Genetic modification in cellulose‐synthase reduces crystallinity and improves biochemical conversion to fermentable sugar

The cellulose synthase (CESA) membrane complex synthesizes microfibrils of cellulose that surround all plant cells. Cellulose is made of sugar (β,1‐4 glucan) and accessing the sugar in cellulose for biofuels is of critical importance to stem the use of fossil fuels and avoid competition with food crops and pristine lands associated with starch‐based biofuel production. The recalcitrance of cellulose to enzymatic conversion to a fermentable form of sugar is related to the degree of hydrogen bonding or crystallization of the glucan chain. Herein, we isolate the first viable low biomass‐crystallinity mutant by screening for altered cell wall structure using X‐ray scattering as well as screening for enzymatic conversion efficiency on a range of cell wall mutants in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Through detailed analysis of the kinetics of bioconversion we identified a mutant that met both selection criteria. This mutant is ixr1‐2, which contains a mutation in a highly conserved consensus sequence among the C‐terminal transmembrane regions within CESA3. A 34% lower biomass crystallization index and 151% improvement in the efficiency of conversion from raw biomass to fermentable sugars was measured relative to that of wild type (Col‐0). Recognizing the inherent ambiguities with an insoluble complex substrate like cellulose and how little is still understood regarding the regulation of CESA we propose a general model for how to manipulate CESA enzymes to improve the recalcitrance of cellulose to enzymatic hydrolysis. This study also raises intriguing possibilities as to the functional importance of transmembrane anchoring in CESA complex and microfibril formation.     

Manipulating cellulose biosynthesis by expression of mutant Arabidopsis proM24::CESA3ixr1‐2 gene in transgenic tobacco

Manipulation of the cellulose biosynthetic machinery in plants has the potential to provide insight into plant growth, morphogenesis and to create modified cellulose for anthropogenic use. Evidence exists that cellulose microfibril structure and its recalcitrance to enzymatic digestion can ameliorated via mis‐sense mutation in the primary cell wall–specific gene AtCELLULOSE SYNTHASE (CESA)3. This mis‐sense mutation has been identified based on conferring drug resistance to the cellulose inhibitory herbicide isoxaben. To examine whether it would be possible to introduce mutant CESA alleles via a transgenic approach, we overexpressed a modified version of CESA3, AtCESA3^ixr1‐2 derived from Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynh into a different plant family, the Solanceae dicotyledon tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. variety Samsun NN). Specifically, a chimeric gene construct of CESA3^ixr1‐2, codon optimized for tobacco, was placed between the heterologous M24 promoter and the rbcSE9 gene terminator. The results demonstrated that the tobacco plants expressing M24‐CESA3^ixr1‐2 displayed isoxaben resistance, consistent with functionality of the mutated AtCESA3^ixr1‐2 in tobacco. Secondly, during enzymatic saccharification, transgenic leaf‐ and stem‐derived cellulose is 54%–66% and 40%–51% more efficient, respectively, compared to the wild type, illustrating translational potential of modified CESA loci. Moreover, the introduction of M24‐AtCESA3^ixr1‐2 caused aberrant spatial distribution of lignified secondary cell wall tissue and a reduction in the zone occupied by parenchyma cells.     

