The Arabidopsis QQS orphan gene modulates carbon allocation across species
Time: 6:30 PM
1Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
2Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
3Information Technology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
4Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Little is known about the functional significance of the species-specific orphan genes. The Arabidopsis thaliana QQS-orphan-gene modulates carbon allocation to protein and starch1, 2. Ectopic expression of QQS increases protein content in soybean leaf and seed2, in multiple high-/low-protein soybeans, and in rice and corn3. Transcriptomics analyses indicate QQS alters its transcript level under stresses and in mutants of genes involved in all sorts of stresses, suggesting that QQS may integrate primary metabolism and environmental perturbations, adjusting adaption to abiotic and biotic stresses4. The QQS protein binds to a transcriptional regulator in Arabidopsis and its soybean, rice and corn homologs3. Overexpression of QQS interactor in Arabidopsis mimics QQS-overexpression phenotype, increasing protein content and decreasing carbohydrate3. The data reveal the skeleton of a previously undefined network in which QQS participates, and indicate QQS exerts its effect via an interaction with this transcription factor conserved across eukaryotic species3. Deficiency in dietary protein is globally one of the most severe health problems; this insight provides a new strategy to modulate protein levels in crops5. Our research presents QQS as a model plant orphan gene regulating plant metabolism, and illustrates an example of how basic research in Arabidopsis be applied in agriculture.
References
1Li et al, Plant J (2009).
2Li et al, Plant Biotech J (2015).
3Li et al, PNAS (2015).
4Arendsee et al, Trends Plant Sci (2014).
5Li and Wurtele, U.S. Patent 9157091 (2012).