Role of cellular architecture in protein re-balancing of the Brassica napus embryo

The trade-off between protein and oil storage in oilseed crops has been tested here in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) by analyzing the effect of suppressing key genes encoding protein storage products (napin, cruciferin). The phenotypic outcomes were assessed using magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry imaging, microscopy, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and immunological assays. Surprisingly, the storage product profile of the seeds of RNAi transgenics was rather moderately changed, but embryonic cells underwent remarkable architectural rearrangements. The most conspicuous structural changes featured the elaboration of membrane stacks enriched with oleosin (6-fold higher protein abundance). Protein rebalancing, amino acid and sulfur metabolism were focal points of the metabolic adjustments to maintain the carbon/nitrogen homeostasis of embryo. Flux balance analysis was evident for a rather minor additional demand for cofactors (ATP, NADPH). The conclusion was that cellular plasticity in the seed provides a buffer that protects against perturbations to its storage activity, and hence contributes materially to the homeostasis required to assure successful sexual reproduction. The study provides novel mechanistic insights into the intriguing linkage between lipid and protein storage, which have implications for biotechnological strategies directed at the improvement of oilseed crops.

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Hardy Rolletschek, Jörg Schwender, Christina König, Kent D. Chapman, Trevor Romsdahl, Christin Lorenz, Hans-Peter Braun, Peter Denolf, Katrien Van Audenhove, Eberhard Munz, Nicolas Heinzel, Stefan Ortleb, Twan Rutten, Sean McCorkle, Taras Borysyuk, André Guendel, Hai Shi, Stephane Bourot, Ljudmilla Borisjuk (2020). Role of cellular architecture in protein re-balancing of the Brassica napus embryo [Data set]. LUIS. https://doi.org/10.25835/0012955
Retrieved: June 10, 2024, 10:53 AM (UTC+0200)

Additional Info

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Author Hardy Rolletschek, Jörg Schwender, Christina König, Kent D. Chapman, Trevor Romsdahl, Christin Lorenz, Hans-Peter Braun, Peter Denolf, Katrien Van Audenhove, Eberhard Munz, Nicolas Heinzel, Stefan Ortleb, Twan Rutten, Sean McCorkle, Taras Borysyuk, André Guendel, Hai Shi, Stephane Bourot, Ljudmilla Borisjuk
Maintainer Hans-Peter Braun
Last Updated April 29, 2020, 20:14 (+0200)
Created April 29, 2020, 17:01 (+0200)
License CC0 1.0 Universal
Dataset Size 23.1 GByte