A CELLULOSE SYNTHASE (CESA) GENE FROM THE RED ALGA PORPHYRA YEZOENSIS (RHODOPHYTA)1

The cell walls of Porphyra species, like those of land plants, contain cellulose microfibrils that are synthesized by clusters of cellulose synthase enzymes (“terminal complexes”), which move in the plasma membrane. However, the morphologies of the Porphyra terminal complexes and the cellulose microfibrils they produce differ from those of land plants. To characterize the genetic basis for these differences, we have identified, cloned, and sequenced a cellulose synthase (CESA) gene from Porphyra yezoensis Ueda strain TU‐1. A partial cDNA sequence was identified in the P. yezoensis expressed sequence tag (EST) index using a land plant CESA sequence as a query. High‐efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR was used to amplify sequences upstream of the cDNA sequence from P. yezoensis genomic DNA. Using the resulting genomic sequences as queries, we identified additional EST sequences and a full‐length cDNA clone, which we named PyCESA1. The conceptual translation of PyCESA1 includes the four catalytic domains and the N‐ and C‐terminal transmembrane domains that characterize CESA proteins. Genomic PCR demonstrated that PyCESA1 contains no introns. Southern blot analysis indicated that P. yezoensis has at least three genomic sequences with high similarity to the cloned gene; two of these are pseudogenes based on analysis of amplified genomic sequences. The P. yezoensis CESA peptide sequence is most similar to cellulose synthase sequences from the oomycete Phytophthora infestans and from cyanobacteria. Comparing the CESA genes of P. yezoensis and land plants may facilitate identification of sequences that control terminal complex and cellulose microfibril morphology.     

OsCESA9 conserved‐site mutation leads to largely enhanced plant lodging resistance and biomass enzymatic saccharification by reducing cellulose DP and crystallinity in rice

Genetic modification of plant cell walls has been posed to reduce lignocellulose recalcitrance for enhancing biomass saccharification. Since cellulose synthase (CESA) gene was first identified, several dozen CESA mutants have been reported, but almost all mutants exhibit the defective phenotypes in plant growth and development. In this study, the rice (Oryza sativa) Osfc16 mutant with substitutions (W481C, P482S) at P‐CR conserved site in CESA9 shows a slightly affected plant growth and higher biomass yield by 25%–41% compared with wild type (Nipponbare, a japonica variety). Chemical and ultrastructural analyses indicate that Osfc16 has a significantly reduced cellulose crystallinity (CrI) and thinner secondary cell walls compared with wild type. CESA co‐IP detection, together with implementations of a proteasome inhibitor (MG132) and two distinct cellulose inhibitors (Calcofluor, CGA), shows that CESA9 mutation could affect integrity of CESA4/7/9 complexes, which may lead to rapid CESA proteasome degradation for low‐DP cellulose biosynthesis. These may reduce cellulose CrI, which improves plant lodging resistance, a major and integrated agronomic trait on plant growth and grain production, and enhances biomass enzymatic saccharification by up to 2.3‐fold and ethanol productivity by 34%–42%. This study has for the first time reported a direct modification for the low‐DP cellulose production that has broad applications in biomass industries.     

Functional analysis of complexes with mixed primary and secondary cellulose synthases

In higher plants, cellulose is synthesized by cellulose synthase complexes, which contain multiple isoforms of cellulose synthases (CESAs). Among the total 10 CESA genes in Arabidopsis, recessive mutations at three of them cause the collapse of mature xylem cells in inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis (irx1^cesa8, irx3^cesa7 and irx5^cesa4). These CESA genes are considered secondary cell wall CESAs. The others (the function CESA10 is still unknown) are thought to be specialized for cellulose synthesis in the primary cell wall. A split-ubiquitin membrane yeast two-hybrid system was used to assess interactions among four primary CESAs (CESA1, CESA2, CESA3, CESA6) and three secondary CESAs (CESA4, CESA7, CESA8). Our results showed that primary CESAs could physically interact with secondary CESAs in a limited fashion. Analysis of transgenic lines showed that CESA1 could partially rescue irx1^cesa8 null mutants, resulting in complementation of the plant growth defect, collapsed xylem and cellulose content deficiency. These results suggest that mixed primary and secondary CESA complexes are functional using experimental set-ups.     

