Transcriptomic analysis of developing sorghum grains to detect genes related to cell wall biosynthesis and remodelling.

OBJECTIVE: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the fifth most important grain produced in the world. Interest for cultivating sorghum is increasing all over the world in the context of climate change, due to its low input and water requirements. Like other cultivated cereals, sorghum has significant nutritional value thanks to its protein, carbohydrate and dietary fiber content, these latter mainly consisting of cell wall polysaccharides. This work describes for the first time a transcriptomic analysis dedicated to identify the genes involved in the biosynthesis and remodelling of cell walls both in the endosperm and outer layers of sorghum grain during its development. Further analysis of these transcriptomic data will improve our understanding of cell wall assembly, which is a key component of grain quality. DATA DESCRIPTION: This research delineates the steps of our analysis, starting with the cultivation conditions and the grain harvest at different stages of development, followed by the laser microdissection applied to separate the endosperm from the outer layers. It also describes the procedures implemented to generate RNA libraries and to obtain a normalized and filtered table of transcript counts, and finally determine the number of putative cell wall-related genes already listed in literature.

Mixed-Linkage Glucan Is the Main Carbohydrate Source and Starch Is an Alternative Source during Brachypodium Grain Germination.

Seeds of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon are unusual because they contain very little starch and high levels of mixed-linkage glucan (MLG) accumulated in thick cell walls. It was suggested that MLG might supplement starch as a storage carbohydrate and may be mobilised during germination. In this work, we observed massive degradation of MLG during germination in both endosperm and nucellar epidermis. The enzymes responsible for the MLG degradation were identified in germinated grains and characterized using heterologous expression. By using mutants targeting MLG biosynthesis genes, we showed that the expression level of genes coding for MLG and starch-degrading enzymes was modified in the germinated grains of knocked-out cslf6 mutants depleted in MLG but with higher starch content. Our results suggest a substrate-dependent regulation of the storage sugars during germination. These overall results demonstrated the function of MLG as the main carbohydrate source during germination of Brachypodium grain. More astonishingly, cslf6 Brachypodium mutants are able to adapt their metabolism to the lack of MLG by modifying the energy source for germination and the expression of genes dedicated for its use.

Correction: Cherkaoui, M., Lollier, V., Geairon, A., Bouder, A., Larré, C., Rogniaux, H., Jamet, E., Guillon, F. and Francin-Allami, M. Cell Wall Proteome of Wheat Grain Endosperm and Outer Layers at Two Key Stages of Early Development. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 239.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...].

Functional exploration of Pseudoalteromonas atlantica as a source of hemicellulose-active enzymes: Evidence for a GH8 xylanase with unusual mode of action.

To address the need for efficient enzymes exhibiting novel activities towards cell wall polysaccharides, the bacterium Pseudoalteromonas atlantica was selected based on the presence of potential hemicellulases in its annotated genome. It was grown in the presence or not of hemicelluloses and the culture filtrates were screened towards 42 polysaccharides. P. atlantica showed appreciable diversity of enzymes active towards hemicelluloses from Monocot and Dicot origin, in agreement with its genome annotation. After growth on beechwood glucuronoxylan and fractionation of the secretome, a ß-xylosidase, a α-arabinofuranosidase and an acetylesterase activities were evidenced. A GH8 enzyme obtained in the same growth conditions was further cloned and heterologously overexpressed. It was shown to be a xylanase active on heteroxylans from various sources. The detailed study of its mode of action demonstrated that the oligosaccharides produced carried a long tail of un-substituted xylose residues on the reducing end.

Spatial and temporal distribution of cell wall polysaccharides during grain development of Brachypodium distachyon.

Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) is now well considered as being a suitable plant model for studying temperate cereal crops. Its cell walls are phylogenetically intermediate between rice and poaceae, with a greater proximity to these latter. By microscopic and biochemical approaches, this work gives an overview of the temporal and spatial distribution of cell wall polysaccharides in the grain of Brachypodium from the end of the cellularization step to the maturation of grain. Variation in arabinoxylan chemical structure and distribution were demonstrated according to development and different grain tissues. In particular, the kinetic of arabinoxylan feruloylation was shown occuring later in the aleurone layers compared to storage endosperm. Mixed linked ß-glucan was detected in whole the tissues of Brachypodium grain even at late stage of development. Cellulose was found in both the storage endosperm and the outer layers. Homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan I epitopes were differentially distributed within the grain tissues. LM5 galactan epitope was restricted to the aleurone layers contrary to LM6 arabinan epitope which was detected in the whole endosperm. A massive deposition of highly methylated homogalacturonans in vesicular bodies was observed underneath the cell wall of the testa t2 layer at early stage of development. At maturity, low-methylated homogalacturonans totally fulfilled the lumen of the t2 cell layer, suggesting pectin remodeling during grain development. Xyloglucans were only detected in the cuticle above the testa early in the development of the grain while feruloylated arabinoxylans were preferentially deposited into the cell wall of t1 layer. Indeed, the circumscribed distribution of some of the cell wall polysaccharides raises questions about their role in grain development and physiology.

Cell Wall Proteome of Wheat Grain Endosperm and Outer Layers at Two Key Stages of Early Development.

The cell wall is an important compartment in grain cells that fulfills both structural and functional roles. It has a dynamic structure that is constantly modified during development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Non-structural cell wall proteins (CWPs) are key players in the remodeling of the cell wall during events that punctuate the plant life. Here, a subcellular and quantitative proteomic approach was carried out to identify CWPs possibly involved in changes in cell wall metabolism at two key stages of wheat grain development: the end of the cellularization step and the beginning of storage accumulation. Endosperm and outer layers of wheat grain were analyzed separately as they have different origins (maternal and seed) and functions in grains. Altogether, 734 proteins with predicted signal peptides were identified (CWPs). Functional annotation of CWPs pointed out a large number of proteins potentially involved in cell wall polysaccharide remodeling. In the grain outer layers, numerous proteins involved in cutin formation or lignin polymerization were found, while an unexpected abundance of proteins annotated as plant invertase/pectin methyl esterase inhibitors were identified in the endosperm. In addition, numerous CWPs were accumulating in the endosperm at the grain filling stage, thus revealing strong metabolic activities in the cell wall during endosperm cell differentiation, while protein accumulation was more intense at the earlier stage of development in outer layers. Altogether, our work gives important information on cell wall metabolism during early grain development in both parts of the grain, namely the endosperm and outer layers. The wheat cell wall proteome is the largest cell wall proteome of a monocot species found so far.

Cell Wall Proteome Investigation of Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Developing Grain in Endosperm and Outer Layers.

The remodeling of cell wall polysaccharides is controlled by cell wall proteins (CWPs) during the development of wheat grain. This work describes for the first time the cell wall proteomes of the endosperm and outer layers of the wheat developing grain, which have distinct physiological functions and technological uses. Altogether 636 nonredundant predicted CWPs are identified with 337 proteins in the endosperm and 594 proteins in the outer layers, among which 295 proteins are present in both tissues, suggesting both common and tissue specific remodeling activities. These proteins are distributed into eight functional classes. Approximatively a quarter of them were predicted to act on cell wall polysaccharides, with many glycosylhydrolases and also expansin, lyases, and carbohydrate esterases. Therefore, these results provide crucial data to go further in the understanding of relationship between tissue-specific morphogenesis and cell wall remodeling in cereals. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD010367.

Understanding the Remodelling of Cell Walls during Brachypodium distachyon Grain Development through a Sub-Cellular Quantitative Proteomic Approach.

