Campus Units
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Roy J. Carver Department of, Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Statistics, Center for Metabolic Biology
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
6-7-2018
Journal or Book Title
Plant Biotechnology Journal
DOI
10.1111/pbi.12961
Abstract
Enhancing the nutritional quality and disease resistance of crops without sacrificing productivity is a key issue for developing varieties that are valuable to farmers and for simultaneously improving food security and sustainability. Expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana species‐specific AtQQS (Qua‐Quine Starch) orphan gene or its interactor, NF‐YC4 (Nuclear Factor Y, subunit C4), has been shown to increase levels of leaf/seed protein without affecting the growth and yield of agronomic species. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of AtQQS and NF‐YC4 in Arabidopsis and soybean enhances resistance/reduces susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, fungi, aphids, and soybean cyst nematodes. A series of Arabidopsis mutants in starch metabolism were used to explore the relationships between QQS expression, carbon and nitrogen partitioning, and defense. The enhanced basal defenses mediated by QQS were independent of changes in protein/carbohydrate composition of the plants. We demonstrate that either AtQQS or NF‐YC4 overexpression in Arabidopsis and in soybean reduces susceptibility of these plants to pathogens/pests. Transgenic soybean lines overexpressing NF‐YC4 produce seeds with increased protein while maintaining healthy growth. Pull‐down studies reveal that QQS interacts with human NF‐YC, as well as with Arabidopsis NF‐YC4, and indicate two QQS binding sites near the NF‐YC‐histone‐binding domain. A new model for QQS interaction with NF‐YC is speculated. Our findings illustrate the potential of QQS and NF‐YC4 to increase protein and improve defensive traits in crops, overcoming the normal growth‐defense tradeoffs.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Copyright Owner
Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Copyright Date
2018
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Qi, Mingsheng; Zheng, Wenguang; Zhao, Xuefeng; Hohenstein, Jessica D.; Kandel, Yuba; O’Conner, Seth; Wang, Yifan; Du, Chuanlong; Nettleton, Dan; Macintosh, Gustavo C.; Tylka, Gregory L.; Wurtele, Eve Syrkin; Whitham, Steven A.; and Li, Ling, "QQS orphan gene and its interactor NF‐YC4 reduce susceptibility to pathogens and pests" (2018). Plant Pathology and Microbiology Publications. 247.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/plantpath_pubs/247
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agriculture Commons, Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Statistics and Probability Commons
Comments
This is the accepted manuscript for the article Qi, Mingsheng, Wenguang Zheng, Xuefeng Zhao, Jessica D. Hohenstein, Yuba Kandel, Seth O'Conner, Yifan Wang, Chuanlong Du, Dan Nettleton, Gustavo C. MacIntosh, Gregory L. Tylka, Eve Syrkin Wurtele, Steven A. Whitham, and Ling Li. "QQS orphan gene and its interactor NF‐YC 4 reduce susceptibility to pathogens and pests." Plant Biotechnology Journal (2018). DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12961. Posted with permission.