The Arabidopsis D27-LIKE1 is a cis/cis/trans-ß-carotene isomerase that contributes to Strigolactone biosynthesis and negatively impacts ABA level.

The enzyme DWARF27 (D27) catalyzes the reversible isomerization of all-trans- into 9-cis-ß-carotene, initiating strigolactone (SL) biosynthesis. Genomes of higher plants encode two D27-homologs, D27-like1 and -like2, with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity and biological function of the Arabidopsis D27-like1. In vitro enzymatic assays and expression in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 revealed an unreported 13-cis/15-cis/9-cis- and a 9-cis/all-trans-ß-carotene isomerization. Although disruption of AtD27-like1 did not cause SL deficiency phenotypes, overexpression of AtD27-like1 in the d27 mutant restored the more-branching phenotype, indicating a contribution of AtD27-like1 to SL biosynthesis. Accordingly, generated d27 d27like1 double mutants showed a more pronounced branching phenotype compared to d27. The contribution of AtD27-like1 to SL biosynthesis is likely a result of its formation of 9-cis-ß-carotene that was present at higher levels in AtD27-like1 overexpressing lines. By contrast, AtD27-like1 expression correlated negatively with the content of 9-cis-violaxanthin, a precursor of ABA, in shoots. Consistently, ABA levels were higher in shoots and also in dry seeds of the d27like1 and d27 d27like1 mutants. Transgenic lines expressing GUS driven by the AtD27LIKE1 promoter and transcript analysis of hormone-treated Arabidopsis seedlings revealed that AtD27LIKE1 is expressed in different tissues and affects ABA and auxin. Taken together, our work reports a cis/cis-ß-carotene isomerase that affects the content of both cis-carotenoid-derived plant hormones, ABA and SLs.

The interaction of strigolactones with abscisic acid during the drought response in rice.

Both strigolactones (SLs) and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthetically originate from carotenoids. Considering their common origin, the interaction of these two hormones at the biosynthetic and/or regulatory level may be anticipated. Here we show that, in rice, drought simultaneously induces SL production in the root, and ABA production and the expression of SL biosynthetic genes in the shoot. Under control conditions, the ABA concentration was higher in shoots of the SL biosynthetic rice mutants dwarf10 (d10) and d17 than in wild-type plants, while a similar trend was observed for the SL perception mutant d3. These differences were enhanced under drought. However, drought did not result in an increase in leaf ABA content in the rice mutant line d27, carrying a mutation in the gene encoding the first committed enzyme in SL biosynthesis, to the same extent as in the other SL mutants and the wild type. Accordingly, d10, d17, and d3 lines were more drought tolerant than wild-type plants, whereas d27 displayed decreased tolerance. Finally, overexpression of OsD27 in rice resulted in increased levels of ABA when compared with wild-type plants. We conclude that the SL and ABA pathways are connected with each other through D27, which plays a crucial role in determining ABA and SL content in rice.

Exploration of genes encoding KEGG pathway enzymes in rhizospheric microbiome of the wild plant Abutilon fruticosum.

The operative mechanisms and advantageous synergies existing between the rhizobiome and the wild plant species Abutilon fruticosum were studied. Within the purview of this scientific study, the reservoir of genes in the rhizobiome, encoding the most highly enriched enzymes, was dominantly constituted by members of phylum Thaumarchaeota within the archaeal kingdom, phylum Proteobacteria within the bacterial kingdom, and the phylum Streptophyta within the eukaryotic kingdom. The ensemble of enzymes encoded through plant exudation exhibited affiliations with 15 crosstalking KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways. The ultimate goal underlying root exudation, as surmised from the present investigation, was the biosynthesis of saccharides, amino acids, and nucleic acids, which are imperative for the sustenance, propagation, or reproduction of microbial consortia. The symbiotic companionship existing between the wild plant and its associated rhizobiome amplifies the resilience of the microbial community against adverse abiotic stresses, achieved through the orchestration of ABA (abscisic acid) signaling and its cascading downstream effects. Emergent from the process of exudation are pivotal bioactive compounds including ATP, D-ribose, pyruvate, glucose, glutamine, and thiamine diphosphate. In conclusion, we hypothesize that future efforts to enhance the growth and productivity of commercially important crop plants under both favorable and unfavorable environmental conditions may focus on manipulating plant rhizobiomes.

Functional annotation of rhizospheric phageome of the wild plant species Moringa oleifera.

