CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of CjACOS5 confers no-pollen formation on sugi trees (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don).

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) is an economically important coniferous tree in Japan. However, abundant sugi pollen grains are dispersed and transported by the wind each spring and cause a severe pollen allergy syndrome (Japanese cedar pollinosis). The use of pollen-free sugi that cannot produce pollen has been thought as a countermeasure to Japanese cedar pollinosis. The sugi CjACOS5 gene is an ortholog of Arabidopsis ACOS5 and rice OsACOS12, which encode an acyl-CoA synthetase that is involved in the synthesis of sporopollenin in pollen walls. To generate pollen-free sugi, we mutated CjACOS5 using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. As a result of sugi transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring the CjACOS5-targeted CRISPR/Cas9 vector, 1 bp-deleted homo biallelic mutant lines were obtained. Chimeric mutant lines harboring both mutant and wild-type CjACOS5 genes were also generated. The homo biallelic mutant lines had no-pollen in male strobili, whereas chimeric mutant lines had male strobili with or without pollen grains. Our results suggest that CjACOS5 is essential for the production of pollen in sugi and that its disruption is useful for the generation of pollen-free sugi. In addition to conventional transgenic technology, genome editing technology, including CRISPR/Cas9, can confer new traits on sugi.

Different photorespiratory mechanisms in conifer leaves, where peroxisomes have intrinsically low catalase activity.

Photorespiration is an essential metabolic mechanism associated with photosynthesis; however, little is known about the photorespiratory pathway of conifer gymnosperms. Metabolite analyses of the leaves of 27 tree species showed that the mean glycerate content in conifer leaves was lower than that in angiosperm leaves. We performed experiments where [13 C]-serine was fed to detached shoots of a conifer (Cryptomeria japonica), via the transpiration stream, and compared the labeling patterns of photorespiratory metabolites with those of an angiosperm tree (Populus nigra), because glycerate is produced from serine via hydroxypyruvate in peroxisomes. In P. nigra, hydroxypyruvate, glycerate and glycine were labeled with 13 C, whereas in C. japonica, glycolate and a non-canonical photorespiratory metabolite, formate, were also labeled, suggesting that an H2 O2 -mediated non-enzymatic decarboxylation (NED) reaction occurs in C. japonica. We analyzed changes in the metabolite contents of leaves kept in the dark and leaves exposed to illuminated photorespiration-promoting conditions: a positive relationship between formate and serine levels in C. japonica implied that the active C1 -metabolism pathway synthesizes serine from formate. Leaf gas exchange analyses revealed that CO2 produced through NED was recaptured by chloroplasts. Database analysis of the peroxisomal targeting signal motifs of an H2 O2 -scavenging enzyme, catalase, derived from various species, including nine coniferous species, as well as analyses of peroxisomal fractions isolated from C. japonica and P. nigra leaves indicated that conifer peroxisomes had less catalase activity. These results suggest that NED and the subsequent C1 metabolism are involved in the photorespiratory pathway of conifer leaves, where peroxisomes have intrinsically low catalase activity.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don).

Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar or sugi) is one of the most important coniferous tree species in Japan and breeding programs for this species have been launched since 1950s. Genome editing technology can be used to shorten the breeding period. In this study, we performed targeted mutagenesis using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in C. japonica. First, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was tested using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing transgenic embryogenic tissue lines. Knock-out efficiency of GFP ranged from 3.1 to 41.4% depending on U6 promoters and target sequences. The GFP knock-out region was mottled in many lines, indicating genome editing in individual cells. However, in 101 of 102 mutated individuals (> 99%) from 6 GFP knock-out lines, embryos had a single mutation pattern. Next, we knocked out the endogenous C. japonica magnesium chelatase subunit I (CjChlI) gene using two guide RNA targets. Green, pale green, and albino phenotypes were obtained in the gene-edited cell lines. Sequence analysis revealed random deletions, insertions, and replacements in the target region. Thus, targeted mutagenesis using the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used to modify the C. japonica genome.

Dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenases involved in gallate biosynthesis of the aluminum-tolerant tree species Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Eucalyptus camaldulensis EcDQD/SDH2 and 3 combine gallate formation, dehydroquinate dehydratase, and shikimate dehydrogenase activities. They are candidates for providing the essential gallate for the biosynthesis of the aluminum-detoxifying metabolite oenothein B. The tree species Eucalyptus camaldulensis shows exceptionally high tolerance against aluminum, a widespread toxic metal in acidic soils. In the roots of E. camaldulensis, aluminum is detoxified via the complexation with oenothein B, a hydrolyzable tannin. In our approach to elucidate the biosynthesis of oenothein B, we here report on the identification of E. camaldulensis enzymes that catalyze the formation of gallate, which is the phenolic constituent of hydrolyzable tannins. By systematical screening of E. camaldulensis dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenases (EcDQD/SDHs), we found two enzymes, EcDQD/SDH2 and 3, catalyzing the NADP+-dependent oxidation of 3-dehydroshikimate to produce gallate. Based on extensive in vitro assays using recombinant EcDQD/SDH2 and 3 enzymes, we present for the first time a detailed characterization of the enzymatic gallate formation activity, including the cofactor preferences, pH optima, and kinetic constants. Sequence analyses and structure modeling suggest the gallate formation activity of EcDQD/SDHs is based on the reorientation of 3-dehydroshikimate in the catalytic center, which facilitates the proton abstraction from the C5 position. Additionally, EcDQD/SDH2 and 3 maintain DQD and SDH activities, resulting in a 3-dehydroshikimate supply for gallate formation. In E. camaldulensis, EcDQD/SDH2 and 3 are co-expressed with UGT84A25a/b and UGT84A26a/b involved in hydrolyzable tannin biosynthesis. We further identified EcDQD/SDH1 as a "classical" bifunctional plant shikimate pathway enzyme and EcDQD/SDH4a/b as functional quinate dehydrogenases of the NAD+/NADH-dependent clade. Our data indicate that in E. camaldulensis the enzymes EcDQD/SDH2 and 3 provide the essential gallate for the biosynthesis of the aluminum-detoxifying metabolite oenothein B.

Low assimilation efficiency of photorespiratory ammonia in conifer leaves.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) localized in the chloroplasts, GS2, is a key enzyme in the assimilation of ammonia (NH3) produced from the photorespiration pathway in angiosperms, but it is absent from some coniferous species belonging to Pinaceae such as Pinus. We examined whether the absence of GS2 is common in conifers (Pinidae) and also addressed the question of whether assimilation efficiency of photorespiratory NH3 differs between conifers that may potentially lack GS2 and angiosperms. Search of the expressed sequence tag database of Cryptomeria japonica, a conifer in Cupressaceae, and immunoblotting analyses of leaf GS proteins of 13 species from all family members in Pinidae revealed that all tested conifers exhibited only GS1 isoforms. We compared leaf NH3 compensation point (γNH3) and the increments in leaf ammonium content per unit photorespiratory activity (NH3 leakiness), i.e. inverse measures of the assimilation efficiency, between conifers (C. japonica and Pinus densiflora) and angiosperms (Phaseolus vulgaris and two Populus species). Both γNH3 and NH3 leakiness were higher in the two conifers than in the three angiosperms tested. Thus, we concluded that the absence of GS2 is common in conifers, and assimilation efficiency of photorespiratory NH3 is intrinsically lower in conifer leaves than in angiosperm leaves. These results imply that acquisition of GS2 in land plants is an adaptive mechanism for efficient NH3 assimilation under photorespiratory environments.

Identification of UDP glucosyltransferases from the aluminum-resistant tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis forming ß-glucogallin, the precursor of hydrolyzable tannins.

In the highly aluminum-resistant tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis, hydrolyzable tannins are proposed to play a role in internal detoxification of aluminum, which is a major factor inhibiting plant growth on acid soils. To understand and modulate the molecular mechanisms of aluminum detoxification by hydrolyzable tannins, the biosynthetic genes need to be identified. In this study, we identified and characterized genes encoding UDP-glucose:gallate glucosyltransferase, which catalyzes the formation of 1-O-galloyl-ß-d-glucose (ß-glucogallin), the precursor of hydrolyzable tannins. By homology-based cloning, seven full-length candidate cDNAs were isolated from E. camaldulensis and expressed in Escherichia coli as recombinant N-terminal His-tagged proteins. Phylogenetic analysis classified four of these as UDP glycosyltransferase (UGT) 84A subfamily proteins (UGT84A25a, -b, UGT84A26a, -b) and the other three as UGT84J subfamily proteins (UGT84J3, -4, -5). In vitro enzyme assays showed that the UGT84A proteins catalyzed esterification of UDP-glucose and gallic acid to form 1-O-galloyl-ß-d-glucose, whereas the UGT84J proteins were inactive. Further analyses with UGT84A25a and -26a indicated that they also formed 1-O-glucose esters of other structurally related hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids with a preference for hydroxybenzoic acids. The UGT84A genes were expressed in leaves, stems, and roots of E. camaldulensis, regardless of aluminum stress. Taken together, our results suggest that the UGT84A subfamily enzymes of E. camaldulensis are responsible for constitutive production of 1-O-galloyl-ß-d-glucose, which is the first step of hydrolyzable tannin biosynthesis.

The effects of gamma irradiation on growth and expression of genes encoding DNA repair-related proteins in Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra var. italica).

