Identification of Photosynthesis-Associated C4 Candidate Genes through Comparative Leaf Gradient Transcriptome in Multiple Lineages of C3 and C4 Species

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 14;10(10):e0140629. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140629. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Leaves of C4 crops usually have higher radiation, water and nitrogen use efficiencies compared to the C3 species. Engineering C4 traits into C3 crops has been proposed as one of the most promising ways to repeal the biomass yield ceiling. To better understand the function of C4 photosynthesis, and to identify candidate genes that are associated with the C4 pathways, a comparative transcription network analysis was conducted on leaf developmental gradients of three C4 species including maize, green foxtail and sorghum and one C3 species, rice. By combining the methods of gene co-expression and differentially co-expression networks, we identified a total of 128 C4 specific genes. Besides the classic C4 shuttle genes, a new set of genes associated with light reaction, starch and sucrose metabolism, metabolites transportation, as well as transcription regulation, were identified as involved in C4 photosynthesis. These findings will provide important insights into the differential gene regulation between C3 and C4 species, and a good genetic resource for establishing C4 pathways in C3 crops.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Light
  • Metabolic Engineering
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Oryza / genetics
  • Oryza / metabolism
  • Photosynthesis / genetics*
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Sorghum / genetics
  • Sorghum / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*
  • Zea mays / genetics*
  • Zea mays / metabolism

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Nitrogen

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/) grant 31271393 to PL the National Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov) grant IOS-1127017 to TPB and QS.