Evaluation of abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic potato plants with reduced expression of PSII manganese stabilizing protein

Gururani, M.A.,Upadhyaya, C.P.,Strasser, R.J.,Yu, J.W.,Park, S.W. Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd 2013 Plant science Vol.198 No.-

Manganese stabilizing protein (MSP) is an important component of the Photosystem II (PSII) oxygen evolving complex. In our previous work, transgenic potato plants with reduced expression of MSP (MSP-As) were developed and their physiological and biochemical responses were studied. In this report, we address the response of MSP-As plants toward salinity, heavy metal and osmotic stresses. MSP-As plants treated with NaCl, ZnCl<SUB>2</SUB> or mannitol solution showed significant level of tolerance under all the stress conditions. Specific enzyme activities of major ROS-scavenging enzymes were found significantly higher in MSP-As plants than the control plants. MSP-As plants accumulated increased levels of proline and low molecular weight metabolites such as ascorbate and α-tocopherol, which indicated that these plants were much more resistant to stress compared to the corresponding control plants. The primary photochemical efficiencies and the OJIP kinetics analyses further confirmed that MSP-As plants were in better optimal health under stress compared to the control plants. Although the exact reason behind the increased stress tolerance in stressed MSP-As plants is unclear, our results strongly indicate the role of MSP of unknown function in abiotic stress tolerance.

Photo-biotechnology as a tool to improve agronomic traits in crops

Gururani, Mayank Anand,Ganesan, Markkandan,Song, Pill-Soon Elsevier 2015 Biotechnology advances Vol.33 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Phytochromes are photosensory phosphoproteins with crucial roles in plant developmental responses to light. Functional studies of individual phytochromes have revealed their distinct roles in the plant's life cycle. Given the importance of phytochromes in key plant developmental processes, genetically manipulating phytochrome expression offers a promising approach to crop improvement. Photo-biotechnology refers to the transgenic expression of phytochrome transgenes or variants of such transgenes. Several studies have indicated that crop cultivars can be improved by modulating the expression of phytochrome genes. The improved traits include enhanced yield, improved grass quality, shade-tolerance, and stress resistance. In this review, we discuss the transgenic expression of phytochrome A and its hyperactive mutant (Ser599Ala-PhyA) in selected crops, such as <I>Zoysia japonica</I> (Japanese lawn grass), <I>Agrostis stolonifera</I> (creeping bentgrass), <I>Oryza sativa</I> (rice), <I>Solanum tuberosum</I> (potato), and <I>Ipomea batatas</I> (sweet potato). The transgenic expression of PhyA and its mutant in various plant species imparts biotechnologically useful traits. Here, we highlight recent advances in the field of photo-biotechnology and review the results of studies in which phytochromes or variants of phytochromes were transgenically expressed in various plant species. We conclude that photo-biotechnology offers an excellent platform for developing crops with improved properties.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Phytochromes are photoreceptors that are required for various developmental processes. </LI> <LI> Application of engineered phytochrome genes in various crops is discussed. </LI> <LI> Results with introduction of a mutant PHYA into turfgrasses and other crops are discussed. </LI> <LI> Potential areas for further improvement in photo-biotechnology are highlighted. </LI> </UL> </P>

Transgenic Turfgrasses Expressing Hyperactive Ser599Ala Phytochrome A Mutant Exhibit Abiotic Stress Tolerance

Gururani, M. A.,Ganesan, M.,Song, I. J.,Han, Y.,Kim, J. I.,Lee, H. Y.,Song, P. S. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Journal of plant growth regulation Vol.35 No.1

<P>Turfgrasses are environmentally and recreationally valuable plants that are constantly subjected to various forms of stress in their artificial and natural habitats. Previously, it was shown that the transformation of a hyperactive mutant (Serine 599 Alanine, S599A) of oat phytochrome A in zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica) and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) resulted in superior quality turfgrass with improved shade tolerance response. We now examined the abiotic stress response of the transgenic turfgrasses expressing the hyperactive mutant S599A-PhyA. The transgenic S599A-PhyA plants subjected to high salinity and heavy metal toxicity stress exhibited higher chlorophyll content, lower hydrogen peroxide level, and higher proline accumulation than the controls. Furthermore, the anti-oxidative activities of four reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes and the total biomass (above and below-ground) were higher in S599A-PhyA plants than in the controls under both the stress conditions. Moreover, higher photosynthetic efficiency (F-v/F-m) of S599A-PhyA plants indicated healthier growth than the controls under stress conditions. Results suggest that the hyperactive mutant of oat phytochrome A confers abiotic stress tolerance in plants, and can be used to efficiently develop abiotic stress tolerant crops in future.</P>

Engineering glucosinolates in plants: current knowledge and potential uses.

