Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.

Maize is one of the world's most widely grown crops and is essential to global food security. But like other plants, its growth and productivity can be limited by the slow activity of Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for carbon assimilation during photosynthesis. Scientists have now demonstrated a promising approach to enhancing Rubisco production, thus improving photosynthesis and overall plant growth. Maize is one of the world's most widely grown crops and is essential to global food security. But like other plants, its growth and productivity can be limited by the slow activity of Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for carbon assimilation during photosynthesis. In a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, scientists from the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) demonstrated a promising approach to enhancing Rubisco production, thus improving photosynthesis and overall plant growth. The study involved the transgenic expression of three key proteins, Rubisco Accumulation Factor 2 (Raf2) and the large and small Rubisco subunits. By overexpressing these proteins, the researchers increased Rubisco content, accelerated carbon assimilation, and boosted plant height in maize. "Our findings demonstrate the potential of modifying Rubisco assembly to improve crop productivity," said Kathryn Eshenour, a BTI researcher and first author of the study. "By altering the expression of these proteins, we can unlock maize's capacity to photosynthesize more efficiently and grow more robustly, even under challenging environmental conditions." The research team found that Raf1 and Raf2, although acting at different steps of Rubisco assembly, could independently enhance Rubisco abundance and plant performance. This opens possibilities for further improvements by stacking the traits together, potentially leading to even greater photosynthetic capacity. Interestingly, the transgenic plants also showed improved resilience to chilling stress, a common environmental challenge that can severely impact crop yields. The researchers observed that these plants maintained higher photosynthetic rates during cold exposure and recovered more rapidly after the stress subsided. The team's innovative approach holds exciting possibilities for other crops. Many staple foods with similar photosynthetic pathways to maize, such as sorghum, millet, and sugar cane, could potentially benefit from the approach used in this study, leading to improvements in photosynthetic efficiency and yield. "This promising technology is one of several being used to enhance photosynthesis in crop plants," said David Stern, a professor at BTI and lead author of the study. "By continuing to explore the intricacies of Rubisco assembly and its regulation, we can improve this part of a much-needed toolkit for enhancing photosynthesis across a wide range of crops." As food security continues to remain a pressing issue and the impacts of climate change intensify, the need for more productive and adaptable crops has never been greater. This research highlights the transformative potential of plant science-based solutions in addressing global challenges, exemplifying BTI's commitment to shaping a future where agriculture thrives, biodiversity is preserved, and humanity benefits from a healthier, more sustainable world. This work was supported by the intramural research program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Physiology of Agricultural Plants, Accession No. 1022304.

Mounting evidence suggests that the secret to understanding human health and combating metabolic diseases lies hidden within the microscopic world of our gut bacteria. Recent research reveals that a specific fatty acid produced by gut bacteria directly influences fat metabolism in animals. This research is pivotal as it sheds light on the complex interplay between the diet, gut microbiota, and host metabolic health, offering insights that could open new avenues in our approach to managing metabolic disorders. Mounting evidence suggests that the secret to understanding human health and combating metabolic diseases lies hidden within the microscopic world of our gut bacteria. Recent research by scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University reveals that a specific fatty acid produced by gut bacteria directly influences fat metabolism in animals. This research is pivotal as it sheds light on the complex interplay between the diet, gut microbiota, and host metabolic health, offering insights that could open new avenues in our approach to managing metabolic disorders. The researchers focused on certain gut bacteria that produce fatty acids with a special chemical structure, known as a cyclopropane ring, and showed that these can be converted into signals that turn on fat desaturation in the nematode C. elegans, a model organism often used to study human biology. Intriguingly, C. elegans itself produces a chemically similar fatty acid compound that regulates the same metabolic pathway as the bacterial cyclopropane fats. "Our research suggests that the host organism may have acquired the ability to produce its own signaling molecule, mimicking bacterial biochemistry, through a gene obtained from bacteria -- a process known as horizontal gene transfer," shared Bennett Fox, a post-doctoral researcher at BTI and first author of the study. The research, recently published in Nature Communications, showed that both the bacterial and endogenous fatty acids activate a host receptor that functions as a central regulator of overall fat metabolism. This direct link between microbiota metabolites and host lipid metabolism offers insight into how our bodies could harness beneficial gut bacteria to regulate vital processes like obesity and metabolic dysfunction. "Microbiota-dependent metabolites regulate virtually every aspect of animal physiology, including development, metabolism, and immune responses. Despite the life-sustaining importance of these metabolites, many of their structures remain unknown," noted Frank Schroeder, a professor at BTI and senior author of the study. The fact that chemicals produced by bacteria can influence the metabolism of their host is a promising area of research. Further studies can investigate host-bacterial interactions to better understand -- and potentially improve -- metabolic health. "The devil is in the details. As we gain clarity regarding the molecular mechanisms of fat metabolism and its regulation by specific diet-derived compounds, we step closer to harnessing this knowledge for better health outcomes in humans," said Fox. "This research not only broadens our understanding of basic biological processes but also highlights potential pathways for future exploration in human health and disease management." Want to learn more? Dr. Fox has prepared an in-depth synopsis of the research paper, Evolutionarily related host and microbial pathways regulate fat desaturation in C. elegans, available here. This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

