Award details

Trehalose signalling for crop improvement

Reference	BBS/E/C/00005997
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Matthew Paul
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	21,056
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2008
End date	30/04/2011
Duration	37 months

Abstract

Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) is a signalling molecule with strong effects on metabolism, growth and development. We have recently discovered the mechanistic basis for this effect. T6P, the precursor of trehalose, is a strong inhibitor of SnRK1 (Snf1-related protein kinase) in growing tissues (Zhang et al. 2009). Using Arabidopsis seedlings as a model system we have shown that T6P up regulates genes involved in the biosynthesis of end-products and processes involved in growth (anabolism) and down regulates genes associated with catabolism. It is proposed that the trehalose pathway has been recruited in plants to regulate the conserved and constitutive SnRK1 in response to carbon supply regulating feast/ famine responses. Particularly strongly affected by T6P are genes encoding enzymes involved in the use of UDPG. Evidence suggests that being made from UDPG and G6P, T6P signals the supply and availability of these core metabolites and activates downstream biosynthetic processes that use them. This gives the opportunity through modification of T6P synthesis/ breakdown to promote biosynthetic processes in specific tissues to modify growth and yield of crops. Goals are to gain further basic understanding in Arabidopsis to make it possible to elevate T6P in crops sinks to promote biosynthetic processes and to alter T6P content in leaves of crops to enhance stress tolerance and photosynthesis. This will enable in the longer term to link work to the strategic aim of the centres by transferring fundamental knowledge of the mechanism in Arabidopsis to improve crop growth and biomass, stress tolerance and yield through selection and genetic modification.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Crop Science, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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