An orphan gene BOOSTER enhances photosynthetic efficiency and plant productivity
Organelle-to-nucleus DNA transfer is an ongoing process playing an important role in the evolution of eukaryotic life. Here, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of non-photochemical quenching parameters in 743 Populus trichocarpa accessions identified a nuclear-encoded genomic region associated with variation in photosynthesis under fluctuating light. The identified gene, BOOSTER (BSTR), comprises three exons, two with apparent endophytic origin and the third containing a large fragment of plastid-encoded Rubisco large subunit. Higher expression of BSTR facilitated anterograde signaling between nucleus and plastid, which corresponded to enhanced expression of Rubisco, increased photosynthesis, and up to 35% greater plant height and 88% biomass in poplar accessions under field conditions. Overexpression of BSTR in Populus tremula × P. alba achieved up to a 200% in plant height. Similarly, Arabidopsis plants heterologously expressing BSTR gained up to 200% in biomass and up to 50% increase in seed.
Authors
- Chung‐Jui Tsai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9282-7704)
- Biruk A. Feyissa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4028-9411)
- Jennifer L. Morrell‐Falvey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9362-7528)
- Kerrie Barry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8999-6785)
- Gail Taylor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8470-6390)
- Steven Burgess (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2353-7794)
- Meng Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0247-3701)
- Dhananjay Gotarkar
- Dana L. Carper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4758-8054)
- Elsa M. de Becker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7928-2586)
- David J. Weston (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4794-9913)
- Mengjun Shu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6323-2664)
- Coralie E. Salesse‐Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2856-4217)
- Gerald A. Tuskan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0106-1289)
- Stephen P. Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8501-7164)
- Kuntal De (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9729-9608)
- Jin‐Gui Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1752-4201)
- Sara Jawdy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8123-5439)
- Paul E. Abraham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2685-9123)
- Timothy B. Yates
- Wellington Muchero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0200-9856)
- Jin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8397-5078)
- Jeremy Schmutz
- Margot S. S. Chen
Institutions
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- University of Georgia (US)
- Joint Genome Institute (US)
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (US)
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (US)
- University of Missouri (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Developmental Cell
- Published
- 2024-12-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2024.11.002
- Citations
- 10
- Primary Topic
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.34
Funders
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Biological and Environmental Research