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Expression of an Escherichia coli phosphoglucomutase in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) results in minor changes in tuber metabolism and a considerable delay in tuber sprouting

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of elevating the cytosolic activity of phosphoglucomutase (PGM; EC 5.4.2.2) on photosynthesis, growth and heterotrophic metabolism. Here we describe the generation of novel transgenic plants expressing an Escherichia coli phosphoglucomutase (EcPGM) under the control of the 35S promoter. These lines were characterised by an accumulation of leaf sucrose, despite displaying no alterations in photosynthetic carbon partitioning, and a reduced tuber starch content. Determinations of the levels of a wide range of other metabolites revealed dramatic reductions in maltose and other sugars in leaves of the transformants, as well as a modification of the pattern of organic and amino acid content in tubers of these lines. Intriguingly, the transgenics also displayed a dramatically delayed rate of sprouting and significantly enhanced rate of respiration, however, it is important to note that the severity of these traits did not always correlate with the level of transgene expression. These results are discussed in the context of current understanding of the control of respiration and the breaking of tuber dormancy.

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Abbreviations

3PGA:

3-Phosphoglycerate

c(Ec)PGM:

Cytosolic (Escherichia coli) phosphoglucomutase

Glc6P:

Glucose 6-phosphate

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

UGPase:

UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. James R. Lloyd (current affiliation: Stellenbosch University, South Africa) for providing E. coli genomic DNA. We are indebted to Helga Kulka for excellent care of the plants and Frank Huhn and Dirk Zerning for help in performing sprouting experiments.

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Author notes

  1. Volker Mittendorf

    Present address: BASF Corporation Agricultural Products Division, BASF Plant Science Agricultural Products R7D Center, 26 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Willmitzer, Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Golm, Germany

    Anna Lytovchenko, Ira Eickmeier, Lothar Willmitzer & Alisdair R. Fernie

  2. Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Correnstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany

    Mohammad Hajirezaei & Uwe Sonnewald

Authors
  1. Anna Lytovchenko
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  7. Alisdair R. Fernie
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Correspondence to Alisdair R. Fernie.

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Lytovchenko, A., Hajirezaei, M., Eickmeier, I. et al. Expression of an Escherichia coli phosphoglucomutase in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) results in minor changes in tuber metabolism and a considerable delay in tuber sprouting. Planta 221, 915–927 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-1490-z

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