In this study, to elucidate the mechanisms of adaptation and tolerance to ionizing radiation in woody plants, we investigated the various biological effects of γ-rays on the Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra L. var. italica Du Roi). We detected abnormal leaf shape and color, fusion, distorted venation, shortened internode, fasciation and increased axillary shoots in γ-irradiated poplar plants. Acute γ-irradiation with a dose of 100Gy greatly reduced the height, stem diameter and biomass of poplar plantlets. After receiving doses of 200 and 300Gy, all the plantlets stopped growing, and then most of them withered after 4-10 weeks of γ-irradiation. Comet assays showed that nuclear DNA in suspension-cultured poplar cells had been damaged by γ-rays. To determine whether DNA repair-related proteins are involved in the response to γ-rays in Lombardy poplars, we cloned the PnRAD51, PnLIG4, PnKU70, PnXRCC4, PnPCNA and PnOGG1 cDNAs and investigated their mRNA expression. The PnRAD51, PnLIG4, PnKU70, PnXRCC4 and PnPCNA mRNAs were increased by γ-rays, but the PnOGG1 mRNA was decreased. Moreover, the expression of PnLIG4, PnKU70 and PnRAD51 was also up-regulated by Zeocin known as a DNA cleavage agent. These observations suggest that the morphogenesis, growth and protective gene expression in Lombardy poplars are severely affected by the DNA damage and unknown cellular events caused by γ-irradiation.

Molecular characterization of FLOWERING LOCUS T-like genes of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.).

The two FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like genes of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.), MdFT1 and MdFT2, have been isolated and characterized. MdFT1 and MdFT2 were mapped, respectively, on distinct linkage groups (LGs) with partial homoeology, LG 12 and LG 4. The expression pattern of MdFT1 and MdFT2 differed in that MdFT1 was expressed mainly in apical buds of fruit-bearing shoots in the adult phase, with little expression in the juvenile tissues, whereas MdFT2 was expressed mainly in reproductive organs, including flower buds and young fruit. On the other hand, both genes had the potential to induce early flowering since transgenic Arabidopsis, which ectopically expressed MdFT1 or MdFT2, flowered earlier than wild-type plants. Furthermore, overexpression of MdFT1 conferred precocious flowering in apple, with altered expression of other endogenous genes, such as MdMADS12. These results suggest that MdFT1 could function to promote flowering by altering the expression of those genes and that, at least, other genes may play an important role as well in the regulation of flowering in apple. The long juvenile period of fruit trees prevents early cropping and efficient breeding. Our findings will be useful information to unveil the molecular mechanism of flowering and to develop methods to shorten the juvenile period in various fruit trees, including apple.

The FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 family in Lombardy poplar.

Genes in the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) family have been shown to be important in the control of the switch between vegetative and reproductive growth in several plant species. We isolated nine members of the FT/TFL1 family from Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra var. italica Koehne). Sequence analysis of the members of the FT/TFL1 family revealed considerable homology within their coding regions both among family members and to the members of the same family in Arabidopsis, tomato and grapevine. Moreover, members of this family in all four species examined display a common exon-intron organization. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genes fall into four different clades: two into the TFL1 clade; five into the FT clade; and one each into the MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 and BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 clades. One gene in the TFL1 clade, PnTFL1, is expressed in vegetative meristems, and transgenic Arabidopsis that ectopically expressed PnTFL1 had a late-flowering phenotype. The expression patterns of two genes in the FT clade, PnFT1 and PnFT2, suggested a role for them in the promotion of flowering, and transgenic Arabidopsis that ectopically expressed either PnFT1 or PnFT2 had an early-flowering phenotype.

Functional annotation of 19,841 Populus nigra full-length enriched cDNA clones.

BACKGROUND: Populus is one of favorable model plants because of its small genome. Structural genomics of Populus has reached a breakpoint as nucleotides of the entire genome have been determined. Reaching the post genome era, functional genomics of Populus is getting more important for well-comprehended plant science. Development of bioresorce serving functional genomics is making rapid progress. Huge efforts have achieved deposits of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in various plant species consequently accelerating functional analysis of genes. ESTs from full-length cDNA clones are especially powerful for accurate molecular annotation. We promoted collection and annotation of the ESTs from Populus full-length enriched cDNA clones as part of functional genomics of tree species. RESULTS: We have been collecting the full-length enriched cDNA of the female poplar (Populus nigra var. italica) for years. By sequencing P. nigra full-length (PnFL) cDNA libraries, we generated about 116,000 5'-end or 3'-end ESTs corresponding to 19,841 nonredundant PnFL clones. Population of PnFL cDNA clones represents 44% of the predicted genes in the Populus genome. CONCLUSION: Our resource of P. nigra full-length enriched clones is expected to provide valuable tools to gain further insight into genome annotation and functional genomics in Populus.

Expressed sequence tags from Cryptomeria japonica sapwood during the drying process.

