Genetic Impairment of Cellulose Biosynthesis Increases Cell Wall Fragility and Improves Lipid Extractability from Oleaginous Alga Nannochloropsis salina

In microalgae, photosynthesis provides energy and sugar phosphates for the biosynthesis of storage and structural carbohydrates, lipids, and nitrogenous proteins. The oleaginous alga Nannochloropsis salina does not preferentially partition photoassimilates among cellulose, chrysolaminarin, and lipids in response to nitrogenous nutrient deprivation. In the present study, we investigated whether genetic impairment of the cellulose synthase gene (CesA) expression would lead to protein accumulation without the accumulation of storage C polymers in N. salina. Three cesA mutants were generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 approach. Cell wall thickness and cellulose content were reduced in the cesA1 mutant, but not in cesA2 or cesA4 cells. CesA1 mutation resulted in a reduction of chrysolaminarin and neutral lipid contents, by 66.3% and 37.1%, respectively, but increased the soluble protein content by 1.8-fold. Further, N. salina cells with a thinned cell wall were susceptible to mechanical stress, resulting in a 1.7-fold enhancement of lipid extractability. Taken together, the previous and current studies strongly suggest the presence of a controlling mechanism that regulates photoassimilate partitioning toward C and N metabolic pathways as well as the cellulose metabolism as a potential target for cost-effective microalgal cell disruption and as a useful protein production platform.

Root growth in light of changing magnesium distribution and transport between source and sink tissues in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

This study depicts relations between magnesium (Mg) transport and re-translocation, photoassimilate partitioning, cation and ion concentrations, and finally root growth of potato under different Mg supplies. Potato plants were grown in a hydroponic culture system under different Mg regimes while investigating Mg concentrations, the expression of various Mg transporters, soluble sugars, and cations and anions in source and sink organs at different growth stages. Reports from literature about the impact of Mg deficiency on root growth are inconsistent. As Mg is known to be a phloem mobile nutrient, it is expected to be re-translocated under restricted availability of Mg from source to sink organs. Thus, we assume that plants can tolerate a slight Mg restriction without severe root growth reduction. However, under severe Mg deficiency, the process of Mg re-translocation is hampered, resulting in an impaired photoassimilate partitioning, and finally root growth. This might also explain the findings of studies claiming that Mg deficiency does not impair root growth as plants of these studies likely only suffered a slight Mg restriction. Finally, this study gives indications that an interruption of the process of Mg-re-translocation in early plant growth could be an indicator for growth reductions of the plant at a later growth stage.

Root-to-Shoot Communication to Modulate Source-Sink Relationship in Tomato Depends on Phytochromes

Phytochromes have been reported as strategic photoreceptors that can modulate the partition of photoassimilates between source and sink. However, so far, it is unknown whether phytochrome accumulation in the root is part of the control mechanisms of the source-sink relationship that modulates root and shoot growth. Thus, the objective of this work was to investigate phytochrome involvement in the source-sink relationship and in the vegetative and reproductive development of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom or MT). The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments, provided by grafting combinations between aurea (au), which is phytochrome deficient, and the near isogenic line MT: (MT/MT, au/au, MT/au and au/MT). We observed differentiated responses for many parameters analyzed. For example, the root dry mass accumulation and stern diameter obtained by MT/MT, MT/au and au/MT grafting were 33% and 31% higher, respectively, than those obtained by au/au. In the au/MT combination, there were greater root dry mass and total dry mass accumulations. Based on the changes in vegetative and reproductive development observed from grafting combinations between MT and the mutant au, we can conclude that phytochromes function in the control of photoassimilate partitioning between roots and stems during tomato growth.