The cytosolic isoform of triosephosphate isomerase, ZmTPI4, is required for kernel development and starch synthesis in maize (Zea mays L.)
Wenyu Li,
Han Wang,
Qiuyue Xu,
Long Zhang,
Yan Wang,
Yongbiao Yu,
Xiangkun Guo,
Zhiwei Zhang,
Yongbin Dong,
Yuling Li
Affiliations
Wenyu Li
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Han Wang
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Qiuyue Xu
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Long Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Yan Wang
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Yongbiao Yu
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Xiangkun Guo
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Zhiwei Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Yongbin Dong
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Yuling Li
Corresponding author.; State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China
Triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) is an enzyme that functions in plant energy production, accumulation, and conversion. To understand its function in maize, we characterized a maize TPI mutant, zmtpi4. In comparison to the wild type, zmtpi4 mutants showed altered ear development, reduced kernel weight and starch content, modified starch granule morphology, and altered amylose and amylopectin content. Protein, ATP, and pyruvate contents were reduced, indicating ZmTPI4 was involved in glycolysis. Although subcellular localization confirmed ZmTPI4 as a cytosolic rather than a plastid isoform of TPI, the zmtpi4 mutant showed reduced leaf size and chlorophyll content. Overexpression of ZmTPI4 in Arabidopsis led to enlarged leaves and increased seed weight, suggesting a positive regulatory role of ZmTPI4 in kernel weight and starch content. We conclude that ZmTPI4 functions in maize kernel development, starch synthesis, glycolysis, and photosynthesis.