CDPK20基因表达及其对山药块茎膨大调控作用研究

为探讨钙依赖性蛋白激酶(CDPK)在山药块茎淀粉及内源激素合成中的作用,该研究以'毕克齐'和'大和长芋'山药为试验材料,测定了块茎的淀粉、糖、内源激素含量等指标并进行相关性分析;采用RT-PCR技术克隆了钙依赖性蛋白激酶基因(CDPK20),并进行生物信息学分析,构建CDPK:GFP融合载体,对CDPK蛋白进行亚细胞定...     

葛根淀粉合成关键酶活性动态及其与块根产量和淀粉积累的相关性研究

为探讨葛根发育过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性与块根产量和淀粉积累的关系,以初步揭示其内在的生理机制。该研究以‘桂葛1号’粉葛和‘桂葛8号’野葛为材料,采取生理测定法对农艺性状、直链和支链淀粉的含量、淀粉合成关键酶活性等进行测定,并对葛根发育过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性、农艺性状和淀粉含量动态变化的关系进行相关性分析。结果表明：(1)块根发育过程中,两品种葛根腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPase)、可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)、束缚性结合淀粉合成酶(GBSS)和淀粉分支酶(SBE)的活性呈现先增大后降低的单峰曲线变化,与直链淀粉、支链淀粉和总淀粉含量由缓慢增长到快速增长后趋于稳定的变化趋势基本一致,即在块根形成期至膨大期逐渐增长,至膨大后期达到最大,之后迅速下降,至成熟期缓慢下降,并维持在较高水平。(2)‘桂葛8号’的淀粉含量和产量显著高于‘桂葛1号’,其酶活性也均显著高于‘桂葛1号’。(3)葛块根的根长、根粗、单株重、干物质含量、产量表现为“缓慢-快速-稳定”的变化趋势,淀粉含量表现出类似变化。(4)相关性分析结果显示,4个淀粉合成关键酶活性与块根直链淀粉、支链淀粉及总淀粉含量、根长均呈显著或...     

海南地区种植不同菊芋品种的生长指标和糖分组成分析及适宜品种筛选

对种植于海南地区的不同菊芋(Helianthus tuberosus Linn.)品种的生长指标和糖分组成进行比较和分析,并筛选出适宜海南地区种植的菊芋品种。结果表明:随着时间的推移,6个菊芋品种的株高、茎粗、单株地上部干质量、单株根干质量及单株总干质量总体上呈逐渐升高的趋势,而根长的变化趋势各异。10月26日(成熟期),‘泰芋1号’(‘Taiyu No.1’)的株高和茎粗最高,‘南芋9号’(‘Nanyu No.9’)的根长以及块茎和茎干的产量、单株鲜质量和含水率最高,‘南芋1号’(‘Nanyu No.1’)的单株地上部干质量、单株块茎干质量及单株总干质量最高,‘青芋2号’(‘Qingyu No.2’)的单株根干质量最高。随着时间的推移,6个菊芋品种叶片中可溶性糖含量的变幅相对较小,而茎干中可溶性糖含量则总体上呈逐渐降低的趋势;6个菊芋品种叶片和茎干中还原糖含量的变化趋势各异。10月26日,‘南芋9号’叶片中可溶性糖含量最高,6个菊芋品种间叶片中还原糖含量差异不显著,‘泰芋1号’茎干中可溶性糖和还原糖含量最高;‘南芋1号’、‘南芋9号’、‘泰芋1号’和‘泰芋2号’(‘Taiyu No.2’)块茎中可溶性糖含量较高,‘青芋2号’、‘泰芋2号’和‘泰芋3号’(‘Taiyu No.3’)块茎中还原糖含量较高。随着时间的推移,‘南芋1号’、‘南芋9号’和‘青芋2号’叶片和茎干中果糖含量总体上呈逐渐升高的趋势,‘泰芋1号’、‘泰芋2号’和‘泰芋3号’叶片和茎干中果糖含量均呈先降低后升高的趋势;6个菊芋品种叶片中葡萄糖含量总体上呈逐渐升高的趋势,而茎干中葡萄糖含量总体上呈先降低后升高的趋势;6个菊芋品种叶片和茎干中蔗糖含量的变化趋势各异。总体上看,同一时期6个菊芋品种间叶片和茎干中蔗果三糖、蔗果四糖和蔗果五塘含量的差异均不显著。综合研究结果显示:适宜在海南地区种植的菊芋品种为‘南芋1号’和‘南芋9号’。     

