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A natural single‐nucleotide polymorphism variant in sulfite reductase influences sulfur assimilation in maize
Author(s) -
Jiang Luguang,
Wang Yan,
Xia Aiai,
Wang Qi,
Zhang Xiaolei,
Jez Joseph M.,
Li Zhen,
Tan Weiming,
He Yan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.17616
Subject(s) - biology , sulfite reductase , genetics , sulfur metabolism , single nucleotide polymorphism , population , genetic variation , nitrogen assimilation , assimilation (phonology) , allele , gene , genotype , biochemistry , reductase , enzyme , demography , sociology , linguistics , philosophy
Summary Plants absorb sulfur from the environment and assimilate it into suitable forms for the biosynthesis of a broad range of molecules. Although the biochemical pathway of sulfur assimilation is known, how genetic differences contribute to natural variation in sulfur assimilation remains poorly understood. Here, using a genome‐wide association study, we uncovered a single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant in the sulfite reductase ( SiR ) gene that was significantly associated with SiR protein abundance in a maize natural association population. We also demonstrated that the synonymous C to G base change at SNP69 may repress translational activity by altering messenger RNA secondary structure, which leads to reduction in ZmSiR protein abundance and sulfur assimilation activity. Population genetic analyses showed that the SNP69C allele was likely a variant occurring after the initial maize domestication and accumulated with the spread of maize cultivation from tropical to temperate regions. This study provides the first evidence that genetic polymorphisms in the exon of ZmSiR could influence the protein abundance through a posttranscriptional mechanism and in part contribute to natural variation in sulfur assimilation. These findings provide a prospective target to improve maize varieties with proper sulfur nutrient levels assisted by molecular breeding and engineering.