Brachypodiumdistachyon is a suitable plant model for studying temperate cereal crops, such as wheat, barley or rice, and helpful in the study of the grain cell wall. Indeed, the most abundant hemicelluloses that are in the B. distachyon cell wall of grain are (1-3)(1-4)-ß-glucans and arabinoxylans, in a ratio similar to those of cereals such as barley or oat. Conversely, these cell walls contain few pectins and xyloglucans. Cell walls play an important role in grain physiology. The modifications of cell wall polysaccharides that occur during grain development and filling are key in the determination of the size and weight of the cereal grains. The mechanisms required for cell wall assembly and remodelling are poorly understood, especially in cereals. To provide a better understanding of these processes, we purified the cell wall at three developmental stages of the B. distachyon grain. The proteins were then extracted, and a quantitative and comparative LC-MS/MS analysis was performed to investigate the protein profile changes during grain development. Over 466 cell wall proteins (CWPs) were identified and classified according to their predicted functions. This work highlights the different proteome profiles that we could relate to the main phases of grain development and to the reorganization of cell wall polysaccharides that occurs during these different developmental stages. These results provide a good springboard to pursue functional validation to better understand the role of CWPs in the assembly and remodelling of the grain cell wall of cereals.

Cell wall proteomic of Brachypodium distachyon grains: A focus on cell wall remodeling proteins.

Cell walls play key roles during plant development. Following their deposition into the cell wall, polysaccharides are continually remodeled according to the growth stage and stress environment to accommodate cell growth and differentiation. To date, little is known concerning the enzymes involved in cell wall remodeling, especially in gramineous and particularly in the grain during development. Here, we investigated the cell wall proteome of the grain of Brachypodium distachyon. This plant is a suitable model for temperate cereal crops. Among the 601 proteins identified, 299 were predicted to be secreted. These proteins were distributed into eight functional classes; the class of proteins that act on carbohydrates was the most highly represented. Among these proteins, numerous glycoside hydrolases were found. Expansins and peroxidases, which are assumed to be involved in cell wall polysaccharide remodeling, were also identified. Approximately half of the proteins identified in this study were newly discovered in grain and were not identified in the previous proteome analysis conducted using the culms and leaves of B. distachyon. Therefore, the data obtained from all organs of B. distachyon infer a global cell wall proteome consisting of 460 proteins. At present, this is the most extensive cell wall proteome of a monocot species.

Multiscale investigation of mealiness in apple: an atypical role for a pectin methylesterase during fruit maturation.

BACKGROUND: Apple fruit mealiness is one of the most important textural problems that results from an undesirable ripening process during storage. This phenotype is characterized by textural deterioration described as soft, grainy and dry fruit. Despite several studies, little is known about mealiness development and the associated molecular events. In this study, we integrated phenotypic, microscopic, transcriptomic and biochemical analyses to gain insights into the molecular basis of mealiness development. RESULTS: Instrumental texture characterization allowed the refinement of the definition of apple mealiness. In parallel, a new and simple quantitative test to assess this phenotype was developed. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the role of PME in cell wall remodelling during apple fruit development and ripening and suggest a local action of these enzymes. Mealiness may partially result from qualitative and spatial variations of pectin microarchitecture rather than quantitative pectin differences, and these changes may occur early in fruit development. The specific MdPME2 gene highlighted in this study could be a good early marker of texture unfavourable trait in apple.

Comparative study of wheat low-molecular-weight glutenin and α-gliadin trafficking in tobacco cells.