红香芋试管球茎膨大过程中主要碳水化合物含量以及淀粉合成相关酶活性的动态研究

为了探讨芋(Colocasia esculenta(L.)Schott)试管球茎膨大期间糖类物质积累特点,以红香芋无菌试管苗为材料,研究了高浓度蔗糖诱导条件下,红香芋试管球茎形成及膨大过程中主要碳水化合物的变化规律,以及与相关酶活性的关系。结果表明:(1)在红香芋试管球茎膨大过程中,果糖、葡萄糖和总可溶性糖含量均呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,果糖含量在诱导至第27天时达到最大值,而总可溶性糖和葡萄糖含量均在第34天达到峰值;蔗糖含量呈现先上升、后下降、再上升的变化趋势,在培养第48天时积累量达到最大值。(2)红香芋试管球茎总淀粉含量、直链和支链淀粉含量均随培养时间的延长而增加,至膨大后期总淀粉含量达到最大值,淀粉总含量约占干重的76%,并以支链淀粉含量为主。(3)解剖学观察发现,随着试管球茎的形成与膨大,贮藏组织中淀粉粒密度不断增大,至球茎膨大后期,淀粉粒布满薄壁细胞,并且处于比较稳定的水平。(4)诱导培养至第41天时,试管球茎的ADPG焦磷酸化酶和Q-酶活性均达到最大值,分别为1.22和2.39μmol·g~(-1)·min~(-1)。相关性分析发现,从茎基部开始膨大(20d)至ADPG焦磷酸化酶和Q-酶活性达峰值(41d)时,ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性与总淀粉含量、Q-酶活性与支链淀粉含量的相关系数分别为0.819和0.738,二者均呈极显著正相关。研究认为,淀粉的积累以及可溶性糖类含量的变化与红香芋试管球茎的膨大发育密切相关,并受到相关酶的调控。     

糯性和非糯性小麦灌浆期胚乳直/支链淀粉积累及其相关酶活性研究

选用3份糯性和2份非糯性小麦材料,通过田间试验在灌浆过程中分别检测了各材料的籽粒直链和支链淀粉积累量、淀粉积累速率及淀粉合成关键酶活性的动态变化过程,探讨籽粒淀粉累积与相关酶活性的关系.结果表明:(1)非糯小麦在花后7 d前均未检测到直链淀粉存在,而此时已经检测到支链淀粉含量,并且糯小麦仅含有支链淀粉,支链淀粉早于直链淀粉合成.(2)糯性和非糯性小麦灌浆期籽粒的直、支链淀粉积累速率均呈先增加后降低的趋势,且直、支链淀粉最终积累量取决于最大积累速率和平均积累速率的大小,而积累活跃期的调节作用较小;糯性和非糯性小麦在淀粉合成过程中的腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPP)、可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)、颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶(GBSS)和淀粉分支酶(SEB)活性均呈单峰曲线变化,活性峰值基本上都出现在花后20～25 d左右.(3)直链淀粉积累速率与AGPP、SSS、GBSS和SBE活性变化显著或极显著正相关,而支链淀粉积累速率仅与SSS活性变化极显著正相关,总淀粉积累速率与AGPP和SSS活性变化显著或极显著正相关.     