Cellulose synthase gene expression profiling of Physcomitrella patens

The cellulose synthase (CESA) gene family of seed plants comprises six clades that encode isoforms with conserved expression patterns and distinct functions in cellulose synthesis complex (CSC) formation and primary and secondary cell wall synthesis. In mosses, which have rosette CSCs like those of seed plants but lack lignified secondary cell walls, the CESA gene family diversified independently and includes no members of the six functionally distinct seed plant clades. There are seven CESA isoforms encoded in the genome of the moss Physcomitrella patens. However, only PpCESA5 has been characterised functionally, and little information is available on the expression of other PpCESA family members. We have profiled PpCESA expression through quantitative RT‐PCR, analysis of promoter‐reporter lines, and cluster analysis of public microarray data in an effort to identify expression and co‐expression patterns that could help reveal the functions of PpCESA isoforms in protein complex formation and development of specific tissues. In contrast to the tissue‐specific expression observed for seed plant CESAs, each of the PpCESAs was broadly expressed throughout most developing tissues. Although a few statistically significant differences in expression of PpCESAs were noted when some tissues and hormone treatments were compared, no strong co‐expression patterns were observed. Along with CESA phylogenies and lack of single PpCESA mutant phenotypes reported elsewhere, broad overlapping expression of the PpCESAs indicates a high degree of inter‐changeability and is consistent with a different pattern of functional specialisation in the evolution of the seed plant and moss CESA families.     

Interactions between membrane-bound cellulose synthases involved in the synthesis of the secondary cell wall

It has not yet been reported how the secondary CESA (cellulose synthase) proteins are organized in the rosette structure. A membrane-based yeast two-hybrid (MbYTH) approach was used to analyze the interactions between the CESA proteins involved in secondary cell wall synthesis of Arabidopsis and the findings were confirmed in planta by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay. Results indicated that although all CESA proteins can interact with each other, only CESA4 is able to form homodimers. A model is proposed for the secondary rosette structure. The RING-motif proved not to be essential for the interaction between the CESA proteins.

Structured summary

MINT-6951243: PIP2-1 (uniprotkb:P43286) physically interacts (MI:0218) with PIP2-1 (uniprotkb:P43286) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)MINT-6950816: CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) physically interacts (MI:0218) withCESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) by membrane bound complementation assay (MI:0230)MINT-6951056, MINT-6951071, MINT-6951088, MINT-6951103: CESA7 (uniprotkb:Q9SWW6) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)MINT-6950949, MINT-6950990: CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CESA8 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) by membrane bound complementation assay (MI:0230)MINT-6950909, MINT-6951030: CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CESA7 (uniprotkb:Q9SWW6) by membrane bound complementation assay (MI:0230)MINT-6951042: CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)MINT-6951004, MINT-6951016: CESA8 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CESA7 (uniprotkb:Q9SWW6) by membrane bound complementation assay (MI:0230)MINT-6951217, MINT-6951230: CESA4 (uniprotkb:Q84JA6) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CESA8 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)MINT-6951120, MINT-6951140, MINT-6951156, MINT-6951170, MINT-6951185: CESA8 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) physically interacts (MI:0218) withCESA7 (uniprotkb:Q9SWW6) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)MINT-6951199: CESA8 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) physically interacts (MI:0218) withCESA8 (uniprotkb:Q8LPK5) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)     

Phytochrome regulation of cellulose synthesis in Arabidopsis

Plant development is highly plastic and dependent on light quantity and quality monitored by specific photoreceptors. Although we have a detailed knowledge of light signaling pathways, little is known about downstream targets involved in growth control. Cell size and shape are in part controlled by cellulose microfibrils extruded from large cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) that migrate in the plasma membrane along cortical microtubules. Here we show a role for the red/far-red light photoreceptor PHYTOCHROME B (PHYB) in the regulation of cellulose synthesis in the growing Arabidopsis hypocotyl. In this organ, CSCs contains three distinct cellulose synthase (CESA) isoform classes: nonredundant CESA1 and CESA3 and a third class represented by partially redundant CESA2, CESA5, and CESA6. Interestingly, in the dark, depending on which CESA subunits occupy the third position, CSC velocity is more or less inhibited through an interaction with microtubules. Activation of PHYB overrules this inhibition. The analysis of cesa5 mutants shows a role for phosphorylation in the control of CSC velocity. These results, combined with the cesa5 mutant phenotype, suggest that cellulose synthesis is fine tuned through the regulated interaction of CSCs with microtubules and that PHYB signaling impinges on this process to maintain cell wall strength and growth in changing environments.     

