QTL and candidate genes phytoene synthase and zeta-carotene desaturase associated with the accumulation of carotenoids in maize.

Carotenoids are a class of fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin compounds present in maize ( Zea mays L.) that may provide health benefits to animals or humans. Four carotenoid compounds are predominant in maize grain: beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Although beta-carotene has the highest pro-vitamin A activity, it is present in a relatively low concentration in maize kernels. We set out to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting carotenoid accumulation in maize kernels. Two sets of segregating families were evaluated-a set of F2:3 lines derived from a cross of W64a x A632, and their testcross progeny with AE335. Molecular markers were evaluated on the F2:3 lines and a genetic linkage map created. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to measure beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein on both sets of materials. Composite interval mapping identified chromosome regions with QTL for one or more individual carotenoids in the per se and testcross progenies. Notably QTL in the per se population map to regions with candidate genes, yellow 1 and viviparous 9, which may be responsible for quantitative variation in carotenoids. The yellow 1 gene maps to chromosome six and is associated with phytoene synthase, the enzyme catalyzing the first dedicated step in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The viviparous 9 gene maps to chromosome seven and is associated with zeta-carotene desaturase, an enzyme catalyzing an early step in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. If the QTL identified in this study are confirmed, particularly those associated with candidates genes, they could be used in an efficient marker-assisted selection program to facilitate increasing levels of carotenoids in maize grain.

Surrogate biochemistry: use of Escherichia coli to identify plant cDNAs that impact metabolic engineering of carotenoid accumulation.

Carotenoids synthesized in plants but not animals are essential for human nutrition. Therefore, ongoing efforts to metabolically engineer plants for improved carotenoid content benefit from the identification of genes that affect carotenoid accumulation, possibly highlighting potential challenges when pyramiding traits represented by multiple biosynthetic pathways. We employed a heterologous bacterial system to screen for maize cDNAs encoding products that alter carotenoid accumulation either positively or negatively. Genes encoding carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes from the bacterium Erwinia uredovora were introduced into Escherichia coli cells that were subsequently transfected with a maize endosperm cDNA expression library; and these doubly transformed cells were then screened for altered carotenoid accumulation. DNA sequencing and characterization of one cDNA class conferring increased carotenoid content led to the identification of maize cDNAs encoding isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase. A cDNA that caused a reduced carotenoid content in E. coli was also identified. Based on DNA sequence analysis, DNA hybridization, and further functional testing, this latter cDNA was found to encode the small subunit of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, a rate-controlling enzyme in starch biosynthesis that has been of interest for enhancing plant starch content.

A simple approach to identify the first rice mutants blocked in carotenoid biosynthesis.

Mutations blocking carotenoid biosynthesis, never before described for rice, are valuable for pathway manipulation and study. Similar to defects in ABA biosynthesis, mutations blocking the carotenoid pathway confer vivipary, but in addition also confer an albino seedling phenotype. Pigments extracted from rice mutants exhibiting the double mutant phenotype were analysed by HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography); these results led to the identification of the first rice mutant accumulating an intermediate of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, phytoene, and a second mutant with almost no detectable carotenoids.

Metabolic engineering of carotenoid accumulation in Escherichia coli by modulation of the isoprenoid precursor pool with expression of deoxyxylulose phosphate synthase.

The recently discovered non-mevalonate pathway to isoprenoids, which uses glycolytic intermediates, has been modulated by overexpression of Escherichia coli D-1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) to increase deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate and, consequently, increase the isoprenoid precursor pool in E. coli. Carotenoids are a large class of biologically important compounds synthesized from isoprenoid precursors and of interest for metabolic engineering. However, carotenoids are not ordinarily present in E. coli. Co-overexpression of E. coli dxs with Erwinia uredovora gene clusters encoding carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes led to an increased accumulation of the carotenoids lycopene or zeaxanthin over controls not expressing DXS. Thus, rate-controlling enzymes encoded by the carotenogenic gene clusters are responsive to an increase in isoprenoid precursor pools. Levels of accumulated carotenoids were increased up to 10.8 times the levels of controls not overexpressing DXS. Lycopene accumulated to a level as high as 1333 microg/g dw and zeaxanthin accumulated to a level as high as 592 microg/ g dw, when pigments were extracted from colonies. Zeaxanthin-producing colonies grew about twice as fast as lycopene-producing colonies throughout a time course of 11 days. Metabolic engineering of carbon flow from simple glucose metabolites to representatives of the largest class of natural products was demonstrated in this model system.

