Comprehensive analysis of AGPase genes uncovers their potential roles in starch biosynthesis in lotus seed
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Comprehensive analysis of AGPase genes uncovers their potential roles in starch biosynthesis in lotus seed Heng Sun1†, Juanjuan Li2†, Heyun Song1,3, Dong Yang1,4, Xianbao Deng1,4, Juan Liu1, Yunmeng Wang1,3, Junyu Ma1,3, Yaqian Xiong1,3, Yanling Liu1 and Mei Yang1,4*
Abstract Background: Starch in the lotus seed contains a high proportion of amylose, which endows lotus seed a promising property in the development of hypoglycemic and low-glycemic index functional food. Currently, improving starch content is one of the major goals for seed-lotus breeding. ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) plays an essential role in regulating starch biosynthesis in plants, but little is known about its characterization in lotus. Results: We describe the nutritional compositions of lotus seed among 30 varieties with starch as a major component. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that AGPase genes were differentially expressed in two varieties (CA and JX) with significant different starch content. Seven putative AGPase genes were identified in the lotus genome (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), which could be grouped into two subfamilies. Selective pressure analysis indicated that purifying selection acted as a vital force in the evolution of AGPase genes. Expression analysis revealed that lotus AGPase genes have varying expression patterns, with NnAGPL2a and NnAGPS1a as the most predominantly expressed, especially in seed and rhizome. NnAGPL2a and NnAGPS1a were co-expressed with a number of starch and sucrose metabolism pathway related genes, and their expressions were accompanied by increased AGPase activity and starch content in lotus seed. Conclusions: Seven AGPase genes were characterized in lotus, with NnAGPL2a and NnAGPS1a, as the key genes involved in starch biosynthesis in lotus seed. These results considerably extend our understanding on lotus AGPase genes and provide theoretical basis for breeding new lotus varieties with high-starch content. Keywords: Lotus seed, Starch biosynthesis, Nutritional composition, AGPase gene, AGPase activity
Background Nelumbo is a unique genus of Nelumbonaceae, which comprises two extant species: N. nucifera Gaertn. widely distributed in Asia and northern Australia, and N. lutea Pers. which is distributed in America [1]. As a long* Correspondence: [email protected] † Heng Sun and Juanjuan Li contributed equally to this work. 1 Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China 4 Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
cultivated crop, lotus has versatile uses, parts of the plant have been used as a snack food, vegetable, medicine and ornamental horticulture. Based on distinct traits and agricultural uses, lotus cultivars can be classified into three groups: seed-lotus, rhizome-lotus and flower-lotus [2, 3]. Seed lotus can produc
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