Spatio‐temporal analysis of cellulose synthesis during cell plate formation in Arabidopsis

During cytokinesis a new crosswall is rapidly laid down. This process involves the formation at the cell equator of a tubulo‐vesicular membrane network (TVN). This TVN evolves into a tubular network (TN) and a planar fenestrated sheet, which extends at its periphery before fusing to the mother cell wall. The role of cell wall polymers in cell plate assembly is poorly understood. We used specific stains and GFP‐labelled cellulose synthases (CESAs) to show that cellulose, as well as three distinct CESAs, accumulated in the cell plate already at the TVN stage. This early presence suggests that cellulose is extruded into the tubular membrane structures of the TVN. Co‐localisation studies using GFP–CESAs suggest the delivery of cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) to the cell plate via phragmoplast‐associated vesicles. In the more mature TN part of the cell plate, we observed delivery of GFP–CESA from doughnut‐shaped organelles, presumably Golgi bodies. During the conversion of the TN into a planar fenestrated sheet, the GFP–CESA density diminished, whereas GFP–CESA levels remained high in the TVN zone at the periphery of the expanding cell plate. We observed retrieval of GFP–CESA in clathrin‐containing structures from the central zone of the cell plate and from the plasma membrane of the mother cell, which may contribute to the recycling of CESAs to the peripheral growth zone of the cell plate. These observations, together with mutant phenotypes of cellulose‐deficient mutants and pharmacological experiments, suggest a key role for cellulose synthesis already at early stages of cell plate assembly.     

Identification and functional study of the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE1 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In many eukaryotes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER ) stress activates the unfolded protein response (UPR ) via the transmembrane endoribonuclease IRE 1 to maintain ER homeostasis. The ER stress response in microalgae has not been studied in detail. Here, we identified Chlamydomonas reinhardtii IRE 1 (CrIRE 1 ) and characterized two independent knock‐down alleles of this gene. CrIRE 1 is similar to IRE 1s identified in budding yeast, plants, and humans, in terms of conserved domains, but differs in having the tandem zinc‐finger domain at the C terminus. CrIRE 1 was highly induced under ER stress conditions, and the expression of a chimeric protein consisting of the luminal N‐terminal region of CrIRE 1 fused to the cytosolic C‐terminal region of yeast Ire1p rescued the yeast ?ire1 mutant. Both allelic ire1 knock‐down mutants ire1‐1 and ire1‐2 were much more sensitive than their parental strain CC ‐4533 to the ER stress inducers tunicamycin, dithiothreitol and brefeldin A. Treatment with a low concentration of tunicamycin resulted in growth arrest and cytolysis in ire1 mutants, but not in CC ‐4533 cells. Furthermore, in the mutants, ER stress marker gene expression was reduced, and reactive oxygen species (ROS ) marker gene expression was increased. The survival of ire1 mutants treated with tunicamycin improved in the presence of the ROS scavenger glutathione, suggesting that ire1 mutants failed to maintain ROS levels under ER stress. Together, these results indicate that CrIRE 1 functions as an important component of the ER stress response in Chlamydomonas, and suggest that the ER stress sensor IRE 1 is highly conserved during the evolutionary history.     