KEY MESSAGE : Wheat low-molecular-weight-glutenin and α-gliadin were accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum and formed protein body-like structures in tobacco cells, with the participation of BiP chaperone. Possible interactions between these prolamins were investigated. Wheat prolamins are the major proteins that accumulate in endosperm cells and are largely responsible for the unique biochemical properties of wheat products. They are accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where they form protein bodies (PBs) and are then transported to the storage vacuole where they form a protein matrix in the ripe seeds. Whereas previous studies have been carried out to determine the atypical trafficking pathway of prolamins, the mechanisms leading to ER retention and PB formation are still not clear. In this study, we examined the trafficking of a low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW-glutenin) and α-gliadin fused to fluorescent proteins expressed in tobacco cells. Through transient transformation in epidermal tobacco leaves, we demonstrated that both LMW-glutenin and α-gliadin were retained in the ER and formed mobile protein body-like structures (PBLS) that generally do not co-localise with Golgi bodies. An increased expression level of BiP in tobacco cells transformed with α-gliadin or LMW-glutenin was observed, suggesting the participation of this chaperone protein in the accumulation of wheat prolamins in tobacco cells. When stably expressed in BY-2 cells, LMW-glutenin fusion was retained longer in the ER before being exported to and degraded in the vacuole, compared with α-gliadin fusion, suggesting the involvement of intermolecular disulphide bonds in ER retention, but not in PBLS formation. Co-localisation experiments showed that gliadins and LMW-glutenin were found in the same PBLS with no particular distribution, which could be due to their ability to interact with each other as indicated by yeast two-hybrid assays.

Dynamic trafficking of wheat γ-gliadin and of its structural domains in tobacco cells, studied with fluorescent protein fusions.

Prolamins, the main storage proteins of wheat seeds, are synthesized and retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the endosperm cells, where they accumulate in protein bodies (PBs) and are then exported to the storage vacuole. The mechanisms leading to these events are unresolved. To investigate this unconventional trafficking pathway, wheat γ-gliadin and its isolated repeated N-terminal and cysteine-rich C-terminal domains were fused to fluorescent proteins and expressed in tobacco leaf epidermal cells. The results indicated that γ-gliadin and both isolated domains were able to be retained and accumulated as protein body-like structures (PBLS) in the ER, suggesting that tandem repeats are not the only sequence involved in γ-gliadin ER retention and PBLS formation. The high actin-dependent mobility of γ-gliadin PBLS is also reported, and it is demonstrated that most of them do not co-localize with Golgi body or pre-vacuolar compartment markers. Both γ-gliadin domains are found in the same PBLS when co-expressed, which is most probably due to their ability to interact with each other, as indicated by the yeast two-hybrid and FRET-FLIM experiments. Moreover, when stably expressed in BY-2 cells, green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions to γ-gliadin and its isolated domains were retained in the ER for several days before being exported to the vacuole in a Golgi-dependent manner, and degraded, leading to the release of the GFP 'core'. Taken together, the results show that tobacco cells are a convenient model to study the atypical wheat prolamin trafficking with fluorescent protein fusions.

Expression of a new chimeric protein with a highly repeated sequence in tobacco cells.

In wheat, the high-molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits are known to contribute to gluten viscoelasticity, and show some similarities to elastomeric animal proteins as elastin. When combining the sequence of a glutenin with that of elastin is a way to create new chimeric functional proteins, which could be expressed in plants. The sequence of a glutenin subunit was modified by the insertion of several hydrophobic and elastic motifs derived from elastin (elastin-like peptide, ELP) into the hydrophilic repetitive domain of the glutenin subunit to create a triblock protein, the objective being to improve the mechanical (elastomeric) properties of this wheat storage protein. In this study, we investigated an expression model system to analyze the expression and trafficking of the wild-type HMW glutenin subunit (GS(W)) and an HMW glutenin subunit mutated by the insertion of elastin motifs (GS(M)-ELP). For this purpose, a series of constructs was made to express wild-type subunits and subunits mutated by insertion of elastin motifs in fusion with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in tobacco BY-2 cells. Our results showed for the first time the expression of HMW glutenin fused with GFP in tobacco protoplasts. We also expressed and localized the chimeric protein composed of plant glutenin and animal elastin-like peptides (ELP) in BY-2 protoplasts, and demonstrated its presence in protein body-like structures in the endoplasmic reticulum. This work, therefore, provides a basis for heterologous production of the glutenin-ELP triblock protein to characterize its mechanical properties.