Integrative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Metabolic Changes and Its Molecular Basis in Rice Mutants of the Strigolactone Pathway

Abstract

Plants have evolved many metabolites to meet the demands of growth and adaptation. Although strigolactones (SLs) play vital roles in controlling plant architecture, their function in regulating plant metabolism remains elusive. Here we report the integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of two rice SL mutants, d10 (a biosynthesis mutant) and d14 (a perception mutant). Both mutants displayed a series of metabolic and transcriptional alterations, especially in the lipid, flavonoid, and terpenoid pathways. Levels of several diterpenoid phytoalexins were substantially increased in d10 and d14, together with the induction of terpenoid gene cluster and the corresponding upstream transcription factor WRKY45, an established determinant of plant immunity. The fact that WRKY45 is a target of IPA1, which acted as a downstream transcription factor of SL signaling, suggests that SLs contribute to plant defense through WRKY45 and phytoalexins. Moreover, our data indicated that SLs may modulate rice metabolism through a vast number of clustered or tandemly duplicated genes. Our work revealed a central role of SLs in rice metabolism. Meanwhile, integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome also suggested that SLs may contribute to metabolite-associated growth and defense.

OsDWARF10, transcriptionally repressed by OsSPL3, regulates the nutritional metabolism of polished rice

“…In our previous study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of metabolic changes in rice leaves comparing SL mutants with ZH11 variety, utilizing a widely targeted metabolomics approach ( Zhou et al., 2020 ; Liu et al., 2022 ). In this current study, we employed an enhanced widely targeted metabolomics strategy to detect and analyze 382 metabolites in d10 and ZH11 polished rice samples.…”

“…In a recent study, we discovered significant metabolic changes in the leaves of two rice SL mutants, d10 and d14 (a sensing mutant). The mutants showed an increased accumulation of most lipids and terpenoids compared with ZH11, while the flavonoid pathway was significantly inhibited ( Zhou et al., 2020 ). These suggest that SL controls the metabolic flux distribution in rice leaves.…”

Transcriptome analysis of the phosphate starvation response sheds light on strigolactone biosynthesis in rice

“…Transcriptome studies on the response to SLs have been performed in many plant species, including rice, using the synthetic SL analog GR24 (Makhzoum et al, 2017; Wang, Duran, et al, 2021; Zhou et al, 2020). In the present study, we compared the P deficiency and GR24 response in one study.…”

1H NMR Reveals Dynamic Changes of Primary Metabolites in Purple Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) Juice during Maturation and Ripening

“…Metabolomics is a research technique that involves a comprehensive analysis of the whole metabolome under given conditions [5]. This technique allows in-depth understanding of an organism's biochemical and metabolic composition, bridging the gap between genotype and phenotype [6,7]. Thus, investigating the fruit metabolites underlying fruit maturation and ripening can deepen the understanding of fruit physiology.…”

“…Due to its technical simplicity, 1 H NMR becomes one of the most commonly used methods for metabolic detection in plant science studies as it is able to screen complex plant matrices. The fingerprint can be linked to the spectrum of various plant metabolites including sugar, organic acid and amino acid [6,7]. The 1 H NMR is the most suitable platform for its rapid analysis which can provide highly reproducible data while requiring the least sample preparation.…”