UDP-glucosyltransferase 71C4 controls the flux of phenylpropanoid metabolism to shape cotton seed development

Yiwen Cao; Zegang Han; Zhiyuan Zhang; Lu He; Chujun Huang; Jinwen Chen; Fan Dai; Lisha Xuan; Sunyi Yan; Zhanfeng Si; Yan Hu; Tianzhen Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100938

UDP-glucosyltransferase 71C4 controls the flux of phenylpropanoid metabolism to shape cotton seed development

Plant Commun. 2024 Apr 30:100938. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100938. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yiwen Cao¹, Zegang Han², Zhiyuan Zhang³, Lu He², Chujun Huang², Jinwen Chen², Fan Dai², Lisha Xuan², Sunyi Yan², Zhanfeng Si², Yan Hu¹, Tianzhen Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, the Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, China.
² Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, the Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
³ Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, China.
⁴ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, the Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, China. Electronic address: cotton@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 38689494
DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100938

Abstract

Seeds play a crucial role in plant reproduction, making it essential to identify genes that affect seed development. In this study, we focused on UDP-glucosyltransferase 71C4 (UGT71C4) in cotton, a member of the glycosyltransferase family that shapes seed width, length, and therefore, seed index and seed cotton yield. Overexpression of UGT71C4 results in seed enlargement due to its glycosyltransferase activity on flavonoids, which redirects metabolic flux from lignin to flavonoid metabolism. This shift promotes cell proliferation of ovule via accumulation of flavonoid glycoside, significantly enhancing seed cotton yield with the seed index increasing from 10.66 g to 11.91 g. In contrast, knockout of UGT71C4 leads to smaller seeds owing to activation of the lignin metabolism pathway, and redirection of metabolic flux back to lignin synthesis. This redirection leads to increased ectopic lignin deposition in the ovule, inhibiting ovule growth and development, and alters yield component, increasing the lint percentage from 41.42% to 43.40% but reducing the seed index from 10.66 g to 8.60 g. Our research sheds new light on seed size development and opens potential pathways for enhancing plant seed yield.

Keywords: UDP-glucosyltransferase; gene editing; phenylpropanoid metabolism; seed development.