N‐glycan maturation is crucial for cytokinin‐mediated development and cellulose synthesis in Oryza sativa

To explore the physiological significance of N‐glycan maturation in the plant Golgi apparatus, gnt1, a mutant with loss of N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnTI) function, was isolated in Oryza sativa. gnt1 exhibited complete inhibition of N‐glycan maturation and accumulated high‐mannose N‐glycans. Phenotypic analyses revealed that gnt1 shows defective post‐seedling development and incomplete cell wall biosynthesis, leading to symptoms such as failure in tiller formation, brittle leaves, reduced cell wall thickness, and decreased cellulose content. The developmental defects of gnt1 ultimately resulted in early lethality without transition to the reproductive stage. However, callus induced from gnt1 seeds could be maintained for periods, although it exhibited a low proliferation rate, small size, and hypersensitivity to salt stress. Shoot regeneration and dark‐induced leaf senescence assays indicated that the loss of GnTI function results in reduced sensitivity to cytokinin in rice. Reduced expression of A‐type O. sativa response regulators that are rapidly induced by cytokinins in gnt1 confirmed that cytokinin signaling is impaired in the mutant. These results strongly support the proposed involvement of N‐glycan maturation in transport as well as in the function of membrane proteins that are synthesized via the endomembrane system.     

Crystal structure of the UBR‐box from UBR6/FBXO11 reveals domain swapping mediated by zinc binding

The UBR‐box is a 70‐residue zinc finger domain present in the UBR family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that directly binds N‐terminal degradation signals in substrate proteins. UBR6, also called FBXO11, is an UBR‐box containing E3 ubiquitin ligase that does not bind N‐terminal signals. Here, we present the crystal structure of the UBR‐box domain from human UBR6. The dimeric crystal structure reveals a unique form of domain swapping mediated by zinc coordination, where three independent protein chains come together to regenerate the topology of the monomeric UBR‐box fold. Analysis of the structure suggests that the absence of N‐terminal residue binding arises from the lack of an amino acid binding pocket.     

A cellulose synthase‐like protein is required for osmotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Osmotic stress imposed by soil salinity and drought stress significantly affects plant growth and development, but osmotic stress sensing and tolerance mechanisms are not well understood. Forward genetic screens using a root‐bending assay have previously identified salt overly sensitive (sos) mutants of Arabidopsis that fall into five loci, SOS1 to SOS5. These loci are required for the regulation of ion homeostasis or cell expansion under salt stress, but do not play a major role in plant tolerance to the osmotic stress component of soil salinity or drought. Here we report an additional sos mutant, sos6‐1, which defines a locus essential for osmotic stress tolerance. sos6‐1 plants are hypersensitive to salt stress and osmotic stress imposed by mannitol or polyethylene glycol in culture media or by water deficit in the soil. SOS6 encodes a cellulose synthase‐like protein, AtCSLD5. Only modest differences in cell wall chemical composition could be detected, but we found that sos6‐1 mutant plants accumulate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under osmotic stress and are hypersensitive to the oxidative stress reagent methyl viologen. The results suggest that SOS6/AtCSLD5 is not required for normal plant growth and development but has a critical role in osmotic stress tolerance and this function likely involves its regulation of ROS under stress.     

Endosidin20-1 is more potent than endosidin20 in inhibiting plant cellulose biosynthesis and molecular docking analysis of cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors on modeled cellulose synthase structure

Endosidin20 (ES20) is a recently identified cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor (CBI) that targets the catalytic site of plant cellulose synthase (CESA). Here, we screened over 600 ES20 analogs and identified nine active analogs named ES20-1 to ES20-9. Among these, endosidin20-1 (ES20-1) had stronger inhibitory effects on plant growth and cellulose biosynthesis than ES20. At the biochemical level, we demonstrated that ES20-1, like ES20, directly interacts with CESA6. At the cellular level, this molecule, like ES20, induced the accumulation of cellulose synthase complexes at the Golgi apparatus and inhibited their secretion to the plasma membrane. Like ES20, ES20-1 likely targets the catalytic site of CESA. However, through molecular docking analysis using a modeled structure of full-length CESA6, we found that both ES20 and ES20-1 might have another target site at the transmembrane regions of CESA6. Besides ES20, other CBIs such as isoxaben, C17, and flupoxam are widely used tools to dissect the mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis and are also valuable resources for the development of herbicides. Here, based on mutant genetic analysis and molecular docking analysis, we have identified the potential target sites of these CBIs on a modeled CESA structure. Some bacteria also produce cellulose, and both ES20 and ES20-1 inhibited bacterial cellulose biosynthesis. Therefore, we conclude that ES20-1 is a more potent analog of ES20 that inhibits intrinsic cellulose biosynthesis in plants, and both ES20 and ES20-1 show an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth and cellulose synthesis, making them excellent tools for exploring the mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis across kingdoms.     

