Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize
Improving sulfur assimilation in maize kernels is essential due to humans and animals’ inability to synthesize methionine. Serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is a critical enzyme that controls cystine biosynthesis in plants. In this study, all SAT gene members were genome-wide characterized by using a s...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/437 |
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| author | Zhixuan Zhao Shuai Li Chen Ji Yong Zhou Changsheng Li Wenqin Wang |
| author_facet | Zhixuan Zhao Shuai Li Chen Ji Yong Zhou Changsheng Li Wenqin Wang |
| author_sort | Zhixuan Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improving sulfur assimilation in maize kernels is essential due to humans and animals’ inability to synthesize methionine. Serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is a critical enzyme that controls cystine biosynthesis in plants. In this study, all SAT gene members were genome-wide characterized by using a sequence homology search. The RNA-seq quantification indicates that they are highly expressed in leaves, other than root and seeds, consistent with their biological functions in sulfur assimilation. With the recently released 25 genomes of nested association mapping (NAM) founders representing the diverse maize stock, we had the opportunity to investigate the SAT genetic variation comprehensively. The abundant transposon insertions into SAT genes indicate their driving power in terms of gene structure and genome evolution. We found that the transposon insertion into exons could change SAT gene transcription, whereas there was no significant correlation between transposable element (TE) insertion into introns and their gene expression, indicating that other regulatory elements such as promoters could also be involved. Understanding the SAT gene structure, gene expression and genetic variation involved in natural selection and species adaption could precisely guide genetic engineering to manipulate sulfur assimilation in maize and to improve nutritional quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:06:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc6065153b074278b6f370c6dc654859 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:06:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc6065153b074278b6f370c6dc6548592023-11-21T11:08:05ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252021-03-0112343710.3390/genes12030437Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in MaizeZhixuan Zhao0Shuai Li1Chen Ji2Yong Zhou3Changsheng Li4Wenqin Wang5School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaImproving sulfur assimilation in maize kernels is essential due to humans and animals’ inability to synthesize methionine. Serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is a critical enzyme that controls cystine biosynthesis in plants. In this study, all SAT gene members were genome-wide characterized by using a sequence homology search. The RNA-seq quantification indicates that they are highly expressed in leaves, other than root and seeds, consistent with their biological functions in sulfur assimilation. With the recently released 25 genomes of nested association mapping (NAM) founders representing the diverse maize stock, we had the opportunity to investigate the SAT genetic variation comprehensively. The abundant transposon insertions into SAT genes indicate their driving power in terms of gene structure and genome evolution. We found that the transposon insertion into exons could change SAT gene transcription, whereas there was no significant correlation between transposable element (TE) insertion into introns and their gene expression, indicating that other regulatory elements such as promoters could also be involved. Understanding the SAT gene structure, gene expression and genetic variation involved in natural selection and species adaption could precisely guide genetic engineering to manipulate sulfur assimilation in maize and to improve nutritional quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/437methioninecysteinetransposonnested association mapping population |
| spellingShingle | Zhixuan Zhao Shuai Li Chen Ji Yong Zhou Changsheng Li Wenqin Wang Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize Genes methionine cysteine transposon nested association mapping population |
| title | Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize |
| title_full | Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize |
| title_short | Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize |
| title_sort | genetic variation of the serine acetyltransferase gene family for sulfur assimilation in maize |
| topic | methionine cysteine transposon nested association mapping population |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/437 |
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