Journal Article

mRNA Blueprint for C₄ Photosynthesis Derived from Comparative Transcriptomics of Closely Related C₃ and C₄ Species

Sommer, Manuel, Weber, Andreas P.M, Weber, Katrin L, Bräutigam, Andrea, Gowik, Udo, Wullenweber, Julia, Hibberd, Julian M, Kajala, Kaisa, Westhoff, Peter, Carr, Kevin M, Mass, Janina, Lercher, Martin J, Gagneul, David

2011

Overview

C₄ photosynthesis involves alterations to the biochemistry, cell biology, and development of leaves. Together, these modifications increase the efficiency of photosynthesis, and despite the apparent complexity of the pathway, it has evolved at least 45 times independently within the angiosperms. To provide insight into the extent to which gene expression is altered between C₃ and C₄ leaves, and to identify candidates associated with the C₄ pathway, we used massively parallel mRNA sequencing of closely related C₃ (Cleome spinosa) and C₄ (Cleome gynandra) species. Gene annotation was facilitated by the phylogenetic proximity of Cleome and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Up to 603 transcripts differ in abundance between these C₃ and C₄ leaves. These include 17 transcription factors, putative transport proteins, as well as genes that in Arabidopsis are implicated in chloroplast movement and expansion, plasmodesmatal connectivity, and cell wall modification. These are all characteristics known to alter in a C₄ leaf but that previously had remained undefined at the molecular level. We also document large shifts in overall transcription profiles for selected functional classes. Our approach defines the extent to which transcript abundance in these C₃ and C₄ leaves differs, provides a blueprint for the NAD-malic enzyme C₄ pathway operating in a dicotyledon, and furthermore identifies potential regulators. We anticipate that comparative transcriptomics of closely related species will provide deep insight into the evolution of other complex traits.

• Publisher: American Society of Plant Biologists
• Subject: Arabidopsis thaliana / Blasts / C4 photosynthesis / C4 plants / Carbon - metabolism / cell walls / Chloroplasts / Cleome / Cleome - genetics / Cleome - physiology / Cleome gynandra / Cleome hassleriana / Cleome spinosa / evolution / FOCUS ISSUE ON ENHANCING PHOTOSYNTHESIS / gene expression / Gene Expression Profiling / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Genes / Genes, Plant - genetics / Genomes / High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / leaf development / leaves / messenger RNA / Models, Biological / Nitrogen metabolism / nucleotide sequences / photosynthesis / Photosynthesis - genetics / Plant cells / Plant Leaves - genetics / Plant Leaves - physiology / Plants / Polymerase Chain Reaction / Protein metabolism / Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase - genetics / Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase - metabolism / RNA, Messenger - genetics / Species Specificity / transcription factors / Transcription Factors - genetics / Transcription Factors - metabolism / transcriptomics / transport proteins