells. A comparison between a constitutive and mesophyll-specific promoter driving WRI1 expression revealed distinct changes in the overall leaf lipidome as well as transitory starch and soluble sugar levels. Metabolome profiling uncovered changes in the abundance of various amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. The results presented here are a first step forward towards the development of sorghum as a dedicated biomass oil crop and provide a basis for further combinatorial metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Qing Liu
- CSIRO Agriculture and FoodCanberraACTAustralia
| | | | | | | | - Lina Ma
- CSIRO Agriculture and FoodCanberraACTAustralia
| | | | - Anu Mathew
- CSIRO Agriculture and FoodCanberraACTAustralia
| | | | | | | | - Bei Dong
- CSIRO Agriculture and FoodCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Guoquan Liu
- School of Agriculture and Food SciencesUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ian D. Godwin
- School of Agriculture and Food SciencesUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Jiwon Lee
- Centre for Advanced MicroscopyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Melanie Rug
- Centre for Advanced MicroscopyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
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11
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Chen L, Zheng Y, Dong Z, Meng F, Sun X, Fan X, Zhang Y, Wang M, Wang S. Soybean (Glycine max) WRINKLED1 transcription factor, Gm WRI1a, positively regulates seed oil accumulation. Mol Genet Genomics 2018; 293:401-415. [PMID: 29138932 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-017-1393-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Soybean is the world's most important leguminous crop producing high-quality protein and oil. Elevating oil accumulation in soybean seed is always many researchers' goal. WRINKLED1 (WRI1) encodes a transcription factor of the APETALA2/ethylene responsive element-binding protein (AP2/EREBP) family that plays important roles during plant seed oil accumulation. In this study, we isolated and characterized three distinct orthologues of WRI1 in soybean (Glycine max) that display different organ-specific expression patterns, among which GmWRI1a was highly expressed in maturing soybean seed. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and yeast one-hybrid experiments demonstrated that the GmWRI1a protein was capable of binding to AW-box, a conserved sequence in the proximal upstream regions of many genes involved in various steps of oil biosynthesis. Transgenic soybean seeds overexpressing GmWRI1a under the control of the seed-specific napin promoter showed the increased total oil and fatty acid content and the changed fatty acid composition. Furthermore, basing on the activated expressions in transgenic soybean seeds and existence of AW-box element in the promoter regions, direct downstream genes of GmWRI1a were identified, and their products were responsible for fatty acid production, elongation, desaturation and export from plastid. We conclude that GmWRI1a transcription factor can positively regulate oil accumulation in soybean seed by a complex gene expression network related to fatty acid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhong Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Biology in Chinese Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhimin Dong
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fanfan Meng
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingmiao Sun
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuhong Fan
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunfeng Zhang
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingliang Wang
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuming Wang
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China.
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12
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Ye J, Wang C, Sun Y, Qu J, Mao H, Chua NH. Overexpression of a Transcription Factor Increases Lipid Content in a Woody Perennial Jatropha curcas. Front Plant Sci 2018; 9:1479. [PMID: 30405653 PMCID: PMC6204399 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Vegetable oil is an important renewable resource for dietary consumption for human and livestock, and more recently for biodiesel production. Lipid traits in crops are controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and each of them has a small effect on lipid traits. So far, there is limited success to increase lipid yield and improve lipid quality in plants. Here, we reported the identification of a homolog of APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factor WRINKLED1 (JcWRI1) from an oleaginous plant Jatropha curcas and characterized its function in Jatropha and Arabidopsis thaliana. Using physical mapping data, we located JcWRI1 in a QTL region specifying high oleate and lipid content in Jatropha. Overexpression of JcWRI1 in Jatropha elevated seed lipid content and increased seed mass. Lipid profile in seeds of over-expression plants showed higher oleate content which will be beneficial to improve biodiesel quality. Overexpression of JcWRI1 activated lipid-related gene expression and JcWRI1 was shown to directly bind to the AW-box of promoters of some of these genes. In conclusion, we were able to increase seed lipid content and improve seed lipid quality in Jatropha by manipulating one key transcription factor JcWRI1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ye
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jian Ye, Nam-Hai Chua,
| | - Chunming Wang
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanwei Sun
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Qu
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huizhu Mao
