Project description:A deeper understanding of the genetics of rice grain starch structure is crucial in tailoring grain digestibility and ensuring cooking quality to meet consumer preferences. Significant association peaks on chromosomes 6 and 7 were identified through genome-wide association study (GWAS) of debranched starch structure from grains of a 320 indica rice diversity panel using genotyping data from the high-density rice array. A systems genetics approach that interrelates starch structure data from GWAS to functional pathways from a gene regulatory network identified known and novel genes with high correlation to the proportion of amylose and amylopectin. A novel SNP in the promoter region of Granule Bound Starch Synthase I (GBSS I) was identified along with seven other SNPs to form haplotypes that discriminate samples into different phenotypic ranges of amylose. A novel GWAS peak on chromosome 7 between LOC_Os07g11020 and LOC_Os07g11520 indexed by a non-synonymous SNP mutation on exon 5 of a bHLH transcription factor was found to elevate the proportion of amylose at the expense of reduced short-chain amylopectin. Linking starch structure with starch digestibility by determining the kinetics of cooked grain amylolysis of selected haplotypes revealed strong association of starch structure with estimated digestibility kinetics. Combining all results from grain quality genomics, systems genetics, and digestibility phenotyping, we propose novel target haplotypes for fine-tuning starch structure in rice through marker-assisted breeding that can be used to alter the digestibility of rice grain, thus offering rice consumers a new diet-based intervention to mitigate the impact of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases.
Project description:Genetic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that describes unequal expression of paternal and maternal alleles of a gene in sexually reproducing organisms including mammals and flowering plants. The function of imprinted genes was rarely reported. We report genome-wide analysis of gene expression, DNA methylation, and small RNAs in the rice endosperm and functional tests of five imprinted genes in seed development using CRISPR/Cas9 editing technology. We identified 162 maternally expressed genes(MEGs) and 95 paternally expressed genes (PEGs) in the rice endosperm, which were associated with miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements, imprinted differentially methylated loci, and some 21-22-siRNAs and lncRNAs. Remarkably, one-third of MEGs and nearly half of PEGs were associated with grain-yield quantitative trait loci and enriched in the endosperm-expressed genes. Disrupting two MEGs increased the amount of small starch granules and reduced grain size, weight, and embryo size, while mutating three PEGs reduced starch content and seed fertility. Our data support both MEGs and PEGs in rice are required for starch and nutrient accumulation, mediating offspring fitness and optimal seed size. This imprinting strategy provides potential means for improving grain yield of rice and other cereal crops.
Project description:Starch accumulation is the key progress for the maturity of rice pollen grains. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying which remains less understood. Here, we isolated a rice male-sterile mutant ap1, which produces non-viable pollen grains with defective starch accumulation. Functional analysis revealed that AP1 encodes an active L-type lectin receptor-like kinase (L-LecRLK). AP1 is located on plasma membrane and its transcript is highly accumulated in pollen during the starch synthesis phase. RNA-seq analysis suggests that the mutation of AP1 significantly altered the expression of numerous genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolic pathway. Phosphoproteomic profiling revealed that the phosphorylation levels of several proteins within this pathway were significantly downregulated in the mutant. Among which, a rice UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (OsUGP2), which roles in pollen starch accumulation, was identified. Further protein–protein interaction assays suggest that OsUGP2 is a feasible target of AP1 to regulate pollen starch accumulation. Our findings thus revealed a novel role of L-LecRLK in controlling pollen maturity via modulating starch metabolism.
Project description:The gene expression profiling analyses by DNA chip showed that the gene expression pattern of mice fed resveratrol-enriched rice DJ526 was very different from mice fed either resveratrol or Dongjin rice alone, respectively, modifying expression of genes related to aging regulation, cell differentiation, extracellular matrix, neurogenesis, or secretion. (1) Ctrl (The control mice fed a NFD in which the carbohydrate source was corn starch and sucrose), (2) RS (resveratrol mice fed a NFD in which the carbohydrate source was corn starch and sucrose except containing resveratrol), (3) DJ (Dongjin mice fed a NFD in which the corn starch and sucrose were replaced with Dongjin rice), and (4) DJ526 (DJ526 mice fed a NFD in which the corn starch and sucrose were replaced with the resveratrol-enriched rice DJ526)
Project description:OsbZIP58 is a regulator of starch synthesis in rice endosperm. T-DNA insertion null mutants of this gene showed a white belly phenotype indicating an altered starch composition and content. We further investigated how reduction of OsbZIP58 gene expression caused these changes by analyzing the transcriptomes in the immature endosperm at 9 DAF of the wild-type and osbzip58-1 mutants by microarray analysis.
