Elucidation of Spartina dimethylsulfoniopropionate synthesis genes enables engineering of stress tolerant plants

Payet, Rocky D., Bilham, Lorelei L., Kabir, Shah Md Tamim, Monaco, Serena, Norcott, Ash R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1585-1700, Allen, Mellieha G. E., Zhu, Xiao-Yu, Davy, Anthony J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7658-7106, Brearley, Charles A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6179-9109, Todd, Jonathan D. and Miller, J. Benjamin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0882-033X (2024) Elucidation of Spartina dimethylsulfoniopropionate synthesis genes enables engineering of stress tolerant plants. Nature Communications, 15. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

The organosulfur compound dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) has key roles in stress protection, global carbon and sulfur cycling, chemotaxis, and is a major source of climate-active gases. Saltmarshes are global hotspots for DMSP cycling due to Spartina cordgrasses that produce exceptionally high concentrations of DMSP. Here, in Spartina anglica, we identify the plant genes that underpin high-level DMSP synthesis: methionine S-methyltransferase (MMT), S-methylmethionine decarboxylase (SDC) and DMSP-amine oxidase (DOX). Homologs of these enzymes are common in plants, but differences in expression and catalytic efficiency explain why S. anglica accumulates such high DMSP concentrations and other plants only accumulate low concentrations. Furthermore, DMSP accumulation in S. anglica is consistent with DMSP having a role in oxidative and osmotic stress protection. Importantly, administration of DMSP by root uptake or over-expression of Spartina DMSP synthesis genes confers plant tolerance to salinity and drought offering a route for future bioengineering for sustainable crop production.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data availability statement: RNA-seq data generated in this study have been deposited in the NCBI SRA database under accession codes SAMN42957141 and SAMN42997936. All materials used in this study are available from the corresponding authors upon request. Source data are provided with this paper. Funding information: RDP, LB, AJD, CAB, JDT and JBM were funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC; NE/V000756/1). RDP, LB, JDT and JBM were also funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/X005968/1). Work in JDT’s laboratory was additionally funded by NERC (NE/P012671, NE/S001352, NE/X000990 and NE/X014428) and the Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2020-413). SMTK was funded by a PhD studentship from NERC via the ARIES Doctoral Training Partnership (NE/S007334/1). SM performed this work whilst working with Matthew Wallace, with funding from UK Research and Innovation via a Future Leaders Fellowship to MW (MR/T044020/1). ARN and MGEA were funded by PhD studentships from BBSRC via the Norwich Research Park Doctoral Training Partnership (BB/T008717/1).
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Plant Sciences
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Molecular Microbiology
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 09 Oct 2024 15:30
Last Modified: 24 Oct 2024 08:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96971
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51758-z

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