Trehalose signalling: understanding and exploiting an emerging small molecule carbohydrate paradigm
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Plant Biology & Crop Science
Abstract
Sucrose and trehalose are the most widespread non-reducing disaccharides in nature. Sucrose functions as an energy reserve, building block and protective molecule in plants, and trehalose has these functions in fungi, bacteria and insects. Until recently, with very few exceptions, this division of sucrose and trehalose between the kingdoms was thought to be clear cut. However, the trehalose pathway and trehalose 6-phosphate, in particular, have been shown to play an indispensbale signalling role in plants influencing processes like photosynthesis, sugar metabolism, disease and stress resistance. The proposal will determine signalling partners of trehalose 6-phosphate and closely related non-reducing disaccharides in plants to enable chemical intervention of these important plant processes in Arabidopsis with a longer term view to crop improvement.
Technical Summary
This proposal is driven by 1) the pressing biological question of the site of interaction of the disaccharide trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) following its discovery as part of an indispensable signalling mechanism with significant effects on photosynthsis, sugar metabolism, disease and stress resistance in Arabidopsis; 2) the recent availability of methods in the field of glycomics, carbohydrate and protein chemistry that enable probing for the site of interaction of T6P and related compounds and the chemical intervention of its physiological function in planta. The chemical intervention approach is focused on synthesis of non-reducing glycan libraries based on the trehalose and sucrose cores. From these, small molecule glycan arrays will be made to enable the isolation of protein and nucleic acid partners. State-of-the-art protein separation and gene cloning will be used to characterise the binding partners. Construction of in planta active non-reducing mimetics and probes will enable chemical intervention in vivo.
Publications
Paul M
(2007)
Trehalose 6-phosphate.
in Current opinion in plant biology
Paul MJ
(2008)
Trehalose metabolism and signaling.
in Annual review of plant biology
Paul MJ
(2008)
Trehalose 6-phosphate: a signal of sucrose status.
in The Biochemical journal
Schluepmann H
(2009)
Trehalose Metabolites in Arabidopsis-elusive, active and central.
in The arabidopsis book
Zhang Y
(2009)
Inhibition of SNF1-related protein kinase1 activity and regulation of metabolic pathways by trehalose-6-phosphate.
in Plant physiology
Pérez-Victoria I
(2009)
Saturation transfer difference NMR reveals functionally essential kinetic differences for a sugar-binding repressor protein.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Paul MJ
(2010)
Upregulation of biosynthetic processes associated with growth by trehalose 6-phosphate.
in Plant signaling & behavior
Errey JC
(2010)
Mechanistic insight into enzymatic glycosyl transfer with retention of configuration through analysis of glycomimetic inhibitors.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Delatte TL
(2011)
Growth arrest by trehalose-6-phosphate: an astonishing case of primary metabolite control over growth by way of the SnRK1 signaling pathway.
in Plant physiology
Wingler A
(2012)
Trehalose 6-phosphate is required for the onset of leaf senescence associated with high carbon availability.
in Plant physiology
Nunes C
(2013)
Inhibition of SnRK1 by metabolites: tissue-dependent effects and cooperative inhibition by glucose 1-phosphate in combination with trehalose 6-phosphate.
in Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
O'Hara LE
(2013)
How do sugars regulate plant growth and development? New insight into the role of trehalose-6-phosphate.
in Molecular plant
Nunes C
(2013)
The trehalose 6-phosphate/SnRK1 signaling pathway primes growth recovery following relief of sink limitation.
in Plant physiology
Griffiths CA
(2016)
Chemical intervention in plant sugar signalling increases yield and resilience.
in Nature
Paul MJ
(2017)
Increasing crop yield and resilience with trehalose 6-phosphate: targeting a feast-famine mechanism in cereals for better source-sink optimization.
in Journal of experimental botany
Griffiths CA
(2017)
Targeting carbon for crop yield and drought resilience.
in Journal of the science of food and agriculture
Paul MJ
(2018)
Are GM Crops for Yield and Resilience Possible?
in Trends in plant science
Paul MJ
(2018)
The Role of Trehalose 6-Phosphate in Crop Yield and Resilience.