Project description:Starch is the primary form of reserve carbohydrate storage in plants. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a monocot whose reserve starch is organized into compounded structures within the amyloplast, rather than a simple starch grain (SG). The mechanism governing the assembly of the compound SG from polyhedral granules in apposition, however, remains unknown. To further characterize the proteome associated with these compounded structures, three distinct methods of starch granule preparation (dispersion, microsieve, and flotation) were performed. Phase separation of peptides (aqueous trypsin-shaving and isopropanol solubilization of residual peptides) isolated starch granule-associated proteins (SGAPs) from the distal proteome of the amyloplast and the proximal ‘amylome’ (the amyloplastic proteome), respectively. These two rice starch-associated peptide samples were analyzed using nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Nano-HPLC-MS/MS). Known and novel proteins as well as septum-like structure (SLS) proteins in the mature rice SG were found. Data mining and gene ontology software were used to categorize these putative plastoskeletal components as a variety of structural elements, including actins, tubulins, tubulin-like proteins, and cementitious elements like reticulata related-like (RER) proteins, tegument proteins, and lectins. Delineating the plastoskeletal proteome begins by understanding how each starch granule isolation procedure affects observed cytoplasmic and plastid proteins. The three methods described herein show how the technique used to isolate SG’s differentially impacts the subsequent proteomic analysis and results obtained. It can thus be concluded that future investigations must make judicious decisions regarding the methodology used in extracting proteomic information from the compound starch granules being assessed, since different methods are shown to yield contrasting results herein.
Project description:Background: Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a worldwide problem in rice production, being highly tolerant to sub-optimal nutrient levels hence competitive in nutrient acquisition. To understand the function of genes that are potentially involved in the high nutrient acquisition ability of weedy rice, we compared the transcriptomes of strawhull weedy red rice (tolerant to N deficit) with the rice cultivar ‘Wells’ (intolerant to N deficit), by examining profiles in flag leaves at panicle initiation under low and optimum N levels. Strawhull weedy red rice and cultivar ‘Wells’ were grown in nutrient solution with NH4NO3 concentration manipulated to simulate optimum and deficient N conditions. Changes in gene expression in leaf tissues were analyzed at three conditions: N deficiency, and at 24- and 48-h NH4NO3 supplementation after N starvation. Differential gene expression on weedy red rice was evaluated using oligonucleotide arrays representing 44,974 rice gene models. Overall, comparative real-time PCR analysis of 21 candidate genes identified from the microarray data between weedy red rice and cultivar ‘Wells’ supported our hypothesis that key genes involved in N assimilation are expressed differentially at N- deficient conditions between the tolerant and intolerant strains. Results: Eight candidate genes showed significant differences in expression at one of the time points: N and starch metabolism-related [alanine aminotransferase (OsAlaAT) locus ID Os10g25140.1; soluble starch synthase 2-1(OsSSSII1), Os10g30156.1; and soluble starch synthase 2-3(OsSSSII3), Os06g12450.1]; cell structure-related [alpha-L-fucosidase 2 precursor (OsFUCA2), Os06g06250.1]; signal transduction [two-component response regulator-like(OsPRR1), Os02g40510.1 and EF hand family protein (OsPOLC2_JUNOX), Os02g50060.1]; and transcription factors [zinc finger, C2H2 type family protein(OsC2H2Znf), Os11g06840.1 and Myb-like DNA-binding domain (OsMYB), Os01g62660.1]. Genome-wide gene expression analysis of weedy rice showed that nitrite reductase (Os01g25484.1; Os01g25484.2; Os01g25484.3) was most highly induced at N starvation and was most deeply repressed at 24 h of N-stress recovery. A few other genes, namely SANT/MYB (Os01g47370.1), chaperonin (Os02g54060.1; Os02g54060.2), protein phosphatase (Os09g15670.1), polyamine transporter (Os01g61044.1), trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Os02g54820.2), uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (Os05g38170.1), an MIKCc type-box transcription factor (Os02g52340.1), a cell homeostasis-related uncharacterized protein (Os02g16880.1), a protease inhibitor (Os07g18990.1), dehydrin (Os11g26760.1), and cytochrome P450 (Os11g05380.1) were also strong indicators of starvation and recovery. Conclusions: Weedy rice has N-stress adaptive mechanisms that are probably distinct to the mechanisms in most cultivars. This mechanism potentially contributes to its high vigor and competitive advantage over most rice cultivars under sub-optimal nutrient levels. Expression of key genes involved in nitrate assimilation, trehalose synthesis, and protein modification appeared to be critical for adaptation to N stress in weedy rice. N-stress tolerance of weedy red rice appeared to be due at least in part to the ability to sustain C fixation and starch synthesis during N starvation.