Introduction: The study aims to describe phageome of soil rhizosphere of M.oleifera in terms of the genes encoding CAZymes and other KEGG enzymes. Methods: Genes of the rhizospheric virome of the wild plant species Moringa oleifera were investigated for their ability to encode useful CAZymes and other KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enzymes and to resist antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the soil. Results: Abundance of these genes was higher in the rhizospheric microbiome than in the bulk soil. Detected viral families include the plant viral family Potyviridae as well as the tailed bacteriophages of class Caudoviricetes that are mainly associated with bacterial genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium. Viral CAZymes in this soil mainly belong to glycoside hydrolase (GH) families GH43 and GH23. Some of these CAZymes participate in a KEGG pathway with actions included debranching and degradation of hemicellulose. Other actions include biosynthesizing biopolymer of the bacterial cell wall and the layered cell wall structure of peptidoglycan. Other CAZymes promote plant physiological activities such as cell-cell recognition, embryogenesis and programmed cell death (PCD). Enzymes of other pathways help reduce the level of soil H2O2 and participate in the biosynthesis of glycine, malate, isoprenoids, as well as isoprene that protects plant from heat stress. Other enzymes act in promoting both the permeability of bacterial peroxisome membrane and carbon fixation in plants. Some enzymes participate in a balanced supply of dNTPs, successful DNA replication and mismatch repair during bacterial cell division. They also catalyze the release of signal peptides from bacterial membrane prolipoproteins. Phages with the most highly abundant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transduce species of bacterial genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Mycobacterium. Abundant mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in the rhizosphere include "antibiotic efflux pump" for ARGs soxR, OleC, and MuxB, "antibiotic target alteration" for parY mutant, and "antibiotic inactivation" for arr-1. Discussion: These ARGs can act synergistically to inhibit several antibiotics including tetracycline, penam, cephalosporin, rifamycins, aminocoumarin, and oleandomycin. The study highlighted the issue of horizontal transfer of ARGs to clinical isolates and human gut microbiome.

Abundant antibiotic resistance genes in rhizobiome of the human edible Moringa oleifera medicinal plant.

Moringa oleifera (or the miracle tree) is a wild plant species widely grown for its seed pods and leaves, and is used in traditional herbal medicine. The metagenomic whole genome shotgun sequencing (mWGS) approach was used to characterize antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of the rhizobiomes of this wild plant and surrounding bulk soil microbiomes and to figure out the chance and consequences for highly abundant ARGs, e.g., mtrA, golS, soxR, oleC, novA, kdpE, vanRO, parY, and rbpA, to horizontally transfer to human gut pathogens via mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The results indicated that abundance of these ARGs, except for golS, was higher in rhizosphere of M. oleifera than that in bulk soil microbiome with no signs of emerging new soil ARGs in either soil type. The most highly abundant metabolic processes of the most abundant ARGs were previously detected in members of phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes. These processes refer to three resistance mechanisms namely antibiotic efflux pump, antibiotic target alteration and antibiotic target protection. Antibiotic efflux mechanism included resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND), ATP-binding cassette (ABC), and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) antibiotics pumps as well as the two-component regulatory kdpDE system. Antibiotic target alteration included glycopeptide resistance gene cluster (vanRO), aminocoumarin resistance parY, and aminocoumarin self-resistance parY. While, antibiotic target protection mechanism included RbpA bacterial RNA polymerase (rpoB)-binding protein. The study supports the claim of the possible horizontal transfer of these ARGs to human gut and emergence of new multidrug resistant clinical isolates. Thus, careful agricultural practices are required especially for plants used in circles of human nutrition industry or in traditional medicine.

The Arabidopsis DWARF27 gene encodes an all-trans-/9-cis-ß-carotene isomerase and is induced by auxin, abscisic acid and phosphate deficiency.

Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant hormones that influence various aspects of plant growth and development in response to environmental conditions, especially nutrients deficiency. SLs are synthesized via a strict stereo-specific core pathway that leads to the intermediate carlactone, requiring the iron-containing polypeptide DWARF27 (D27) and the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases 7 (CCD7) and 8 (CCD8). It has been shown that the rice OsD27 is a ß-carotene isomerase catalyzing the interconversion of all-trans- into 9-cis-ß -carotene. However, data about the enzymatic activity of D27 from other species are missing. Here, we investigated the activity and substrate specificity of the Arabidopsis AtD27 by testing a broad range of carotenoid substrates. Both in vivo and in vitro assays show that AtD27 catalyzes the reverse isomerization of all-trans-/9-cis-ß-carotene. AtD27 did not isomerize 13-cis- or 15-cis-ß-carotene, indicating high specificity for the C9-C10 double bond. The isomerization reaction was inhibited in the presence of silver acetate, pointing to the involvement of an iron-sulfur cluster. We further investigated the expression of AtD27, using Arabidopsis transgenic lines expressing ß-glucuronidase (GUS) under the control of AtD27 native promoter. AtD27 is ubiquitously expressed throughout the plant with the highest expression in immature flowers. In lateral roots, AtD27 expression was induced by treatment with auxin and ABA, while the application of SL analogs did not show an effect. Lower ABA levels in atd27 mutant indicated an interference with the ABA pathway. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that transcript levels of AtD27 and other SL biosynthetic genes in roots are induced upon phosphate starvation. Taken together, our study on AtD27 confirms the postulated enzymatic function of this enzyme, shows its strict substrate- and regio-specificity and indicates an important role in response to multiple plant hormones and phosphate deficiency.