in Plant physiology
Description | The trehalose pathway is an important target for the modification of growth, development and yield. Genetic modification of the pathway in maize is producing large yield increases in the field. In collaboration with Oxford University and ISIS Innovations we have developed and patented novel chemical approaches to modifying trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) levels in plant cells. This technology involves the application of UV-labile chemicals which enter plant cells and release T6P upon exposure to sunlight, demonstrating the first uncaging of sugar molecules in a plant. We have shown beneficial effects of this technology through enhancement of starch synthesis in Arabidopsis. The technology has attracted interest from industrial sources including Syngenta. Chemical approaches offer an attractive supplementary approach to GM, particularly in Europe, but also in other grain-growing regions which may be reluctant to accept GM technology for crops such as wheat. Chemical approaches offer the additional attraction that they can be applied dependent on the weather in a particular season which in Europe can alternate between drought and flooding in consecutive years. |
Exploitation Route | We have increased wheat grain size and ability of plants to recover from drought. There does seem substantial potential of this work to improve crop yields, at least for wheat and to increase fundamental understanding of the regulation of sucrose allocation and use in plants and crops as a new regulatory hub for crop yield improvement. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20591 |
Description | This work was published in Nature (Chemical intervention in plant sugar signalling increases yield and resilience. Griffiths et al. 2016, doi: 10.1038/nature20591) https://phys.org/news/2016-12-wheat-crop-yield-chemical-technology.html and has yielded 3 patents and a spin out company to be incorporated in March 2018. Field trials of the T6P precursors are expected to take place in 2018/ 2019. The work has great prospects for improving crop yield and food security. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Direct funding from industrial partner, ICL |
Amount | £73,982 (GBP) |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2014 |
End | 11/2014 |
Description | Technology Innovation Programme |
Amount | £49,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Rothamsted Research |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2014 |
End | 02/2015 |
Description | Oxford University |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Chemistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have tested caged T6P compounds made by Oxford University |
Collaborator Contribution | Oxford University has synthesised novel caged T6P compounds |
Impact | 1 published patent; 1 patent application increased wheat grain size and recovery from drought |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | iCL |
Organisation | ICL Innovation |
Country | Israel |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | analysis of effects of caged T6P on wheat yield |
Collaborator Contribution | provision of funding |
Impact | a publication has been submitted for publication |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | iCL |
Organisation | ICL Innovation |
Country | Israel |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | analysis of effects of caged T6P on wheat yield |
Collaborator Contribution | provision of funding |
Impact | a publication has been submitted for publication |
Start Year | 2014 |
Title | MODIFICATION OF TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE LEVELS IN PLANTS |
Description | Compounds which are trehalose-6-phosphate or trehalose-6-phosphonate precursors of formula (I) or agriculturally acceptable salts thereof are provided: (I) The compounds are useful in increasing starch production in plants. |
IP Reference | WO2012146914 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | The compounds impact recovery of wheat plants from drought. Additionally, they increase grain size of wheat. |
Title | TREATING WATER STRESS IN PLANTS |
Description | The present invention relates to methods and uses of photo-labile compounds which are trehalose-6-phosphate or trehalose-6-phosphonate or agriculturally acceptable salts thereof in the treatment of water stress in plants. The invention also concerns methods and the use of the compounds for resurrection of water stressed plants, and for improvement of yield of crop plants under water stressed conditions compared with untreated plants. |
IP Reference | WO2017006095 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Nature publication doi:10.1038/nature20591 |
Company Name | SugaROx |
Description | SugaROx develops a sugar-based compound that increases photosynthesis and starch synthesis in plants, increasing their food yield. |
Year Established | 2018 |
Impact | The company has only just been formed and as yet there are no impacts |
Website | https://sugarox.co.uk |
Description | Conference talk, Sainsbury lab |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Induced Plant Development, Sainsbury Lab |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Gordon Conference Switzerland, salt and water stress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | conference talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Plant Genomics Conference, Malaysia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | conference seminar |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | SCI New Frontiers in Crop Research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | conference talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | SEB conference, Brighton |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | conference talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://phys.org/news/2016-12-wheat-crop-yield-chemical-technology.html |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.ft.com/content/c42893aa-c22a-11e6-9bca-2b93a6856354 |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/w/wheat-grain-size-boosted-by-synthetic-chemical/vp-AAm8JwO |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publicaiton |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.reuters.com/video/2017/01/23/wheat-grain-size-boosted-by-synthetic-ch?videoId=370975942&v... |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video/wheat-grain-size-boosted-by-synthetic-chemic... |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.yahoo.com/news/wheat-grain-size-boosted-synthetic-123548758.html |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4035332/Crop-spray-makes-wheat-20-larger-s-GM-free-Mo... |
Description | media coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | media coverage following Nature publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/12/14/monster-wheat-grown-oxford-could-revolutionise-farming... |