Genome-Wide Survey of Invertase Encoding Genes and Functional Characterization of an Extracellular Fungal Pathogen-Responsive Invertase in Glycine max

Abstract

Invertases are essential enzymes that irreversibly catalyze the cleavage of sucrose into glucose and fructose. Cell wall invertase (CWI) and vacuolar invertase (VI) are glycosylated proteins and exert fundamental roles in plant growth as well as in response to environmental cues. As yet, comprehensive insight into invertase encoding genes are lacking in Glycine max. In the present study, the systematic survey of gene structures, coding regions, regulatory elements, conserved motifs, and phylogenies resulted in the identification of thirty–two putative invertase genes in soybean genome. Concomitantly, impacts on gene expression, enzyme activities, proteins, and soluble sugar accumulation were explored in specific tissues upon stress perturbation. In combination with the observation of subcellular compartmentation of the fluorescent fusion protein that indeed exported to apoplast, heterologous expression, and purification in using Pichia pastoris system revealed that GmCWI4 was a typical extracellular invertase. We postulated that GmCWI4 may play regulatory roles and be involved in pathogenic fungi defense. The experimental evaluation of physiological significance via phenotypic analysis of mutants under stress exposure has been initiated. Moreover, our paper provides theoretical basis for elucidating molecular mechanisms of invertase in association with inhibitors underlying the stress regime, and will contribute to the improvement of plant performance to a diverse range of stressors.

Functional Characterization of a Drought-Responsive Invertase Inhibitor from Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…Acid invertase, a sucrose-cleaving enzyme which produces hexose sugars from sucrose, regulates the plant primary carbon metabolism and effects on plant growth and development [8,9]. In maize, acid invertases regulate cell divisions of the endosperm and embryo, especially during the early kernel development [10].…”

Functional Characterization of Invertase Inhibitors PtC/VIF1 and 2 Revealed Their Involvements in the Defense Response to Fungal Pathogen in Populus trichocarpa

“…Increases in enzyme activities within the apoplastic space upon pathogen infection suggested that CWI served as an essential activator in plant defense regulation (Tauzin and Giardina, 2014). The depression of CIF-encoded gene expression contributed to fortify the hexose capacity, resulting in reduced disease symptoms in apoplastic space (Siemens et al, 2011;Veillet et al, 2016;Su et al, 2018). Under the infection of the F. solani, significant downregulation of PtC/VIF1 and 2 transcripts were observed after 72 hour inoculation, indicating that they both may be involved in the sucrose-mediated defense pathway.…”

Genome-Wide Characterization of AspATs in Populus: Gene Expression Variation and Enzyme Activities in Response to Nitrogen Perturbations

“…Moreover, plenty of evidence revealed that transcript levels commonly change to a much greater extent than that of the protein levels, and with different time courses. Therefore, enzyme activities, rather than gene transcripts, are considered to be a more direct and significant indicator of the plant performance as well as responsiveness under particularly stress conditions [57][58][59].…”