Knock-out of Zmsweet13 Genes Impairs Agronomic Traits in Maize
March 7, 2018| |
Crop yield depends on efficient allocation of sucrose from leaves to seeds. In Arabidopsis, phloem loading is mediated by a combination of sucrose flow regulated by SWEET genes and sucrose uptake by SUT1/SUC2 genes. ZmSUT1 is essential for carbon allocation in maize, however the role of SWEET genes in maize phloem loading is not known.
Margaret Bezrutczyk from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf in Germany analyzed the role of SWEETs in maize. Bezrutczyk's team identified three leaf-expressed SWEET sucrose transporters as key components of apoplasmic phloem loading in maize (Zea mays). ZmSWEET13 paralogues a, b, and c were the most highly expressed genes in the leaf vasculature. The team then used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock-out these three genes.
The knock-out mutants exhibited severely stunted growth. The photosynthesis of mutants was also impaired and their leaves accumulated high levels of soluble sugars and starch. Analysis revealed that the knock-out also downregulated genes associated with photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Further analysis indicates that changes in expressions of ZmSWEET13 genes correlate with other agronomical traits, specifically flowering time and leaf angle.
For more information, read the article in New Phytologist.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Women Play Vital Role in Biotech, Study
- Ugandan Farmer Requests for Access to Beneficial Farming Technologies
- First Zinc-enriched Maize Released in Colombia to Combat Malnutrition
- Biofuels from Plant Fibers Could Fight Global Warming
- UGA Researchers Design New Technique to Enhance Crops
- Brazil Sugar Mills Start Planting GM Sugarcane
- Argentina Approves Three GM Crops
- EFSA Publishes Risk Assessment for Renewal of GM Maize Authorization
- Researchers Use NBTs to Develop Tobacco Plants as Biofactories
-
Research Highlights
- Host-Induced Gene Silencing of VdRGS1 Confers Resistance to Verticillium Wilt in Cotton
- Rice Genes OsBON1 and OsBON3 Suppress Broad-Spectrum Disease Resistance
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Kenya Developing Animal Biotech Regulatory Guidelines
-
Announcements
- Future of Long-term Experiments in Agricultural Science
-
Resources
- 5 Questions with UCT's Jennifer Thomson
-
Plant
- Knock-out of Zmsweet13 Genes Impairs Agronomic Traits in Maize
- CRISPR-Cas9 Helps Explain Maize Adaptation to Higher Latitudes
- Blocking OsAAP3 in Rice Improves Grain Yield
- Researchers Use Ribonucleoprotein Complexes for Genome Editing of Wheat
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (December 11, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (December 11, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet