Characterization of phenylpropanoid pathway genes within European maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds

Andersen, Jeppe Reitan; Zein, Imad; Wenzel, G.; Darnhofer, Birte; Eder, J.; Ouzunova, Milena; Lübberstedt, Thomas

doi:10.1186/1471-2229-8-2

Cited by 52 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Even though genomics-based descriptions of lignin pathway genes in monocots have been presented Lawrence and Walbot, 2007;Andersen et al, 2008), the corresponding enzymatic functions encoded by many of the gene candidates have yet to be verified biochemically or genetically.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Genomics Approach to Deciphering Lignin Biosynthesis in Switchgrass

et al. 2013

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It is necessary to overcome recalcitrance of the biomass to saccharification (sugar release) to make switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) economically viable as a feedstock for liquid biofuels. Lignin content correlates negatively with sugar release efficiency in switchgrass, but selecting the right gene candidates for engineering lignin biosynthesis in this tetraploid outcrossing species is not straightforward. To assist this endeavor, we have used an inducible switchgrass cell suspension system for studying lignin biosynthesis in response to exogenous brassinolide. By applying a combination of protein sequence phylogeny with whole-genome microarray analyses of induced cell cultures and developing stem internode sections, we have generated a list of candidate monolignol biosynthetic genes for switchgrass. Several genes that were strongly supported through our bioinformatics analysis as involved in lignin biosynthesis were confirmed by gene silencing studies, in which lignin levels were reduced as a result of targeting a single gene. However, candidate genes encoding enzymes involved in the early steps of the currently accepted monolignol biosynthesis pathway in dicots may have functionally redundant paralogues in switchgrass and therefore require further evaluation. This work provides a blueprint and resources for the systematic genome-wide study of the monolignol pathway in switchgrass, as well as other C4 monocot species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Genomics Approach to Deciphering Lignin Biosynthesis in Switchgrass

et al. 2013

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“…However, when considering multiple testing, the associations between F5H, C3H and forage quality traits were no longer significant. No significant associations were found between polymorphisms in genes 4CL2, C4H, and CAD with forage quality traits (Andersen et al 2008). Two SNPs in the F5H gene, leading to a substitution from Proline to Arginine, were associated with dry matter yield (DMY) ).…”

Section: Genes Controlling Forage Quality Of Maizementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Six putative phenylpropanoid pathway genes, including C4H, 4CL1, 4CL2, C3H, F5H, and CAD, were investigated for associations with forage quality traits in a panel of 40 European forage maize inbred lines (Andersen et al 2008). A 1-bp indel at position 810 in the 4CL1 gene was associated with IVDOM.…”

Section: Genes Controlling Forage Quality Of Maizementioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative and Quantitative Trait Polymorphisms in Maize

Yang

2013

Diagnostics in Plant Breeding

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“…Although the maize genome contains two C3H genes, ZmC3H1 (GRMZM2G138074) and ZmC3H2 (GRMZM2G140817), it was initially thought that ZmC3H was encoded by a single gene whose expression pattern is compatible with a possible involvement in lignification [32] and association studies of the maize genetic variation in the phenylpropanoid pathway and forage 6 quality identified a non-synonymous SNP in the terminal exon of C3H1 associated with the in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM) [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Total diferulates were calculated as the sum of Only one sequence corresponding to a putative C3H (here defined as ZmC3H1) was initially found in maize [32,33]. The ZmC3H1 gene exhibited relatively low levels of expression in all organs studied (roots, young stem, leaves, basal and ear internodes), with slightly higher levels in the ear internode, where a striking switch of gene expression toward phenylpropanoid metabolism occurs, suggesting a high metabolic demand for lignin precursors [32].…”

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confidence: 99%

Cell wall modifications triggered by the down-regulation of Coumarate 3-hydroxylase-1 in maize

et al. 2015

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Coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) catalyzes a key step of the synthesis of the two main lignin subunits, guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) in dicotyledonous species. As no functional data are available in regards to this enzyme in monocotyledonous species, we generated C3H1 knockdown maize plants. The results obtained indicate that C3H1 participates in lignin biosynthesis as its down-regulation redirects the phenylpropanoid flux: as a result, increased amounts of phydroxyphenyl (H) units, lignin-associated ferulates and the flavone tricin were detected in transgenic stems cell walls. Altogether, these changes make stem cell walls more degradable in the most C3H1-repressed plants, despite their unaltered polysaccharide content. The increase in H monomers is moderate compared to C3H deficient Arabidopsis and alfalfa plants. This could be due to the existence of a second maize C3H protein (C3H2) that can compensate the reduced levels of C3H1 in these C3H1-RNAi maize plants. The reduced expression of C3H1 alters the macroscopic phenotype of the plants, whose growth is inhibited proportionally to the extent of C3H1 repression. Finally, the down-regulation of C3H1 also increases the synthesis of flavonoids, leading to the accumulation of anthocyanins in transgenic leaves.

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Characterization of phenylpropanoid pathway genes within European maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds

Abstract: Background: Forage quality of maize is influenced by both the content and structure of lignins in the cell wall. Biosynthesis of monolignols, constituting the complex structure of lignins, is catalyzed by enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway.

Cited by 52 publications

References 62 publications

A Genomics Approach to Deciphering Lignin Biosynthesis in Switchgrass

A Genomics Approach to Deciphering Lignin Biosynthesis in Switchgrass

Qualitative and Quantitative Trait Polymorphisms in Maize

Cell wall modifications triggered by the down-regulation of Coumarate 3-hydroxylase-1 in maize

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