Secondary metabolites called norlignans are produced in the xylem of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Several norlignans have roles in the defense of sapwood against microbial invasion and in the coloration of heartwood. The biosynthetic pathway of norlignans is largely unknown. Norlignans have been reported to accumulate in the sapwood during the drying of C. japonica logs. To search for genes encoding enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of norlignans, we carried out suppression subtractive hybridization using the fresh sapwood of a felled log and the drying sapwood in which a norlignan, agatharesinol, accumulated. A total of 1050 expressed sequence tags were obtained from the subtracted cDNA library, and these were assembled into 146 contigs and 361 singletons. Of these 507 unique sequences, 263 were functionally classified into 12 categories. "Metabolism" was the largest category, with 23% (61) of classified sequences. Twenty-six sequences that encode 16 enzymes were assigned to "secondary metabolism." Expression analysis of 15 genes related to "secondary metabolism" revealed that 12 of these genes had transcripts that were induced during the sapwood drying process. Of the 12 genes, 10 encoded enzymes that use aromatic compounds as substrates. In addition, 58 sequences representing 22 defense-related proteins were found. Our subtraction library should be a useful source for isolating genes encoding proteins involved in secondary metabolism including norlignan biosynthesis and defense in C. japonica xylem.

Analysis of expressed sequence tags from Cryptomeria japonica pollen reveals novel pollen-specific transcripts.

Cryptomeria japonica D. Don is one of the most important forest trees in Japan, but more than 10% of the Japanese population is allergic to its pollen. We constructed a cDNA library derived from pollen grains of C. japonica and performed an analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). We obtained partial sequences from 1929 clones, which represented 1365 unique transcripts. Among the unique transcripts, 984 (72%) encoded proteins that were similar to Arabidopsis proteins with E-values of < 10(-5). Analysis of funtional composition of the pollen ESTs revealed the overrepresentation of mRNAs for proteins involved in protein synthesis and post-translational modification. The most abundant transcripts were derived from novel genes (CjMP1-related genes) and encoded proteins that were not homologous to any proteins in current databases. The CjMP1-related genes formed a multi-gene family and were expressed specifically in the pollen grains of C. japonica. An analysis of homologies between ESTs from C. japonica pollen and proteins in the Structural Database of Allergenic Proteins revealed that products of 48 of the clones (2.5%) exhibited significant homology to known plant allergens. Our results provide new information about pollen-specific genes and potential allergens in C. japonica pollen.

Evidence for lectin activity of a plant receptor-like protein kinase by application of neoglycoproteins and bioinformatic algorithms.

Detection of genes for putative receptor-like protein kinases, which contain an extracellular domain related to leguminous lectins, in plant genomes inspired the hypothesis that this part acts as sensor. Initial support for this concept came from proof for protein kinase activity. The next step, focusing on the protein of lombardy poplar (Populus nigra var. italica), is scrutiny for lectin activity. Consequently, we first pinpointed sets of high-scoring sequence pairs by extensive databank search. The calculations resulted in P-values in the range from 10(-14) to 10(-18) exclusively for leguminous lectins, the Pterocarpus angolensis agglutinin being front runner with P=3 x 10(-18) and thus most suitable template for modeling. The superimposition of the two folds gave notable similarity in the region responsible for binding carbohydrate and Ca(2+)/Mn(2+)-ions. Binding activity toward carbohydrates was detected by assaying a panel of (neo)glycoproteins as polyvalent probes, especially for alpha-l-rhamnose and glycans of asialofetuin. It was strictly dependent on Ca(2+)-ions, enhanced by Mn(2+)-ions and reached a K(D)-value of 34.3 nM for the neoglycoprotein with rhamnose as ligand. These results give further research direction to define physiological ligands, plant/bacterial rhamnose-containing saccharides and rhamnose-mimetic glycans or peptides being potential candidates.

Characterization of full-length enriched expressed sequence tags of stress-treated poplar leaves.

Poplar, whose genome is the first to be sequenced among woody plants, is a favorable model for plant biologists to enable them to understand molecular processes of growth, development and responses to environmental stimuli in trees. The sequence will allow the development of a strategy for improving environmental stress tolerance in forest trees. In this study, we have generated a full-length enriched cDNA library from leaves of axenically grown poplar (Populus nigra var. italica) subjected to environmental stress treatments by dehydration, high salinity, chilling, heat, abscisic acid (ABA) and H2O2. We sequenced >30,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the cDNA library and consequently collected approximately 4,500 non-redundant clones. We further analyzed cDNAs encoding an ERF/AP2-domain transcription factor which is specific in plants and plays an important role under stress. Thirteen candidates containing the ERF/AP2 domain were found within our EST resource. Some of them showed stress-responsive gene expression. We report here the first collection of full-length enriched stress-related ESTs of poplar and discuss environmental stress responses of forest trees in the light of comparative genomics.