Overexpression of the bamboo sucrose synthase gene (BeSUS5) improves cellulose production, cell wall thicknessand fiber quality in transgenic poplar

In plants, sucrose synthase (SUS, EC 2.4.1.13) is widely considered a multifunctional protein involved in modulating sink strength, cellulose biosynthesis, and carbon partitioning. However, supporting genetic evidence regarding the role of SUS from bamboo in fiber development is lacking. Here, we ob...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTree genetics & genomes Vol. 16; no. 5
Main Authors Huang, Yan, Wang, Lili, Hu Shanglian, Luo Xuegang, Cao, Ying
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2020
Subjects
Bamboo
Biosynthesis
Carbon
Cell walls
Cellulose
Cellulose synthase
Functional analysis
Hardwoods
Partitioning
Phenotypes
Poplar
Starch
Stems
Sucrose
Sucrose synthase
Sucrose transporter
Transgenic plants
Wall thickness
Xylem
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Summary:In plants, sucrose synthase (SUS, EC 2.4.1.13) is widely considered a multifunctional protein involved in modulating sink strength, cellulose biosynthesis, and carbon partitioning. However, supporting genetic evidence regarding the role of SUS from bamboo in fiber development is lacking. Here, we obtained transgenic poplar lines overexpressing the bamboo BeSUS5 gene and conducted functional analysis. We found that overexpression of BeSUS5 enhanced the activity of SUS and significantly promoted the growth of the plants, especially xylem growth. In BeSUS5 overexpressed poplar plants, the total soluble sugar (TSS) and starch contents were decreased in leaves, while the cellulose content was increased in stems, indicating that overexpression of BeSUS5 might enhance the partitioning of carbon to cellulose in poplar. Consistent with these results, the expression of cellulose biosynthesis and phloem loading–related genes, such as cellulose synthase (CesA7), KORRIGAN (KOR), and sucrose transporter (SUT1), was upregulated in transgenic plants. As a result, transgenic poplars displayed not only an increase in cell wall thickness and cell wall crystallinity but also an altered stem fiber phenotype. Taken together, our results imply the vast potential of BeSUS5 for the genetic improvement of wood cellulose production and fiber quality.
ISSN:1614-2942
1614-2950
DOI:10.1007/s11295-020-01464-w