秸秆还田对旱作马铃薯块茎淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达的影响

为探讨秸秆还田下旱作马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达特性,以马铃薯栽培品种"青薯9号"为材料,以露地栽培为对照,设置秸秆还田处理,研究了马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性、基因表达、淀粉糊化及累积指标。结果表明:秸秆还田显著提高了旱作马铃薯SSS酶活性,降低了AGPP、GBSS酶活性,而对SBE酶活性没有显著影响;显著提高了SSⅡ、SSⅢ基因表达量,降低了AGPase、GBSSⅠ、SBEⅠ、SBEⅡ基因表达量;显著增加了淀粉崩解值,减少了淀粉各阶段粘度、回生值,而对淀粉糊化温度没有显著影响;显著增加了直链淀粉含量及直/支链淀粉比,减少了总淀粉含量;GBSS酶活性与AGPase、SBEⅠ基因表达量呈显著正相关,与直链淀粉含量、直/支链淀粉比呈显著负相关;SBE酶活性与SSⅡ基因表达量、峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度、总淀粉含量呈显著正相关,与崩解值、糊化温度呈显著负相关;AGPase基因表达量与直链淀粉含量呈显著负相关;GBSSⅠ基因表达量与最终粘度、回生值呈显著正相关,与糊化温度呈显著负相关;淀粉糊化与累积无显著相关性。     

秸秆还田对旱作马铃薯块茎淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达的影响

为探讨秸秆还田下旱作马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达特性,以马铃薯栽培品种"青薯9号"为材料,以露地栽培为对照,设置秸秆还田处理,研究了马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性、基因表达、淀粉糊化及累积指标。结果表明:秸秆还田显著提高了旱作马铃薯SSS酶活性,降低了AGPP、GBSS酶活性,而对SBE酶活性没有显著影响;显著提高了SSⅡ、SSⅢ基因表达量,降低了AGPase、GBSSⅠ、SBEⅠ、SBEⅡ基因表达量;显著增加了淀粉崩解值,减少了淀粉各阶段粘度、回生值,而对淀粉糊化温度没有显著影响;显著增加了直链淀粉含量及直/支链淀粉比,减少了总淀粉含量; GBSS酶活性与AGPase、SBEⅠ基因表达量呈显著正相关,与直链淀粉含量、直/支链淀粉比呈显著负相关; SBE酶活性与SSⅡ基因表达量、峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度、总淀粉含量呈显著正相关,与崩解值、糊化温度呈显著负相关; AGPase基因表达量与直链淀粉含量呈显著负相关;GBSSⅠ基因表达量与最终粘度、回生值呈显著正相关,与糊化温度呈显著负相关;淀粉糊化与累积无显著相关性。     

‘台农1号’芒果果实发育过程中的糖分积累与相关酶活性研究

以‘台农1号’芒果为材料,测定了果实生长发育过程中淀粉、蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖含量以及淀粉酶、蔗糖代谢相关酶———酸性转化酶(AI)、中性转化酶(NI)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)和蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)的活性,并对果实中糖组分与酶活性的关系进行了分析.结果显示,(1)台农1号芒果果实属于单S型生长曲线,发育前期主要积累淀粉、葡萄糖和果糖,果实成熟软化时,淀粉酶活性降至最低,淀粉水解,蔗糖快速积累.(2)酸性转化酶活性在果实整个发育过程中维持最高,完熟时略有降低;蔗糖磷酸合成酶在果实发育前期略有降低,完熟时升至最高;蔗糖合成酶和中性转化酶活性在整个发育期一直很低且较稳定.(3)淀粉含量与淀粉酶活性呈显著正相关,与SPS活性呈极显著负相关,蔗糖、葡萄糖含量均与SPS、SS呈显著、极显著的正相关;果糖含量与SS呈极显著的正相关.研究表明,芒果成熟时淀粉分解、酸性转化酶活性的降低,且蔗糖合成酶和蔗糖磷酸合成酶活性的增加是引起果实蔗糖积累的主要因子.     