Baskar, Venkidasamy,Gururani, Mayank Anand,Yu, Jae Woong,Park, Se Won Humana Press 2012 Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol.168 No.6

<P>Glucosinolates (GSL) and their derivatives are well known for the characteristic roles they play in plant defense as signaling molecules and as bioactive compounds for human health. More than 130 GSLs have been reported so far, and most of them belong to the Brassicaceae family. Several enzymes and transcription factors involved in the GSL biosynthesis have been studied in the model plant, Arabidopsis, and in a few other Brassica crop species. Recent studies in GSL research have defined the regulation, distribution, and degradation of GSL biosynthetic pathways; however, the underlying mechanism behind transportation of GSLs in plants is still largely unknown. This review highlights the recent advances in the metabolic engineering of GSLs in plants and discusses their potential applications.</P>

Biochemical Analysis of Enhanced Tolerance in 1 Transgenic Potato Plants Overexpressing D2

Nookaraju Akula,Mayank Anand Gururani,Shashank Pandey,Se-Won Park 한국원예학회 2010 한국원예학회 학술발표요지 Vol.2010 No.5

Transgenic potato overproducing L-ascorbic acid resisted an increase in methylglyoxal under salinity stress via maintaining higher reduced glutathione level and glyoxalase enzyme activity.

Upadhyaya, Chandrama Prakash,Venkatesh, Jelli,Gururani, Mayank Anand,Asnin, Leonid,Sharma, Kavita,Ajappala, Hemavathi,Park, Se Won Kluwer Academic Publishers 2011 Biotechnology letters. Vol.33 No.11

<P>Salt-tolerance was studied in transgenic potato. It was conferred by overexpression of ascorbate pathway enzyme (D-galacturonic acid reductase, GalUR). As genetic engineering of the GalUR gene in potato enhances its ascorbic acid content (L-AsA), and subsequently plants suffered minimal oxidative stress-induced damage, we now report on the comprehensive aptness of this engineering approach for enhanced salt tolerance in transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Taedong Valley). Potatoes overexpressing GalUR grew and tuberized in continuous presence of 200 mM of NaCl. The transgenic plants maintained a higher reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH:GSSG) ratio together with enhanced activity of glutathione dependent antioxidative and glyoxalase enzymes under salinity stress. The transgenics resisted an increase in methylglyoxal that increased radically in untransformed control plants under salinity stress. This is the first report of genetic engineering of ascorbate pathway gene in maintaining higher level of GSH homeostasis along with higher glyoxalase activity inhibiting the accumulation in methylglyoxal (a potent cytotoxic compound) under salt stress. These results suggested the engineering of ascorbate pathway enzymes as a major step towards developing salinity tolerant crop plants.</P>

A review on metal/metal oxide nanoparticles in food processing and packaging

Naveen Chandra Joshi,Pushpa Bhakuni Negi,Prateek Gururani 한국식품과학회 2024 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.33 No.6

Consuming hygienic and secure food has become challenging for everyone. The preservation of excess food without negatively affecting its nutritional values, shelf life, freshness, or effectiveness would undoubtedly strengthen the food industry. Nanotechnology is a new and intriguing technology that is currently being implemented in the food industry. Metal-based nanomaterials have considerable potential for use in packaging and food processing. These materials have many advanced physical and chemical characteristics. Since these materials are increasingly being used in food applications, there are certain negative health consequences related to their toxicity when swallowed through food. In this article, we have addressed the introduction and applications of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (MNPs), food processing and food packaging, applications of MNPs-based materials in food processing and food packaging, health hazards, and future perspectives.