A chloroplast localized heavy metal-associated domain containing protein regulates grain calcium accumulation in rice

Huan Liu, Cun Lu, Xiang-Qian Liu, Chen-Jin Zhuo, Rong-Jian Luo, Qiu-Tang Huang, Zhong Tang, Chun-Qing Zhao, Mary Lou Guerinot, David E. Salt, Fang-Jie Zhao and Xin-Yuan Huang ()
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Huan Liu: Nanjing Agricultural University
Cun Lu: Nanjing Agricultural University
Xiang-Qian Liu: Nanjing Agricultural University
Chen-Jin Zhuo: Nanjing Agricultural University
Rong-Jian Luo: Nanjing Agricultural University
Qiu-Tang Huang: Nanjing Agricultural University
Zhong Tang: Nanjing Agricultural University
Chun-Qing Zhao: Nanjing Agricultural University
Mary Lou Guerinot: Dartmouth College
David E. Salt: University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus
Fang-Jie Zhao: Nanjing Agricultural University
Xin-Yuan Huang: Nanjing Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract Calcium (Ca) is an essential mineral nutrient and plays a crucial signaling role in all living organisms. Increasing Ca content in staple foods such as rice is vital for improving Ca nutrition of humans. Here we map a quantitative trait locus that controls Ca concentration in rice grains and identify the causal gene as GCSC1 (Grain Ca and Sr Concentrations 1), which encodes a chloroplast vesicle localized homo-oligomeric protein. GCSC1 exhibits Ca2+ transport activity in heterologous assays in yeast and Xenopus laevis oocytes and is involved in the efflux of Ca2+ from the chloroplast to the cytosol. Knockout of GCSC1 results in increased chloroplast Ca concentration, lower stomatal conductance in leaves and enhanced Ca allocation to grains. Natural variation in grain Ca concentration is attributed to the variable expression of GCSC1 resulting from its promoter sequence variation. Our study identifies a chloroplast localized heavy metal-associated domain containing protein that regulates chloroplast Ca2+ efflux and provides a way to biofortify Ca in rice to benefit human nutrition.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53648-w

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