Heterologous expression of AtPAP2 in transgenic potato influences carbon metabolism and tuber development

Youjun Zhang; Feng Sun; Joerg Fettke; Mark Aurel Schöttler; Lawrence Ramsden; Alisdair R Fernie; Boon Leong Lim

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2014.08.019

Heterologous expression of AtPAP2 in transgenic potato influences carbon metabolism and tuber development

FEBS Lett. 2014 Oct 16;588(20):3726-31. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.08.019. Epub 2014 Aug 27.

Authors

Youjun Zhang¹, Feng Sun², Joerg Fettke³, Mark Aurel Schöttler⁴, Lawrence Ramsden², Alisdair R Fernie⁵, Boon Leong Lim⁶

Affiliations

¹ Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
² School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
³ Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Golm, Germany.
⁴ Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
⁵ Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. Electronic address: Fernie@mpimp-golm.mpg.de.
⁶ School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: bllim@hku.hk.

PMID: 25173632
DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.08.019

Abstract

Changes in carbon flow and sink/source activities can affect floral, architectural, and reproductive traits of plants. In potato, overexpression (OE) of the purple acid phosphatase 2 of Arabidopsis (AtPAP2) resulted in earlier flowering, faster growth rate, increased tubers and tuber starch content, and higher photosynthesis rate. There was a significant change in sucrose, glucose and fructose levels in leaves, phloem and sink biomass of the OE lines, consistent with an increased expression of sucrose transporter 1 (StSUT1). Furthermore, the expression levels and enzyme activity of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) were also significantly increased in the OE lines. These findings strongly suggest that higher carbon supply from the source and improved sink strength can improve potato tuber yield.

Keywords: AtPAP2; Photosynthesis; Potato; Sugar efflux; Tuber yield.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acid Phosphatase / genetics
Acid Phosphatase / metabolism*
Arabidopsis / genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
Carbohydrate Metabolism*
Fructose / metabolism
Glucose / metabolism
Glucosyltransferases / genetics
Glucosyltransferases / metabolism
Glycoproteins / genetics
Glycoproteins / metabolism*
Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
Plant Proteins / genetics
Plant Proteins / metabolism
Plant Tubers / growth & development*
Plant Tubers / metabolism
Plants, Genetically Modified / enzymology*
Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
Plants, Genetically Modified / growth & development
Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
Solanum tuberosum / enzymology*
Solanum tuberosum / genetics
Solanum tuberosum / growth & development
Solanum tuberosum / metabolism
Sucrose / metabolism

Substances

Arabidopsis Proteins
Glycoproteins
Membrane Transport Proteins
Plant Proteins
sucrose transport protein, plant
Fructose
Sucrose
Glucosyltransferases
sucrose-phosphate synthase
purple acid phosphatase
Acid Phosphatase
Glucose