21In plants, 2,3,4,5, ), also known as phytic acid 22 (PA), is a major component of organic phosphorus (P), and accounts for up to 85% of the total 2 23 P in seeds. In rice (Oryza sativa L.), PA mainly accumulates in rice bran, and chelates mineral 24 cations, resulting in mineral deficiencies among brown rice consumers. Therefore, 25 considerable efforts have been focused on the development of low PA (LPA) rice cultivars. In 26 this study, we performed genetic and molecular analyses of OsLpa1, a major PA biosynthesis 27 gene, in Sanggol, a low PA mutant variety developed via chemical mutagenesis of Ilpum rice 28 cultivar. Genetic segregation and sequencing analyses revealed that a recessive allele, lpa1-3, 29 at the OsLpa1 locus (Os02g0819400) was responsible for a significant reduction in seed PA 30 content in Sanggol. The lpa1-3 gene harboured a point mutation (C623T) in the fourth exon of 31 the predicted coding region, resulting in threonine (Thr) to isoleucine (Ile) amino acid 32 substitution at position 208 (Thr208Ile). Three-dimensional analysis of Lpa1 protein structure 33 indicated that myo-inositol 3-monophosphate [Ins(3)P 1 ] kinase binds to the active site of Lpa1, 34 with ATP as a cofactor for catalysis. Furthermore, the presence of Thr208 in the loop adjacent 35 to the entry site of the binding pocket suggests that Thr208Ile substitution is involved in 36 regulating enzyme activity via phosphorylation. Therefore, we propose that Thr208Ile 37 substitution in lpa1-3 reduces Lpa1 enzyme activity in Sanggol, resulting in reduced PA 38 biosynthesis. 39 40 42 phytic acid (PA), is considered a major source of phosphorus (P) available in the form of 43 phytate, and accounts for 65-85% of the total P in seeds [1]. Monogastric animals poorly digest 44 PA, as they lack the phytase enzyme, which is responsible for the release of phosphate residues 45 [2]. PA is an efficient chelator of mineral cations, such as zinc (Zn 2+ ), iron (Fe 2+ ), magnesium 46 (Mg 2+ ), potassium (K 2+ ), and calcium (Ca 2+ ), in the nutritional tract. Because of these attributes, 3 47 PA is considered as an antinutrient [3, 4]. Hence, there is a need to develop low PA (LPA) crop 48 cultivars to maximize the nutritional benefits of grains. 49 Mutants associated with the LPA phenotype have been identified in several crop plants 50 including maize (Zea mays) [5, 6], barley (Hordeum vulgare) [7], soyabean (Glycine max) [8], 51 rice (Oryza sativa) [9], and wheat (Triticum aestivum) [10]. Although, LPA mutants are 52identified primarily on the basis of percentage reduction of PA and high inorganic P (P i ) content 53 in seeds [5, 11], some mutants show a significant accumulation of myo-inositol and inositol 54 phosphate [Ins(1,3,4)P 3 5-/6] intermediates in seeds [12, 13].
55Previously, the LPA phenotype of seeds has been associated with reduced agronomic 56 performance of mutant crop plants in the field [5, 14]. It is important to understand the genetic 57 and molecular bases of reduced agronomic performance of LPA mutants for ef...