Structure and DNA binding characteristics of the three‐Cys2His2 domain of mouse testis zinc finger protein

The C‐terminal three‐Cys₂His₂ zinc‐finger domain (TZD) of mouse testis zinc‐finger protein binds to the 5′‐TGTACAGTGT‐3′ at the Aie1 (aurora‐C) promoter with high specificity. Interestingly, the primary sequence of TZD is unique, possessing two distinct linkers, TGEKP and GAAP, and distinct residues at presumed DNA binding sites at each finger, especially finger 3. A K_d value of ～10^?8 M was obtained from surface plasmon resonance analysis for the TZD‐DNA complex. NMR structure of the free TZD showed that each zinc finger forms a typical ββα fold. On binding to DNA, chemical shift perturbations and the R₂ transverse relaxation rate in finger 3 are significantly smaller than those in fingers 1 and 2, which indicates that the DNA binding affinity in finger 3 is weaker. Furthermore, the shift perturbations between TZD in complex with the cognate DNA and its serial mutants revealed that both ADE7 and CYT8, underlined in 5′‐ATATGTACAGTGTTAT‐3′, are critical in specific binding, and the DNA binding in finger 3 is sequence independent. Remarkably, the shift perturbations in finger 3 on the linker mutation of TZD (GAAP mutated to TGEKP) were barely detected, which further indicates that finger 3 does not play a critical role in DNA sequence‐specific recognition. The complex model showed that residues important for DNA binding are mainly located on positions ?1, 2, 3, and 6 of α‐helices in fingers 1 and 2. The DNA sequence and nonsequence‐specific bindings occurring simultaneously in TZD provide valuable information for better understanding of protein–DNA recognition. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Solution structure of the RNA binding domain in the human muscleblind‐like protein 2

The muscleblind‐like (MBNL) proteins 1, 2, and 3, which contain four CCCH zinc finger motifs (ZF1–4), are involved in the differentiation of muscle inclusion by controlling the splicing patterns of several pre‐mRNAs. Especially, MBNL1 plays a crucial role in myotonic dystrophy. The CCCH zinc finger is a sequence motif found in many RNA binding proteins and is suggested to play an important role in the recognition of RNA molecules. Here, we solved the solution structures of both tandem zinc finger (TZF) motifs, TZF12 (comprising ZF1 and ZF2) and TZF34 (ZF3 and ZF4), in MBNL2 from Homo sapiens. In TZF12 of MBNL2, ZF1 and ZF2 adopt a similar fold, as reported previously for the CCCH‐type zinc fingers in the TIS11d protein. The linker between ZF1 and ZF2 in MBNL2 forms an antiparallel β‐sheet with the N‐terminal extension of ZF1. Furthermore, ZF1 and ZF2 in MBNL2 interact with each other through hydrophobic interactions. Consequently, TZF12 forms a single, compact global fold, where ZF1 and ZF2 are approximately symmetrical about the C2 axis. The structure of the second tandem zinc finger (TZF34) in MBNL2 is similar to that of TZF12. This novel three‐dimensional structure of the TZF domains in MBNL2 provides a basis for functional studies of the CCCH‐type zinc finger motifs in the MBNL protein family.