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Title: Overexpression of pea α‐carboxyltransferase in Arabidopsis and camelina increases fatty acid synthesis leading to improved seed oil content
SUMMARY

Heteromeric acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (htACCase) catalyzes the committed step ofde novofatty acid biosynthesis in most plant plastids. Plant htACCase is comprised of four subunits: α‐ and β‐carboxyltransferase (α‐ and β‐CT), biotin carboxylase, and biotin carboxyl carrier protein. Based onin vivoabsolute quantification of htACCase subunits, α‐CT is 3‐ to 10‐fold less abundant than its partner subunit β‐CT in developing Arabidopsis seeds [Wilson and Thelen,J. Proteome Res., 2018, 17 (5)]. To test the hypothesis that low expression of α‐CT limits htACCase activity and flux through fatty acid synthesisin planta, we overexpressedPisum sativum α‐CT, either with or without its C‐terminal non‐catalytic domain, in bothArabidopsis thalianaandCamelina sativa.First‐generation Arabidopsis seed of35S::Ps α‐CT(n = 25) and35S::Ps α‐CTΔ406‐875(n = 47) were on average 14% higher in oil content (% dry weight) than wild type co‐cultivated in a growth chamber. First‐generation camelina seed showed an average 8% increase compared to co‐cultivated wild type. Biochemical analyses confirmed the accumulation ofPsα‐CT andPsα‐CTΔ406‐875protein and higher htACCase activity in overexpression lines during early seed development. OverexpressedPsα‐CT co‐migrated with nativeAtβ‐CT during anion exchange chromatography, indicating co‐association. By successfully increasing seed oil content upon heterologous overexpression of α‐CT, we demonstrate how absolute quantitation ofin vivoprotein complex stoichiometry can be used to guide rational metabolic engineering.

 
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NSF-PAR ID:
10446070
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Plant Journal
Volume:
110
Issue:
4
ISSN:
0960-7412
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 1035-1046
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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