Pyrophosphate: fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) regulates carbon metabolism during grain filling in rice

KEY MESSAGE: Decreased PFPase activity in rice perturbs the equilibration of carbon metabolism during grain filling but has no visible phenotypic effects during the vegetative and reproductive growth stages. ABSTRACT: Starch is a primary energy reserve for various metabolic processes in plant. Despite much advance has been achieved in pathways involved in starch biosynthesis, information was still lacked for precise regulation related to carbon metabolism during seed filling in rice (Oryza sativa). The objective of this study was to identify and characterize new gene associated with carbon metabolism during grain filling. By screening our chemical mutant pool, two allelic mutants exhibiting floury endosperm were isolated. No visible phenotypic defects were observed during both the vegetative and reproductive growth stages, except for the floury-like endosperm of grains with significantly reduced kernel thickness, 1000-grain weight and total starch content. Map-based cloning revealed that the mutant phenotypes were controlled by a gene encoding pyrophosphate: fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP, EC 2.7.1.90) β subunit (PFP(β)), which catalyzes reversible interconversion between fructose-6-phosphate and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate. The identity of PFP(β) was further confirmed by a genetic complementation test. Subcellular analysis demonstrated that PFPβ was localized in cytoplasm. Quantitative PCR and histochemical staining indicated PFP(β) was ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. Furthermore, we found PFP(β) could express in both the early and late phases of starch accumulation during grain filling and decreased activity of PFP(β) in pfp mutants resulted in compromised carbon metabolism with increased soluble sugar contents and unfavorable starch biosynthesis. Our results highlight PFP(β) functions in modulating carbon metabolism during grain filling stage. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00299-016-1964-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.