Pectin RG-I rhamnosyltransferases represent a novel plant-specific glycosyltransferase family

Nat Plants. 2018 Sep;4(9):669-676. doi: 10.1038/s41477-018-0217-7. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Abstract

Pectin is one of the three key cell wall polysaccharides in land plants and consists of three major structural domains: homogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) and RG-II. Although the glycosyltransferase required for the synthesis of the homogalacturonan and RG-II backbone was identified a decade ago, those for the synthesis of the RG-I backbone, which consists of the repeating disaccharide unit [→2)-α-L-Rha-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalUA-(1→], have remained unknown. Here, we report the identification and characterization of Arabidopsis RG-I:rhamnosyltransferases (RRTs), which transfer the rhamnose residue from UDP-β-L-rhamnose to RG-I oligosaccharides. RRT1, which is one of the four Arabidopsis RRTs, is a single-spanning transmembrane protein, localized to the Golgi apparatus. RRT1 was highly expressed during formation of the seed coat mucilage, which is a specialized cell wall with abundant RG-I. Loss-of-function mutation in RRT1 caused a reduction in the level of RG-I in the seed coat mucilage. The RRTs belong to a novel glycosyltransferase family, now designated GT106. This is a large plant-specific family, and glycosyltransferases in this family seem to have plant-specific roles, such as biosynthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / enzymology*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis / physiology
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Glycosyltransferases / physiology
  • Pectins / metabolism*
  • Rhamnose / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • rhamnogalacturonan I
  • rhamnogalacturonan II
  • Pectins
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • Rhamnose