The intricate dance of nature often unfolds in mysterious ways, hidden from the naked eye. At the heart of this enigmatic tango lies a vital partnership: the symbiosis between plants and a type of fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. New groundbreaking research delves into this partnership, revealing key insights that deepen our understanding of plant-AM fungi interactions and could lead to advances in sustainable agriculture. The intricate dance of nature often unfolds in mysterious ways, hidden from the naked eye. At the heart of this enigmatic tango lies a vital partnership: the symbiosis between plants and a type of fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. New groundbreaking research, recently published in the journal Science, delves into this partnership, revealing key insights that deepen our understanding of plant-AM fungi interactions and could lead to advances in sustainable agriculture. AM fungi live within plant root cells, forming a unique alliance with their plant hosts. This relationship is more than a simple coexistence; it involves a complex and critical exchange of nutrients essential for fungal survival and highly beneficial for the plant. Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) have uncovered the roles of two proteins, CKL1 and CKL2, which are active only in the root cells containing the AM fungi. These two proteins belong to a larger family of proteins known as CKLs, whose functions in the plant have yet to be fully understood. "The closest relatives of the CKL family are proteins, called CDKs, that control the plant cell cycle and are located in the nucleus of the cell. Surprisingly, the CKL1 and CKL2 proteins have evolved a different role than CDKs -- they do not control the cell cycle. They are tethered to the membranes of the root cell, including a membrane that surrounds the fungus," said Dr. Sergey Ivanov, a post-doctoral researcher at BTI and first author of the study. The scientists found that these CKL proteins are critical for the fungi's survival within plant roots. They play a pivotal role in controlling the flow of lipids (fats) from the plant to the fungi, a process essential for the fungi's nourishment. Without these proteins, key genes that manage this lipid transfer are not activated, starving the fungi. The research also uncovered a complex web of interactions involving several receptor kinase proteins. One of these kinases is known for its role in allowing the AM fungus to penetrate the root's outer layer. The researchers discovered that this same kinase adopts a new role deeper within the root, where it partners with CKL proteins, potentially to initiate the flow of lipids to the fungus. Surprisingly, while CKL proteins are vital for controlling lipid flow, they don't manage the entire symbiotic lipid pathway. Instead, they control genes responsible for the start and end of this pathway. Meanwhile, a key protein operating in the middle of this pathway, RAM2, is activated by a different regulator, RAM1. For full-scale lipid production to occur, both the CKL and RAM1 pathways must be active. "Lipids are costly for the plant, so dual regulatory mechanisms may ensure that lipid provisioning is tightly controlled, perhaps a safeguard against exploitation by fungal pathogens," said Dr. Maria Harrison, a professor at BTI and senior author of the study. Harrison continued, "In an agricultural context, leveraging this natural symbiosis could lead to crops that are more efficient in nutrient uptake and more resilient to environmental stressors." This study not only deepens our understanding of the molecular dynamics behind plant-AM fungal symbiosis but also highlights the intricate and often unseen connections that sustain life on our planet. It's a reminder of the incredible complexity and interdependence found in nature, much of it hidden right beneath our feet. Funding for this research was provided by the US National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program.