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nam-Hai Chua
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Jian Ye, Nam-Hai Chua,
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13
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Kanai M, Mano S, Kondo M, Hayashi M, Nishimura M. Extension of oil biosynthesis during the mid-phase of seed development enhances oil content in Arabidopsis seeds. Plant Biotechnol J 2016; 14:1241-50. [PMID: 26503031 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of oil biosynthesis in plant seeds has been extensively studied, and biotechnological approaches have been designed to increase seed oil content. Oil and protein synthesis is negatively correlated in seeds, but the mechanisms controlling interactions between these two pathways are unknown. Here, we identify the molecular mechanism controlling oil and protein content in seeds. We utilized transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing WRINKLED1 (WRI1), a master transcription factor regulating seed oil biosynthesis, and knockout mutants of major seed storage proteins. Oil and protein biosynthesis in wild-type plants was sequentially activated during early and late seed development, respectively. The negative correlation between oil and protein contents in seeds arises from competition between the pathways. Extension of WRI1 expression during mid-phase of seed development significantly enhanced seed oil content. This study demonstrates that temporal activation of genes involved in oil or storage protein biosynthesis determines the oil/protein ratio in Arabidopsis seeds. These results provide novel insights into potential breeding strategies to generate crops with high oil contents in seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatake Kanai
- Department of Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Laboratory of Biological Diversity, Department of Evolutionary and Biodiversity, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Shoji Mano
- Department of Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Laboratory of Biological Diversity, Department of Evolutionary and Biodiversity, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Japan
| | - Maki Kondo
- Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Makoto Hayashi
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Japan
| | - Mikio Nishimura
- Department of Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
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14
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Vanhercke T, El Tahchy A, Liu Q, Zhou XR, Shrestha P, Divi UK, Ral JP, Mansour MP, Nichols PD, James CN, Horn PJ, Chapman KD, Beaudoin F, Ruiz-López N, Larkin PJ, de Feyter RC, Singh SP, Petrie JR. Metabolic engineering of biomass for high energy density: oilseed-like triacylglycerol yields from plant leaves. Plant Biotechnol J 2014; 12:231-9. [PMID: 24151938 PMCID: PMC4285938 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [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: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
High biomass crops have recently attracted significant attention as an alternative platform for the renewable production of high energy storage lipids such as triacylglycerol (TAG). While TAG typically accumulates in seeds as storage compounds fuelling subsequent germination, levels in vegetative tissues are generally low. Here, we report the accumulation of more than 15% TAG (17.7% total lipids) by dry weight in Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) leaves by the co-expression of three genes involved in different aspects of TAG production without severely impacting plant development. These yields far exceed the levels found in wild-type leaf tissue as well as previously reported engineered TAG yields in vegetative tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana and N. tabacum. When translated to a high biomass crop, the current levels would translate to an oil yield per hectare that exceeds those of most cultivated oilseed crops. Confocal fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry imaging confirmed the accumulation of TAG within leaf mesophyll cells. In addition, we explored the applicability of several existing oil-processing methods using fresh leaf tissue. Our results demonstrate the technical feasibility of a vegetative plant oil production platform and provide for a step change in the bioenergy landscape, opening new prospects for sustainable food, high energy forage, biofuel and biomaterial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vanhercke
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna El Tahchy
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Qing Liu
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Pushkar Shrestha
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Uday K Divi
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jean-Philippe Ral
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | | | - Christopher N James
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Plant Lipid Research, University of North TexasDenton, TX, USA
| | - Patrick J Horn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Plant Lipid Research, University of North TexasDenton, TX, USA
| | - Kent D Chapman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Plant Lipid Research, University of North TexasDenton, TX, USA
| | - Frederic Beaudoin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Rothamsted ResearchHarpenden, UK
| | - Noemi Ruiz-López
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Rothamsted ResearchHarpenden, UK
| | | | | | - Surinder P Singh
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - James R Petrie
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research FlagshipCanberra, ACT, Australia
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