<p>Maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) endosperm is the primary reservoir of nutrients that serve as energy and carbon sources for seed germination and early seedling growth. The characterization of endosperm mutants has provided insights into the mechanism underlying endosperm development and resources for maize breeding. In this study, we identified <i>shriveled kernel1</i> (<i>zmsk1</i>) as a new maize mutant with shriveled kernels containing an opaque and entirely floury endosperm. <i>ZmSK1</i> was identified as the gene at the <i>Zm00001d045042</i> locus using a map-based cloning strategy; a specific nucleotide change resulting in aberrant splice sites is responsible for the phenotype of <i>zmsk1</i> kernels. Allelism tests verified that <i>ZmSK1</i> is a novel allele of a previously reported gene (<i>Sh1</i>). <i>ZmSK1</i> was predicted to encode a sucrose synthase localized in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. An expression pattern analysis indicated that <i>ZmSK1</i> is ubiquitously expressed in all examined tissues, but especially in kernels and actively growing tissues. Transcriptome analyses indicated that ABC transporter, ribosome and cell expansion-related pathways were significantly enriched, in the <i>zmsk1</i> mutant, suggesting that a loss-of-function mutation in <i>ZmSK1</i> may affect protein synthesis, transmembrane transport and early endosperm cell development and morphogenesis, while also inhibiting normal carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, our study provides insights into the molecular basis of maize kernel endosperm development.</p>

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ZmSK1 encodes a sucrose synthase essential for starch synthesis and endosperm development in maize

  • Shuai Wang,
  • Tianyi Wang,
  • Ruyang Zhang,
  • Zhiyong Li,
  • Qian Liu,
  • Xiaqing Wang,
  • Chunhui Li,
  • Jinfeng Xing,
  • Ronghuan Wang,
  • Wei Song,
  • Jiuran Zhao

摘要

Maize (Zea mays) endosperm is the primary reservoir of nutrients that serve as energy and carbon sources for seed germination and early seedling growth. The characterization of endosperm mutants has provided insights into the mechanism underlying endosperm development and resources for maize breeding. In this study, we identified shriveled kernel1 (zmsk1) as a new maize mutant with shriveled kernels containing an opaque and entirely floury endosperm. ZmSK1 was identified as the gene at the Zm00001d045042 locus using a map-based cloning strategy; a specific nucleotide change resulting in aberrant splice sites is responsible for the phenotype of zmsk1 kernels. Allelism tests verified that ZmSK1 is a novel allele of a previously reported gene (Sh1). ZmSK1 was predicted to encode a sucrose synthase localized in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. An expression pattern analysis indicated that ZmSK1 is ubiquitously expressed in all examined tissues, but especially in kernels and actively growing tissues. Transcriptome analyses indicated that ABC transporter, ribosome and cell expansion-related pathways were significantly enriched, in the zmsk1 mutant, suggesting that a loss-of-function mutation in ZmSK1 may affect protein synthesis, transmembrane transport and early endosperm cell development and morphogenesis, while also inhibiting normal carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, our study provides insights into the molecular basis of maize kernel endosperm development.