Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025
14:43
Lignin Down-regulation of Zea mays via dsRNAi and Klason Lignin Analysis
Published on: July 23, 2014
13.6K
Nitrogen inputs influence vegetative metabolism in maize engineered with a seed-specific carotenoid pathway
Patricia S Girón-Calva1, Laura Pérez-Fons2, Gerhard Sandmann3
1Department of Plant Production and Forestry Sciences, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
Plant Cell Reports
|March 31, 2021
Summary
Engineered high-carotenoid (HC) maize exhibits altered primary metabolism in leaves and roots, with increased organic acids and depleted sugars under low nitrogen. This suggests transgenerational metabolic priming impacts vegetative tissues.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Metabolomics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Maize engineered for high-carotenoid (HC) endosperm may induce metabolic changes in non-target tissues.
- The impact of embryo metabolic history on vegetative tissue composition is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if boosting endosperm carotenoid content in HC maize triggers compensatory effects in vegetative tissues.
- To compare metabolite profiles of HC maize and its isogenic counterpart (M37W) at the V6 stage under varying nitrogen conditions.
Main Methods:
- Metabolomic profiling of leaves and roots from HC maize and M37W at the V6 stage.
- Analysis under both restricted and sufficient nitrogen conditions.
Main Results:
- HC maize showed increased abundance of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle organic acids, irrespective of nitrogen levels.
- Carotenoid and chlorophyll levels were low in HC maize, independent of nitrogen.
- Sugars were significantly depleted in HC maize under low nitrogen conditions.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic readjustments in primary metabolism occur in vegetative tissues of HC maize.
- Accumulation of organic acids may support increased precursor demand in the endosperm/embryo.
- Transgenerational priming of vegetative tissues is proposed as a mechanism for these observed metabolic shifts.
Related Concept Videos
01:27C4 Pathway and CAM
47.5K
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
47.5K
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
23.2K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
23.2K
02:16Light Acquisition
8.9K
In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
8.9K
01:40Overview of Metabolism
35.9K
Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
35.9K
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
239
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
239
01:20Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
10.3K
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
10.3K