The ltk gene family encodes novel receptor-like kinases with temporal expression in developing maize endosperm.

We describe the isolation and characterization of maize cDNAs that are transcribed from a small gene family and encode a novel group of receptor-like kinases (RLKs). The distinctive extracellular domain of these novel RLKs includes a unique number and arrangement of leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), a proline-rich region (PRR), a putative protein degradation target sequence (PEST), and a serine-rich region (SRR). The intracellular domain contains a putative serine/threonine protein kinase. To distinguish them from other reported RLKs, these novel RLKs were termed leucine-rich repeat transmembrane protein kinases (LTKs). Based on analysis of available deduced protein sequences, LTK1 and LTK2 were predicted to be 92.1% identical, while LTK2 and LTK3 were predicted to be 97.5% identical. Though the three LTK proteins showed high homology, the region that most distinguished LTK1 from LTK2 and LTK3 was found in the extracellular domain, in the SRR. To differentiate between expression of the individual ltk genes, we used the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in combination with restriction enzyme analysis. While ltk1 transcripts were constantly present in all tissues tested, ltk2 and ltk3 transcripts were only detected in the endosperm. Furthermore, transcript levels for both ltk1 and ltk2 showed modulation during endosperm development, peaking at 20 days after pollination. These results suggest that members of the ltk gene family mediate signals associated with seed development and maturation.

Cloning and characterization of a maize cDNA encoding phytoene desaturase, an enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway.

To study regulation of the plastid-localized maize carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, a cDNA encoding phytoene desaturase (PDS) was isolated and characterized. The DNA sequence of the maize Pds cDNA was determined and compared with available dicot Pds genes. The deduced PDS protein, estimated at 64.1 kDa (unprocessed), had a dinucleotide binding domain and conserved regions characteristic of other carotene desaturases. Alignment of available PDS sequences from distantly related organisms suggests that Pds has potential as a phylogenetic tool. By use of heterologous complementation in Escherichia coli, maize PDS was shown to catalyze two desaturation steps converting phytoene to zeta-carotene. RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) mapping was used to place Pds on chromosome 1S near viviparous5 (vp5), and RT-PCR (reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) analysis indicated reduced Pds transcript in vp5 mutant relative to normal endosperm. Other phytoene-accumulating mutant endosperms, vp2 and white3 (w3), showed no difference in Pds transcript accumulation as compared with normal endosperm counterparts. RT-PCR analysis of Pds transcript accumulation in developing endosperm showed Pds was constitutively expressed. Therefore, endosperm carotenogensis is not regulated by increasing the level of Pds transcripts.

Characterization of an immunoglobulin binding protein homolog in the maize floury-2 endosperm mutant.

The maize b-70 protein is an endoplasmic reticulum protein overproduced in the floury-2 (fl2) endosperm mutant. The increase in b-70 levels in fl2 plants occurs during seed maturation and is endosperm specific. We have used amino acid sequence homology to identify b-70 as a homolog of mammalian immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP). Purified b-70 fractions contain two 75-kilodalton polypeptides with pl values of 5.3 and 5.4. Both 75-kilodalton polypeptides share several properties with BiP, including the ability to bind ATP and localization within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, both b-70 polypeptides can be induced in maize cell cultures with tunicamycin treatment. Like BiP, the pl 5.3 form of b-70 is post-translationally modified by phosphorylation and ADP-ribosylation. However, modification of the pl 5.4 species was not detected in vitro or in vivo. Although the b-70 gene is unlinked to fl2, b-70 overproduction is positively correlated with the fl2 gene and is regulated at the mRNA level. In contrast, the fl2 allele negatively affects the accumulation of the major endosperm storage proteins. The physical similarity of b-70 to BiP and its association with abnormal protein accumulation in fl2 endoplasmic reticulum may reflect a biological function to mediate protein folding and assembly in maize endosperm.

DNase I hypersensitivity and expression of the Shrunken-1 gene of maize.

The local chromatin structure of the Shrunken-1 (Sh) gene of maize was probed by analyzing DNase I hypersensitivity. Sh encodes the gene for sucrose synthetase, a major starch biosynthetic enzyme, which is maximally expressed in the endosperm during seed maturation. In addition to general DNase I sensitivity, specific DNase I hypersensitive sites were identified in endosperm chromatin that mapped near the 5' end of the Sh gene. The pattern of hypersensitive sites and their relative sensitivity were altered in other non-dormant tissues that produce little or no enzyme. However, some changes in chromatin structure appear to be independent of Sh gene expression and may reflect general alterations associated with plant development. The chromatin structure of several sh mutations, induced by Ds controlling element insertions, was also analyzed. Although the insertions perturbed expression of the gene, there were no notable effects on local chromatin structure.

