Construction of a network describing asparagine metabolism in plants and its application to the identification of genes affecting asparagine metabolism in wheat under drought and nutritional stress

Abstract

A detailed network describing asparagine metabolism in plants was constructed using published data from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), pea (Pisum sativum), soybean (Glycine max), lupin (Lupus albus), and other species, including animals. Asparagine synthesis and degradation is a major part of amino acid and nitrogen metabolism in plants. The complexity of its metabolism, including limiting and regulatory factors, was represented in a logical sequence in a pathway diagram built using yED graph editor software. The network was used with a Unique Network Identification Pipeline in the analysis of data from 18 publicly available transcriptomic data studies. This identified links between genes involved in asparagine metabolism in wheat roots under drought stress, wheat leaves under drought stress, and wheat leaves under conditions of sulfur and nitrogen deficiency. The network represents a powerful aid for interpreting the interactions not only between the genes in the pathway but also among enzymes, metabolites and smaller molecules. It provides a concise, clear understanding of the complexity of asparagine metabolism that could aid the interpretation of data relating to wider amino acid metabolism and other metabolic processes.

Constitutive expression of Asparaginase in Gossypium hirsutum triggers insecticidal activity against Bemisia tabaci

“…6D), which was although controlled through chemical pesticide but still might impact concentration of both amino acid in these lines. These results are in accordance with the study by Curtin et al, (2018) 43 who determined that free amino acid accumulation in the seed does vary considerably owing to the plant's response to different stresses. The elevation in the ZmASN activity may not reduce the asparagine concentration (asparagine synthetase activity is not inhibited) while at the same time, glutamic acid and glutamine concentrations are directly affected by this ZmASN activity.…”

Genome-Wide Association Study and Identification of Candidate Genes for Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

“…Overexpression of ASN1 in Arabidopsis was shown to increase the N status of the plant and seed protein content (Law et al, 2003). TaASN1 in wheat is the most responsive gene to N availability compared to the alternative ASN genes; TaASN2, TaASN3, TaASN4 (Curtis et al, 2018). A marker that overlapped with HORVU1Hr1G092130, encoding a WRKY transcription factor, was identified from the present study.…”

“…Candidate genes retrieved from the significant MTAs belong to key gene families such as the asparagine synthetase (ASN) gene family, bHLH, WRKY, MADS and NAC transcription factors (TFs), protein kinases, and nitrate transporters. They have been reported as genes associated with N metabolism in maize, soybean, wheat, and Arabidopsis (Law et al, 2003;Hao et al, 2011;Curtis et al, 2018;Jiang et al, 2018). In our study, a gene encoding asparagine synthetase 2 (HvASN2) was identified on chromosome 1H.…”

Nitrate and Ammonium Affect the Overall Maize Response to Nitrogen Availability by Triggering Specific and Common Transcriptional Signatures in Roots

“…+ -induced stress [71,72]. Furthermore, asparagine has been suggested to play a role in the response to many abiotic stresses, for example sulphur-and phosphate-deficiency, together with drought and salt stress [73,74]. Moreover, N can be redirected from glutamine to asparagine as a temporary measure to control excessive ammonium provision [75].…”