Sugar release and growth of biofuel crops are improved by downregulation of pectin biosynthesis | Zendy

Ajaya K. Biswal | Zendy; Melani A. Atmodjo | Zendy; Mi Li | Zendy; Holly L. Baxter | Zendy; Chang Geun Yoo | Zendy; Yunqiao Pu | Zendy; YiChing Lee | Zendy; Mitra Mazarei | Zendy; Ian Black | Zendy; Ji-Yi Zhang | Zendy; Hema Ramanna | Zendy; Adam L. Bray | Zendy; Zachary R. King | Zendy; Peter R. LaFayette | Zendy; Sivakumar Pattathil | Zendy; Bryon S. Donohoe | Zendy; Sushree S. Mohanty | Zendy; David Ryno | Zendy; Kelsey L. Yee | Zendy; Olivia Thompson | Zendy; Miguel Rodríguez | Zendy; Alexandru Dumitrache | Zendy; Jace Natzke | Zendy; Kim Winkeler | Zendy; Cassandra Collins | Zendy; Xiaohan Yang | Zendy; Li Tan | Zendy; Robert W. Sykes | Zendy; Erica Gjersing | Zendy; Angela Ziebell | Zendy; Geoffrey B. Turner | Zendy; Stephen R. Decker | Zendy; Michael G. Hahn | Zendy; Brian H. Davison | Zendy; Michael K. Udvardi | Zendy; Jonathan R. Mielenz | Zendy; Mark F. Davis | Zendy; Richard S. Nelson | Zendy; Wayne A. Parrott | Zendy; Arthur J. Ragauskas | Zendy; C. Neal Stewart | Zendy; Debra Mohnen | Zendy

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Sugar release and growth of biofuel crops are improved by downregulation of pectin biosynthesis

Author(s) -

Ajaya K. Biswal,

Melani A. Atmodjo,

Mi Li,

Holly L. Baxter,

Chang Geun Yoo,

Yunqiao Pu,

YiChing Lee,

Mitra Mazarei,

Ian Black,

Ji-Yi Zhang,

Hema Ramanna,

Adam L. Bray,

Zachary R. King,

Peter R. LaFayette,

Sivakumar Pattathil,

Bryon S. Donohoe,

Sushree S. Mohanty,

David Ryno,

Kelsey L. Yee,

Olivia Thompson,

Miguel Rodríguez,

Alexandru Dumitrache,

Jace Natzke,

Kim Winkeler,

Cassandra Collins,

Xiaohan Yang,

Li Tan,

Robert W. Sykes,

Erica Gjersing,

Angela Ziebell,

Geoffrey B. Turner,

Stephen R. Decker,

Michael G. Hahn,

Brian H. Davison,

Michael K. Udvardi,

Jonathan R. Mielenz,

Mark F. Davis,

Richard S. Nelson,

Wayne A. Parrott,

Arthur J. Ragauskas,

C. Neal Stewart,

Debra Mohnen

Publication year - 2018

Publication title -

nature biotechnology

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 15.358

H-Index - 445

eISSN - 1546-1696

pISSN - 1087-0156

DOI - 10.1038/nbt.4067

Subject(s) - sugar , biomass (ecology) , biofuel , pectin , chemistry , downregulation and upregulation , microbiology and biotechnology , hydrolysis , metabolic engineering , food science , agronomy , biochemistry , biology , gene

Cell walls in crops and trees have been engineered for production of biofuels and commodity chemicals, but engineered varieties often fail multi-year field trials and are not commercialized. We engineered reduced expression of a pectin biosynthesis gene (Galacturonosyltransferase 4, GAUT4) in switchgrass and poplar, and find that this improves biomass yields and sugar release from biomass processing. Both traits were maintained in a 3-year field trial of GAUT4-knockdown switchgrass, with up to sevenfold increased saccharification and ethanol production and sixfold increased biomass yield compared with control plants. We show that GAUT4 is an α-1,4-galacturonosyltransferase that synthesizes homogalacturonan (HG). Downregulation of GAUT4 reduces HG and rhamnogalacturonan II (RGII), reduces wall calcium and boron, and increases extractability of cell wall sugars. Decreased recalcitrance in biomass processing and increased growth are likely due to reduced HG and RGII cross-linking in the cell wall.

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