‘金冠’苹果及其优系(SGP-1)果实发育期间有机酸代谢特征比较北大核心CSCD

以‘金冠’苹果及其优系‘SGP-1’为试材,测定果实发育期间有机酸组分、含量和苹果酸代谢相关酶活性,分析它们的变化规律及相关关系,以探索苹果有机酸积累的关键时期和关键酶,揭示果实低酸成因。结果表明:(1)苹果果实发育期间,‘SGP-1’的有机酸含量显著低于‘金冠’,成熟时仅为‘金冠’的二分之一,且主要由苹果酸、奎宁酸、酒石酸和柠檬酸组成,幼果期以奎宁酸为主,成熟期以苹果酸为主。(2)‘SGP-1’的苹果酸含量显著低于‘金冠’,其在幼果期和膨大期变化规律与‘金冠’相反,且积累关键时期和快速下降期早于‘金冠’;‘SGP-1’果实其余酸组分含量变化趋势与‘金冠’基本一致,但在幼果期显著高于‘金冠’,在成熟期与‘金冠’差异不显著。(3)‘SGP-1’的苹果酸代谢相关酶活性在幼果期均显著高于‘金冠’,成熟期持平或显著低于‘金冠’;幼果期MDH活性和成熟期ME活性在两材料间变化规律相反。(4)‘SGP-1’的幼果期苹果酸积累与PEPC和VHA活性呈极显著正相关关系,而同期‘金冠’则与MDH、PEPC和VHA活性呈极显著负相关关系;‘SGP-1’膨大期苹果酸积累与MDH、PEPC活性呈极显著负相关关系,与PEPCK和VHA活性呈显著正相关关系,而同期‘金冠’则与PEPC、ME和VHP活性呈极显著或显著负相关关系;二者成熟期苹果酸积累均与MDH、PEPC、ME和VHP活性呈极显著或显著负相关关系。研究发现,‘SGP-1’是以苹果酸为主的低酸型‘金冠’苹果变异优系,对苹果酸积累起主要调控作用的酶种类和活性与‘金冠’不同,导致了‘SGP-1’的低酸品质,该研究结果为深入探索果实低酸形成机理和培育高糖低酸新品种奠定了基础。     

花后高温对持绿型小麦叶片衰老及籽粒淀粉合成相关酶的影响

试验选用持绿型冬小麦(Triticum aestivum) ‘豫麦66’ (‘Ym66’)和‘潍麦8号’ (‘Wm8’)为研究材料, 以当地生产上起主导作用的冬小麦品种‘小偃22’ (‘XY22’)和‘小偃6号’ (‘XY6’)为对照。花后用塑料薄膜搭建成增温棚进行高温处理, 测定各品种绿叶数目、叶绿素和丙二醛(MDA)含量及叶片细胞膜透性, 并研究籽粒灌浆成熟期高温对持绿型小麦籽粒淀粉合成相关酶及粒重的影响。结果表明, 高温处理后, 各品种的绿叶数目和叶绿素含量都减少, MDA含量和膜透性都增加, 说明高温加速了小麦叶片衰老。同时, 各品种籽粒中与淀粉合成相关的酶(蔗糖合成酶(SS)和腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPP)、可溶性淀粉合酶(SSS))活性都低于正常生长下的籽粒中的酶活性, 其中高温对籽粒SS和AGPP活性的影响不显著,而对籽粒SSS活性的影响显著(p = 0.015)。品种间比较, 持绿型小麦在两种处理下, 都表现出较多的绿叶数目和较高的叶绿素含量; 且3种与淀粉合成相关的酶活性也都高于非持绿型小麦, 说明持绿型小麦酶活性受高温抑制程度较小。相关性分析表明, 所有品种籽粒SS、AGPP、SSS活性都与籽粒灌浆速率成极显著的正相关(相关系数r分别为0.905、0.419和0.801)。因而, 持绿型小麦不仅具有较好的持绿特性, 而且籽粒中与淀粉合成相关的3种酶活性都较高, 这有利于其籽粒淀粉的合成, 从而增加籽粒产量。     