Osmoregulation of gene expression. I. DNA sequence of the ompR gene of the ompB operon of Escherichia coli and characterization of its gene product.

The ompB region on the Escherichia coli chromosome codes for two genes, ompR and envZ, which are required for the osmolarity sensitive biosynthetic regulation of the outer membrane matrix proteins (porins), OmpF and ompC. A part of the ompB region containing the ompR gene has been cloned (Wurtzel, E. T., Movva, N. R., Ross, F. L., and Inouye, M. (1981) J. Mol. Appl. Genet. 1, 61-69). We have determined the DNA sequence, including the promoter and structural regions encompassed in a 1.3-kilobase pair Ava I-Eco RI subfragment. This fragment codes for the entire ompR gene as well as the 5' end of the envZ gene. The ompR gene codes for a protein of 32,489 daltons, consisting of 284 amino acid residues. This was confirmed by identifying the gene product by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and determining a partial amino acid sequence of the NH2-terminal region of the gene product. A sequence of 57 amino acid residues located in the COOH-terminal region of the protein is extremely basic. It contains 10 arginine plus lysine residues in contrast to 1 glutamic acid residue in this region. In vitro transcription of the DNA from this region indicates that ampR and envZ are co-transcribed as a polycistronic mRNA from a promoter located 5' to the ompR gene. Translation of the am pR gene terminates at two tandem TAS codons and translation of the envZ gene initiates 29 nucleotides downstream. Cloning of the promoter region of ompB at a site 5' to the structural portion of the beta-galactosidase gene indicates that transcription of ompB is under positive control by cAMP.

Cloning of the regulatory genes (ompR and envZ) for the matrix proteins of the Escherichia coli outer membrane.

We have cloned the regulatory gene cluster of Escherichia coli which is composed of at least two distinct genes, ompR and envZ. These genes are known to regulate the production of the outer membrane matrix proteins. The newly formed plasmids were found to complement not only ompR mutations but also envZ mutations. The ompR gene product was identified as a protein of an apparent molecular weight of 28,500.

Two-step cloning of the Escherichia coli regulatory gene ompB, employing phage Mu.

It is difficult to clone directly some regulatory or structural genes on the basis of their functions, because of their obscure properties or the leakiness of their mutants. To overcome this problem, a two-step cloning method with use of phage Mu was developed and applied to cloning of the ompB gene, an obscure regulatory gene for major outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli. The ompB gene was first inactivated by phage Mu insertion, and the approximately 25-kilobase (kb) EcoRI fragment, which hybridized with phage Mu DNA, was cloned into a plasmid vector, pBR322. This DNA fragment was considered to contain not only a portion of phage Mu DNA but also a portion of the ompB gene DNA. With this DNA as a probe, the wild-type ompB+ strain was found to contain a 12.7-kb EcoRI fragment which hybridized with the probe. In the second step, this 12.7-kb EcoRI fragment was cloned into a lambda phage vector, lambda 569. Lysogenization of an ompB mutant with this phage suppressed OmpB- phenotypes, indicating that the 12.7-kb EcoRI fragment carried the ompB gene. The same 12.7-kb DNA fragment, as well as a 3.8-kb EcoRI-BamHI subfragment, was cloned into pBR322. Both plasmid clones were able to suppress the OmpB- phenotypes upon transformation of an ompB mutant.

Restriction enzyme cleavage sites surrounding the structural gene for the lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane.

The purified messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for the lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane was hybridized with fragments obtained by digestion of E. coli chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with eight different restriction enzymes. For each restriction enzyme digestion, one specific fragment separated by agarose gel electrophoresis was found to hybridize with the lipoprotein mRNA. From the analysis of restriction fragments generated by double digestions with various combinations of restriction enzymes, cleavage sites for the restriction enzymes near the locus of the lipoprotein structural gene (lpp) were mapped. No restriction fragments of DNA from the E. coli lpp-2 mutant hybridized with the lipoprotein mRNA, confirming that the mutant has a deletion mutation in the vicinity of the lpp gene.