Identification of proteins and metabolic networks associated with sucrose accumulation in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. interspecific hybrids)

• Main Authors: Cui-Xian Qin, Zhong-Liang Chen, Miao Wang, Ao-Mei Li, Fen Liao, Yang-Rui Li, Ming-Qiao Wang, Ming-Hua Long, Prakash Lakshmanan, Dong-Liang Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Plant Interactions
• Subjects: sugarcane; proteomics; differential expression; proteins; sucrose accumulation; sugar metabolism
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2021.1912840

The rate of improvement of sugar content in sugarcane remains low for decades worldwide. Our previous transcriptome studies provided an atlas of sucrose accumulation-related gene expression, but little is known about the proteins involved. Here, we conducted a proteomic analysis of experimentally altered sucrose accumulation in sugarcane. Analysis of stem proteomes of sugarcane ripener ethephon treated high- and low-sugar genotypes had identified 2983 proteins of which 139 were significantly differentially expressed (DEPs). These DEPs were found to be associated with sugar metabolism-related processes with 25 of them may have a regulatory role in sucrose accumulation. The key proteins identified include UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase associated with amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism; those involved in carbon fixation; and fructokinase, β-D-glucosidase, and α-glucan phosphorylase involved in starch and sucrose metabolism. Distinct genotype- and ethephon-dependent DEP expression was evident providing new insights into one of the most intractable sugarcane traits to breeding.