The apocarotenoid metabolite zaxinone regulates growth and strigolactone biosynthesis in rice

Jian You Wang, Imran Haider, Muhammad Jamil, Valentina Fiorilli, Yoshimoto Saito, Jianing Mi, Lina Baz, Boubacar A. Kountche, Kun-Peng Jia, Xiujie Guo, Aparna Balakrishna, Valentine O. Ntui, Beate Reinke, Veronica Volpe, Takashi Gojobori, Ikram Blilou, Luisa Lanfranco, Paola Bonfante and Salim Al-Babili ()
Additional contact information
Jian You Wang: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Imran Haider: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Muhammad Jamil: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Valentina Fiorilli: University of Torino
Yoshimoto Saito: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Jianing Mi: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Lina Baz: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Boubacar A. Kountche: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Kun-Peng Jia: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Xiujie Guo: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Aparna Balakrishna: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Valentine O. Ntui: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Beate Reinke: Institute for Biology II, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg
Veronica Volpe: University of Torino
Takashi Gojobori: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Ikram Blilou: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Luisa Lanfranco: University of Torino
Paola Bonfante: University of Torino
Salim Al-Babili: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) form hormones and signaling molecules. Here we show that a member of an overlooked plant CCD subfamily from rice, that we name Zaxinone Synthase (ZAS), can produce zaxinone, a novel apocarotenoid metabolite in vitro. Loss-of-function mutants (zas) contain less zaxinone, exhibit retarded growth and showed elevated levels of strigolactones (SLs), a hormone that determines plant architecture, mediates mycorrhization and facilitates infestation by root parasitic weeds, such as Striga spp. Application of zaxinone can rescue zas phenotypes, decrease SL content and release and promote root growth in wild-type seedlings. In conclusion, we show that zaxinone is a key regulator of rice development and biotic interactions and has potential for increasing crop growth and combating Striga, a severe threat to global food security.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08461-1

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