| Content Provider |
World Health Organization (WHO)-Global Index Medicus |
| Author |
Tang, Buyun Ye, Huaxun Li, Ling Arendsee, Zebulun W. Scott, M. Paul Zhu, Yanbing Li, Ruoran Du, Chuanlong Jones, Dallas Salas-fernandez, Maria G. Yin, Yanhai Zheng, Wenguang Nettleton, Dan Wurtele, Eve Syrkin Ortiz, Diego Zhao, Xuefeng |
| Description |
Author Affiliation: Li L ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Zheng W ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Zhu Y ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Ye H ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Tang B ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Arendsee ZW ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Jones D ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Li R ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Ortiz D ( Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Zhao X ( Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Du C ( Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Nettleton D ( Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Scott MP ( Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Salas-Fernandez MG ( Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Yin Y ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); Wurtele ES ( Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011); |
| Abstract |
The allocation of carbon and nitrogen resources to the synthesis of plant proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids is complex and under the control of many genes; much remains to be understood about this process. QQS (Qua-Quine Starch; At3g30720), an orphan gene unique to Arabidopsis thaliana, regulates metabolic processes affecting carbon and nitrogen partitioning among proteins and carbohydrates, modulating leaf and seed composition in Arabidopsis and soybean. Here the universality of QQS function in modulating carbon and nitrogen allocation is exemplified by a series of transgenic experiments. We show that ectopic expression of QQS increases soybean protein independent of the genetic background and original protein content of the cultivar. Furthermore, transgenic QQS expression increases the protein content of maize, a C4 species (a species that uses 4-carbon photosynthesis), and rice, a protein-poor agronomic crop, both highly divergent from Arabidopsis. We determine that QQS protein binds to the transcriptional regulator AtNF-YC4 (Arabidopsis nuclear factor Y, subunit C4). Overexpression of AtNF-YC4 in Arabidopsis mimics the QQS-overexpression phenotype, increasing protein and decreasing starch levels. NF-YC, a component of the NF-Y complex, is conserved across eukaryotes. The NF-YC4 homologs of soybean, rice, and maize also bind to QQS, which provides an explanation of how QQS can act in species where it does not occur endogenously. These findings are, to our knowledge, the first insight into the mechanism of action of QQS in modulating carbon and nitrogen allocation across species. They have major implications for the emergence and function of orphan genes, and identify a nontransgenic strategy for modulating protein levels in crop species, a trait of great agronomic significance. |
| ISSN |
00278424 |
| e-ISSN |
10916490 |
| Journal |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Issue Number |
47 |
| Volume Number |
112 |
| Language |
English |
| Publisher |
National Academy of Sciences |
| Publisher Date |
2015-11-01 |
| Publisher Place |
United States |
| Access Restriction |
Open |
| Subject Keyword |
Arabidopsis Proteins Metabolism Genes, Plant Nitrogen Transcription Factors Arabidopsis Genetics Gene Expression Regulation, Plant Models, Biological Mutation Oryza Sativa Phenotype Photosynthesis Phylogeny Physiology Plants, Genetically Modified Protein Binding Protein Structure, Tertiary Soybeans Growth & Development Species Specificity Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Multidisciplinary |
| Content Type |
Text |
| Resource Type |
Article |
| Subject |
Multidisciplinary |
