Down-regulation of the AtCCR1 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana: effects on phenotype, lignins and cell wall degradability

Cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR; EC 1.2.1.44) is the first enzyme specific to the biosynthetic pathway leading to monolignols. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. plants transformed with a vector containing a full-length AtCCR1 cDNA in an antisense orientation were obtained and characterized. The most sev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Planta 2003-06, Vol.217 (2), p.218-228
Main Authors: Goujon, Thomas, Ferret, Valérie, Mila, Isabelle, Pollet, Brigitte, Ruel, Katia, Burlat, Vincent, Joseleau, Jean-Paul, Barrière, Yves, Lapierre, Catherine, Jouanin, Lise
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aldehyde Oxidoreductases - genetics
Aldehyde Oxidoreductases - metabolism
Arabidopsis - cytology
Arabidopsis - enzymology
Arabidopsis - genetics
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Wall - metabolism
Cell Wall - ultrastructure
Cell walls
Complementary DNA
Corn
Down regulation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Lignification
Lignin
Lignin - chemistry
Lignin - metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements
Monomers
Phenotype
Phenotypes
Plant physiology and development
Plants
Xylem
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Summary:Cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR; EC 1.2.1.44) is the first enzyme specific to the biosynthetic pathway leading to monolignols. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. plants transformed with a vector containing a full-length AtCCR1 cDNA in an antisense orientation were obtained and characterized. The most severely down-regulated homozygous plants showed drastic alterations to their phenotypical features. These plants had a 50% decrease in lignin content accompanied by changes in lignin composition and structure, with incorporation of ferulic acid into the cell wall. Microscopic analyses coupled with immunolabelling revealed a decrease in lignin deposition in normally lignified tissues and a dramatic loosening of the secondary cell wall of interfascicular fibers and vessels. Evaluation of in vitro digestibility demonstrated an increase in the enzymatic degradability of these transgenic lines. In addition, culture conditions were shown to play a substantial role in lignin level and structure in the wild type and in the effects of AtCCR1 repression efficiency.
ISSN:0032-0935
1432-2048
DOI:10.1007/s00425-003-0987-6