Project description:High temperature markedly reduces the yields and quality of rice grains. To identify the mechanisms underlying heat stress-induced responses in rice grains, proteomic technique was used. Khao Dawk Mali 105 rice grains at the milky, doughy, and mature stages of development after flowering were treated at 40 °C for 3 days. Aromatic compounds were decreased in rice grains under heat stress. The protein abundance involved in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle, including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase, was changed in milky and doughy grains after heat treatment; however, no changes in mature grains. The abundance involved in amino acid metabolism was increased in doughy grains, but decreased in milky grains. In addition, the abundance involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, such as starch synthase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, granule-bound starch synthase, and alpha amylase, was decreased in milky grains, but increased in doughy grains. A number of redox homeostasis-related proteins, such as ascorbate peroxidase and peroxiredoxin, were increased in developing rice grains treated with heat stress. These results suggest that in response to heat stress, the abundance of numerous proteins involved in redox homeostasis and carbohydrate biosynthetic pathways may play a major role in the development of KDML105 rice grains.
Project description:OsbZIP58 is a regulator of starch synthesis in rice endosperm. T-DNA insertion null mutants of this gene showed a white belly phenotype indicating an altered starch composition and content. We further investigated how reduction of OsbZIP58 gene expression caused these changes by analyzing the transcriptomes in the immature endosperm at 9 DAF of the wild-type and osbzip58-1 mutants by microarray analysis. 9 DAF endosperm of Dongjin (wild type) and osbzip58-1 were used to compare the gene expresion, and three independent biological replicates for each material.
Project description:Background: Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a worldwide problem in rice production, being highly tolerant to sub-optimal nutrient levels hence competitive in nutrient acquisition. To understand the function of genes that are potentially involved in the high nutrient acquisition ability of weedy rice, we compared the transcriptomes of strawhull weedy red rice (tolerant to N deficit) with the rice cultivar M-bM-^@M-^XWellsM-bM-^@M-^Y (intolerant to N deficit), by examining profiles in flag leaves at panicle initiation under low and optimum N levels. Strawhull weedy red rice and cultivar M-bM-^@M-^XWellsM-bM-^@M-^Y were grown in nutrient solution with NH4NO3 concentration manipulated to simulate optimum and deficient N conditions. Changes in gene expression in leaf tissues were analyzed at three conditions: N deficiency, and at 24- and 48-h NH4NO3 supplementation after N starvation. Differential gene expression on weedy red rice was evaluated using oligonucleotide arrays representing 44,974 rice gene models. Overall, comparative real-time PCR analysis of 21 candidate genes identified from the microarray data between weedy red rice and cultivar M-bM-^@M-^XWellsM-bM-^@M-^Y supported our hypothesis that key genes involved in N assimilation are expressed differentially at N- deficient conditions between the tolerant and intolerant strains. Results: Eight candidate genes showed significant differences in expression at one of the time points: N and starch metabolism-related [alanine aminotransferase (OsAlaAT) locus ID Os10g25140.1; soluble starch synthase 2-1(OsSSSII1), Os10g30156.1; and soluble starch synthase 2-3(OsSSSII3), Os06g12450.1]; cell structure-related [alpha-L-fucosidase 2 precursor (OsFUCA2), Os06g06250.1]; signal transduction [two-component response regulator-like(OsPRR1), Os02g40510.1 and EF hand family protein (OsPOLC2_JUNOX), Os02g50060.1]; and transcription factors [zinc finger, C2H2 type family protein(OsC2H2Znf), Os11g06840.1 and Myb-like DNA-binding domain (OsMYB), Os01g62660.1]. Genome-wide gene expression analysis of weedy rice showed that nitrite reductase (Os01g25484.1; Os01g25484.2; Os01g25484.3) was most highly induced at N starvation and was most deeply repressed at 24 h of N-stress recovery. A few other genes, namely SANT/MYB (Os01g47370.1), chaperonin (Os02g54060.1; Os02g54060.2), protein phosphatase (Os09g15670.1), polyamine transporter (Os01g61044.1), trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Os02g54820.2), uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (Os05g38170.1), an MIKCc type-box transcription factor (Os02g52340.1), a cell homeostasis-related uncharacterized protein (Os02g16880.1), a protease inhibitor (Os07g18990.1), dehydrin (Os11g26760.1), and cytochrome P450 (Os11g05380.1) were also strong indicators of starvation and recovery. Conclusions: Weedy rice has N-stress adaptive mechanisms that are probably distinct to the mechanisms in most cultivars. This mechanism potentially contributes to its high vigor and competitive advantage over most rice cultivars under sub-optimal nutrient levels. Expression of key genes involved in nitrate assimilation, trehalose synthesis, and protein modification appeared to be critical for adaptation to N stress in weedy rice. N-stress tolerance of weedy red rice appeared to be due at least in part to the ability to sustain C fixation and starch synthesis during N starvation. Plants were subjected to four treatments: T1 M-bM-^@M-^S Full N; T2 M-bM-^@M-^S NH4NO3starvation until NSI <95%; T3 - 24-h NH4NO3 readdition post-starvation; and T4 M-bM-^@M-^S 48-h NH4NO3 readdition post-starvation. The 24- and 48-h time points for NH4NO3 supplementation were selected to assess both the early and late molecular responses. There were four replications, with three plants per replication per N treatment.