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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195680
Title: GENETICAL METABOLOMICS OF FLAVONOID BIOSYNTHESIS IN POPULUS: A CASE STUDY

Author
item MORREEL, KRIS - VIB, GENT, BELGIUM
item GOEMINNE, GEERT - VIB, GENT, BELGIUM
item STERCH, LIEVEN - VIB, GENT, BELGIUM
item Ralph, John
item COPPIETERS, WOUTER - UNIV. LIEGE, BELGIUM
item STORME, VERONIQUE - VIB, GENT, BELGIUM
item BREYNE, PETER - IBW, GERAARDSBERGEN, BELG
item STEENACKERS, MARIJKE - IBW, GERAARDSBERGN, BELGI
item MESSENS, ERIC - VIB, GENT, BELGIUM
item BOERJAN, WOUT - VIB, GENT, BELGIUM

Submitted to: Plant Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2006
Publication Date: 6/29/2006
Citation: Morreel, K., Goeminne, G., Sterch, L., Ralph, J., Coppieters, W., Storme, V., Breyne, P., Steenackers, M., Messens, E., Boerjan, W. 2006. Genetical metabolomics of flavonoid biosynthesis in populus: a case study. Plant Journal. 47(2):224-237.

Interpretive Summary: Obtaining a fingerprint or profile of the chemicals (metabolites) that can be extracted from a growing plant is gaining attention as a powerful tool to understand the functions of genes. Researchers in Belgium examined a pathway to so-called flavonoids in Poplar, a model of choice for molecular genetic research on plants. Poplar presents a rich diversity of flavonoids in the young leaves, buds, and bud exudates, thought to function both as sunscreens and as defense compounds. In this pilot study, analysis was carried out on the major flavonoids present in the leaves and buds of two families of poplar that share a common female parent. The elucidated chemical structures of the flavonoids, coupled with current knowledge of the pathway architecture and computer mapping of candidate genes, showed for the first time that metabolite profiles can be used to reveal genes that control the flux through a complex pathway of related molecules. Such research is ultimately aimed at improving the utilization of plant fiber resources in processes ranging from industrial chemical pulping to natural ruminant digestibility.

Technical Abstract: Genetical metabolomics (metabolite profiling combined with quantitative trait locus [QTL] analysis) is proposed as a new tool to identify loci that control metabolite abundances. This concept was evaluated in a case study with the model tree Populus. By using HPLC, the peak abundances were analyzed of 15 closely related flavonoids present in apical tissues of two full sib poplar families, Populus deltoides cv. S9 2 x P. nigra cv. Ghoy and P. deltoides cv. S9 2 x P. trichocarpa cv. V24 and QTL analysis was used to detect flux control points in flavonoid biosynthesis. Four robust metabolite QTL (mQTL), associated with rate limiting steps in flavonoid biosynthesis, were mapped. Each mQTL was implemented in the flux control to one or two flavonoids. Based on the identities of the affected metabolites and the flavonoid pathway structure, a tentative function was assigned to three of these mQTL and the corresponding candidate genes were mapped. The data indicate that the combination of metabolite profiling with QTL analysis is a valuable tool to identify control points in a complex metabolic pathway of closely related compounds.