Open AccessCell wall targeted in planta iron accumulation enhances biomass conversion and seed iron concentration in Arabidopsis and rice
Author(s) -
Yang Haibing,
Wei Hui,
Ma Guojie,
Antunes Mauricio S.,
Vogt Stefan,
Cox Joseph,
Zhang Xiao,
Liu Xiping,
Bu Lintao,
Gleber S. Charlotte,
Carpita Nicholas C.,
Makowski Lee,
Himmel Michael E.,
Tucker Melvin P.,
McCann Maureen C.,
Murphy Angus S.,
Peer Wendy A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12557
Subject(s) - arabidopsis , biomass (ecology) , lignocellulosic biomass , biorefinery , biofuel , population , biology , iron deficiency , microbiology and biotechnology , agronomy , biochemistry , gene , mutant , medicine , demography , sociology , anemia
Summary Conversion of nongrain biomass into liquid fuel is a sustainable approach to energy demands as global population increases. Previously, we showed that iron can act as a catalyst to enhance the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production. However, direct addition of iron catalysts to biomass pretreatment is diffusion‐limited, would increase the cost and complexity of biorefinery unit operations and may have deleterious environmental impacts. Here, we show a new strategy for in planta accumulation of iron throughout the volume of the cell wall where iron acts as a catalyst in the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. We engineered CBM ‐ IBP fusion polypeptides composed of a carbohydrate‐binding module family 11 ( CBM 11) and an iron‐binding peptide ( IBP ) for secretion into Arabidopsis and rice cell walls. CBM ‐ IBP transformed Arabidopsis and rice plants show significant increases in iron accumulation and biomass conversion compared to respective controls. Further, CBM ‐ IBP rice shows a 35% increase in seed iron concentration and a 40% increase in seed yield in greenhouse experiments. CBM ‐ IBP rice potentially could be used to address iron deficiency, the most common and widespread nutritional disorder according to the World Health Organization.