Single-cell genetic models to evaluate orphan gene function: The case of QQS regulating carbon and nitrogen allocation
Date
2023-03-26
Authors
Wang, Lei
Tonsager, Andrew J.
Zheng, Wenguang
Wang, Yingjun
Stessman, Dan
Fang, Wei
Stenback, Kenna E.
Campbell, Alexis
Tanvir, Rezwan
Zhang, Jinjiang
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Frontiers Media
Abstract
We demonstrate two synthetic single-cell systems that can be used to better understand how the acquisition of an orphan gene can affect complex phenotypes. The Arabidopsis orphan gene, Qua-Quine Starch (QQS) has been identified as a regulator of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) partitioning across multiple plant species. QQS modulates this important biotechnological trait by replacing NF-YB (Nuclear Factor Y, subunit B) in its interaction with NF-YC. In this study, we expand on these prior findings by developing Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, to refactor the functional interactions between QQS and NF-Y subunits to affect modulations in C and N allocation. Expression of QQS in C. reinhardtii modulates C (i.e., starch) and N (i.e., protein) allocation by affecting interactions between NF-YC and NF-YB subunits. Studies in S. cerevisiae revealed similar functional interactions between QQS and the NF-YC homolog (HAP5), modulating C (i.e., glycogen) and N (i.e., protein) allocation. However, in S. cerevisiae both the NF-YA (HAP2) and NF-YB (HAP3) homologs appear to have redundant functions to enable QQS and HAP5 to affect C and N allocation. The genetically tractable systems that developed herein exhibit the plasticity to modulate highly complex phenotypes.
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Comments
This article is published as Wang L, Tonsager AJ, Zheng W, Wang Y, Stessman D, Fang W, Stenback KE, Campbell A, Tanvir R, Zhang J, Cothron S, Wan D, Meng Y, Spalding MH, Nikolau BJ and Li L (2023) Single-cell genetic models to evaluate orphan gene function: The case of QQS regulating carbon and nitrogen allocation. Front. Plant Sci. 14:1126139. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1126139.
© 2023 Wang, Tonsager, Zheng, Wang, Stessman, Fang, Stenback, Campbell, Tanvir, Zhang, Cothron, Wan, Meng, Spalding, Nikolau and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
© 2023 Wang, Tonsager, Zheng, Wang, Stessman, Fang, Stenback, Campbell, Tanvir, Zhang, Cothron, Wan, Meng, Spalding, Nikolau and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.