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Generation and physiological characterization of genome-edited Nicotiana benthamiana plants containing zeaxanthin as the only leaf xanthophyll

TitoloGeneration and physiological characterization of genome-edited Nicotiana benthamiana plants containing zeaxanthin as the only leaf xanthophyll
Tipo di pubblicazioneArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Anno di Pubblicazione2023
AutoriSulli, Maria, Dall'Osto Luca, Ferrante Paola, Guardini Zeno, Gomez Rodrigo Lionel, Mini P., Demurtas Olivia Costantina, Aprea Giuseppe, Nicolia Alessandro, Bassi Roberto, and Giuliano Giovanni
RivistaPlanta
Volume258
Paginazione93
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN14322048
Abstract

MAIN CONCLUSION: Simultaneous genome editing of the two homeologous LCYe and ZEP genes of Nicotiana benthamiana results in plants in which all xanthophylls are replaced by zeaxanthin. Plant carotenoids act both as photoreceptors and photoprotectants in photosynthesis and as precursors of apocarotenoids, which include signaling molecules such as abscisic acid (ABA). As dietary components, the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin have photoprotective functions in the human macula. We developed transient and stable combinatorial genome editing methods, followed by direct LC-MS screening for zeaxanthin accumulation, for the simultaneous genome editing of the two homeologous Lycopene Epsilon Cyclase (LCYe) and the two Zeaxanthin Epoxidase (ZEP) genes present in the allopolyploid Nicotiana benthamiana genome. Editing of the four genes resulted in plants in which all leaf xanthophylls were substituted by zeaxanthin, but with different ABA levels and growth habits, depending on the severity of the ZEP1 mutation. In high-zeaxanthin lines, the abundance of the major photosystem II antenna LHCII was reduced with respect to wild-type plants and the LHCII trimeric state became unstable upon thylakoid solubilization. Consistent with the depletion in LHCII, edited plants underwent a compensatory increase in PSII/PSI ratios and a loss of the large-size PSII supercomplexes, while the level of PSI-LHCI supercomplex was unaffected. Reduced activity of the photoprotective mechanism NPQ was shown in high-zeaxanthin plants, while PSII photoinhibition was similar for all genotypes upon exposure to excess light, consistent with the antioxidant and photoprotective role of zeaxanthin in vivo. © 2023. The Author(s).

Note

Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access

URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85173148632&doi=10.1007%2fs00425-023-04248-3&partnerID=40&md5=f84cbe0ceab6547dfa4bf08c31b4cd84
DOI10.1007/s00425-023-04248-3
Citation KeySulli202393
PubMed ID37796356