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Engineering 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase improves grain yield in heat-stressed maize.

Camila Ribeiro^1,2, Tracie A Hennen-Bierwagen³, Alan M Myers³

¹Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|December 16, 2020

Summary

Maize endosperm

Keywords:

grain yield heat stability maize pentose phosphate pathway

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Imaging and Analysis for Quantifying Maize (Zea mays) Abiotic Stress Phenotypes

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Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Biochemistry
Genetics

Background:

Endosperm starch synthesis is crucial for maize grain yield.
High-temperature stress negatively impacts starch accumulation.
The enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) plays a key role in this process.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the heat sensitivity of different 6PGDH isozymes in maize.
To engineer heat-stable 6PGDH for enhanced function in the endosperm.
To assess the impact of this engineering on maize grain yield under heat stress.

Main Methods:

Identified heat-stable cytosolic 6PGDH isozymes (PGD1, PGD2) and heat-labile amyloplast-localized PGD3.
Created fusion proteins (WPGD1, WPGD2) by targeting heat-stable isozymes to amyloplasts using the Waxy1 targeting sequence.
Generated transgenic maize expressing WPGD1 and WPGD2 under an endosperm-specific promoter.

Main Results:

Fusion proteins were successfully targeted to amyloplasts and showed enhanced heat stability.
Transgenic plants exhibited increased 6PGDH activity in kernels.
WPGD1 and WPGD2 expression mitigated yield loss under high-nighttime-temperature conditions by increasing kernel number.

Conclusions:

The amyloplast pentose phosphate pathway is a heat-sensitive metabolic step in maize kernel development.
Engineering heat-stable 6PGDH in amyloplasts can improve maize resilience to heat stress and maintain grain yield.
This study offers insights into metabolic engineering for crop improvement.