Non‐GMO potato lines,synthesizing increased amylose and resistant starch,are mainly deficient in isoamylase debranching enzyme

Solanum tuberosum potato lines with high amylose content were generated by crossing with the wild potato species Solanum sandemanii followed by repeated backcrossing to Solanum tuberosum lines. The trait, termed increased amylose (IAm), was recessive and present after three generations of backcrossing into S. tuberosum lines (6.25% S. sandemanii genes). The tubers of these lines were small, elongated and irregular with small and misshaped starch granules and high sugar content. Additional backcrossing resulted in less irregular tuber morphology, increased starch content (4.3%–9.5%) and increased amylose content (29%–37.9%) but indifferent sugar content. The amylose in the IAm starch granules was mainly located in peripheral spots, and large cavities were found in the granules. Starch pasting was suppressed, and the digestion‐resistant starch (RS) content was increased. Comprehensive microarray polymer profiling (CoMPP) analysis revealed specific alterations of major pectic and glycoprotein cell wall components. This complex phenotype led us to search for candidate IAm genes exploiting its recessive trait. Hence, we sequenced genomic DNA of a pool of IAm lines, identified SNPs genome wide against the draft genome sequence of potato and searched for regions of decreased heterozygosity. Three regions, located on chromosomes 3, 7 and 10, respectively, displayed markedly less heterozygosity than average. The only credible starch metabolism‐related gene found in these regions encoded the isoamylase‐type debranching enzyme Stisa1. Decreased expression of mRNA (>500 fold) and reduced enzyme activity (virtually absent from IAm lines) supported Stisa1 as a candidate gene for IAm.     

FLOURY ENDOSPERM6 encodes a CBM48 domain‐containing protein involved in compound granule formation and starch synthesis in rice endosperm

Starch is the most widespread form of energy storage in the plant kingdom. Although many enzymes and related factors have been identified for starch biosynthesis, unknown players remain to be identified, given that it is a complicated and sophisticated process. The endosperm of rice (Oryza sativa) has been used for the study of starch synthesis. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the FLOURY ENDOSPERM6 (FLO6) gene in rice. In the flo6 mutant, the starch content is decreased and the normal physicochemical features of starch are changed. Significantly, flo6 mutant endosperm cells show obvious defects in compound granule formation. Map‐based cloning showed that FLO6 encodes a protein of unknown function. It harbors an N–terminal transit peptide that ensures its correct localization and functions in the plastid, and a C–terminal carbohydrate‐binding module 48 (CBM48) domain that binds to starch. Furthermore, FLO6 can interact with isoamylase1 (ISA1) both in vitro and in vivo, whereas ISA1 does not bind to starch directly. We thus propose that FLO6 may act as a starch‐binding protein involved in starch synthesis and compound granule formation through a direct interaction with ISA1 in developing rice seeds. Our data provide a novel insight into the role of proteins with the CBM48 domain in plant species.     

Functional diversity of isoamylase oligomers: the ISA1 homo-oligomer is essential for amylopectin biosynthesis in rice endosperm

Rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm has two isoamylase (ISA) oligomers, ISA1 homo-oligomer and ISA1-ISA2 hetero-oligomer. To examine their contribution to starch synthesis, expression of the ISA1 or ISA2 gene was differently regulated in various transgenic plants. Although suppression of ISA2 gene expression caused the endosperm to have only the homo-oligomer, no significant effects were detected on the starch phenotypes. In contrast, ISA2 overexpression led to endosperm having only the hetero-oligomer, and starch synthesis in the endosperm was drastically impaired, both quantitatively and qualitatively, because the starch was devoid of typical starch features, such as thermal and x-ray diffraction properties, and water-soluble highly branched maltodextrins were accumulated. In the ISA2 overexpressed line, about 60% to 70% of the ISA1-ISA2 hetero-oligomer was bound to starch, while the ISA homo- and hetero-oligomers from the wild type were mostly present in the soluble form at the early milking stage of the endosperm. Detailed analysis of the relative amounts of homo- and hetero-oligomers in various lines also led us to the conclusion that the ISA1 homo-oligomer is essential, but not the ISA1-ISA2 oligomer, for starch production in rice endosperm. The relative amounts of ISA1 and ISA2 proteins were shown to determine the ratio of both oligomers and the stoichiometry of both ISAs in the hetero-oligomer. It was noted when compared with the homo-oligomer that all the hetero-oligomers from rice endosperm and leaf and potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber were much more stable at 40°C. This study provides substantial data on the structural and functional diversity of ISA oligomers between plant tissues and species.     

Field evaluation of transgenic potato plants expressing an antisense granule-bound starch synthase gene: increase of the antisense effect during tuber growth

Transgenic plants of a tetraploid potato cultivar were obtained in which the amylose content of tuber starch was reduced via antisense RNA-mediated inhibition of the expression of the gene encoding granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS). GBSS is one of the key enzymes in the biosynthesis of starch and catalyses the formation of amylose. The antisense GBSS genes, based on the full-length GBSS cDNA driven by the 35S CaMV promoter or the potato GBSS promoter, were introduced into the potato genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Expression of each of these genes resulted in the complete inhibition of GBSS gene expression, and thus in the production of amylose-free tuber starch, in mature field-grown plants originating from rooted in vitro plantlets of 4 out of 66 transgenic clones. Clones in which the GBSS gene expression was incompletely inhibited showed an increase of the extent of inhibition during tuber growth. This is likely to be due to the increase of starch granule size during tuber growth and the specific distribution pattern of starch components in granules of clones with reduced GBSS activity. Expression of the antisense GBSS gene from the GBSS promoter resulted in a higher stability of inhibition in tubers of field-grown plants as compared to expression from the 35S CaMV promoter. Field analysis of the transgenic clones indicated that inhibition of GBSS gene expression could be achieved without significantly affecting the starch and sugar content of transgenic tubers, the expression level of other genes involved in starch and tuber metabolism and agronomic characteristics such as yield and dry matter content.     

Expression of a cassava granule-bound starch synthase gene in the amylose-free potato only partially restores amylose content

Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSS I) is responsible for the synthesis of amylose in starch granules. A heterologous cassava GBSS I gene was tested for its ability to restore amylose synthesis in amylose-free (amf) potato mutants. For this purpose, the cassava GBSS I was equipped with different transit peptides. In addition, a hybrid containing the potato transit peptide, the N-terminal 89 amino acids of the mature potato GBSS I, and the C-terminal part of cassava GBSS I was prepared. The transgenic starches were first analysed by iodine staining. Only with the hybrid could full phenotypic complementation of the amf mutation be achieved in 13% of the plants. Most transformants showed partial complementation, but interestingly the size of the blue core was similar in all granules derived from one tuber of a given plant. The amylose content was only partially restored, up to 60% of wild-type values or potato GBSS I-complemented plants; however, the GBSS activity in these granules was similar to that found in wild-type ones. From this, and the observation that the hybrid protein (a partial potato GBSS I look-alike) performs best, it was concluded that potato and cassava GBSS I have different intrinsic properties and that the cassava enzyme is not fully adapted to the potato situation.     

Analyses of isoamylase gene activity in wild-type barley indicate its involvement in starch synthesis

The notion of debranching enzyme activity as a participant in starch synthesis is gaining acceptance. Inconsistent reports from mutant analyses implicate either isoamylase or pullulanase as a determinant in amylopectin formation and whether wild-type plants utilize one or the other, or both, of these debranching enzymes in starch synthesis is unclear. Recent results on the su1 mutant in maize suggest that both forms of debranching enzymes might be involved in amylopectin formation. We wished to find out if isoamylase takes part in starch synthesis by comparing isoamylase gene activity under three conditions: (1) during starch accumulation in developing sink tissues; (2) during starch degradation in germinating seeds; (3) in ectopic expression after applying sucrose, a starch precursor. We isolated the gene for barley isoamylase, iso1, and analysed its expression and regulation in germinating seeds, developing endosperm and vegetative tissues, and compared the isoamylase gene expression in sink tissues from three different species. Our results indicate that isoamylase gene activity is involved in starch synthesis in wild-type plants and is modulated by sucrose.     

Modulation of amylose content by structure‐based modification of OsGBSS1 activity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The rice Waxy (Wx) gene encodes granule‐bound starch synthase 1 (EC 2.4.1.242), OsGBSS1, which is responsible for amylose synthesis in rice seed endosperm. In this study, we determined the functional contribution of eight amino acids on the activity of OsGBSS1 by introducing site‐directed mutated Wx gene constructs into the wx mutant glutinous rice. The eight amino acid residues are suspected to play roles in OsGBSS1 structure maintenance or function based on homologous enzyme sequence alignment and homology modelling. Both OsGBSS1 activity and amylose content were analysed in homozygous transgenic lines carrying the mutated OsGBSS1 (Wx) genes. Our results indicate that mutations at diverse sites in OsGBSS1 reduces its activity by affecting its starch‐binding capacity, its ADP‐glucose‐binding capability or its protein stability. Our results shed new light on the structural basis of OsGBSS1 activity and the mechanisms of OsGBSS1 activity on amylose synthesis in vivo. This study also demonstrates that it is feasible to finely modulate amylose content in rice grains by modifying the OsGBSS1 activity.     

Complementation of the amylose-free starch mutant of potato (Solanum tuberosum.) by the gene encoding granule-bound starch synthase

Summary Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated introduction of the wild-type allele of the gene encoding granulebound starch synthase (GBSS) into the amylose-free starch mutantamf of potato leads to restoration of GBSS activity and amylose synthesis, which demonstrates thatAmf is the structural gene for GBSS. Amylose was found in columella cells of root tips, in stomatal guard cells, tubers, and pollen, while in the control experiments using only vector DNA, these tissues remained amylose free. This confirms the fact that, in potato, GBSS is the only enzyme responsible for the presence of amylose, accumulating in all starch-containing tissues. Amylose-containing transformants showed no positive correlation between GBSS activity and amylose content, which confirms that the former is not the sole regulating factor in amylose metabolism.     

Expression of a wild-type GBSS gene introduced into an amylose-free potato mutant by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the inheritance of the inserts at the microsporic level

Granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) catalyses the synthesis of amylose in starch granules. Transformation of a diploid amylose-free (amf) potato mutant with the gene encoding GBSS leads to the restoration of amylose synthesis. Transformants were obtained which had wild-type levels of both GBSS activity and amylose content. It proved to be difficult to increase the amylose content above that of the wild-type potato by the introduction of additional copies of the wild-type GBSS gene. Staining of starch with iodine was suitable for investigating the degree of expression of the inserted GBSS gene in transgenic amf plants. Of the 19 investigated transformants, four had only red-staining starch in tubers indicating that no complementation of the amf mutation had occured. Fifteen complemented transformants had only blue-staining starch in tubers or tubers of different staining categories (blue, mixed and red), caused either by full or partial expression of the inserted gene. Complementation was also found in the microspores. The segregation of blue- and red-staining microspores was used to analyse the inheritance of the introduced GBSS genes. A comparison of the results from microspore staining and Southern hybridisation indicated that, in three tetraploid transgenics, the gene was probably inserted before (duplex), and in all others after, chromosome doubling (simplex). The partial complementation was not due to methylation of the HPAII/MSPI site in the promoter region. Partially complemented plants had low levels of mRNA as was found when the GBSS expression levels were inhibited by anti-sense technology.