title: Nitrogen-use efficiency in maize (Zea mays L.): from 'omics' studies to metabolic modelling.
abstract: In this review, we will present the latest developments in systems biology with particular emphasis on improving nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) in crops such as maize and demonstrating the application of metabolic models. The review highlights the importance of improving NUE in crops and provides an overview of the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome datasets available, focusing on a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen regulation. 'Omics' data are hard to interpret in the absence of metabolic flux information within genome-scale models. These models, when integrated with 'omics' data, can serve as a basis for generating predictions that focus and guide further experimental studies. By simulating different nitrogen (N) conditions at a pseudo-steady state, the reactions affecting NUE and additional gene regulations can be determined. Such models thus provide a framework for improving our understanding of the metabolic processes underlying the more efficient use of N-based fertilizers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Rajib
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Adaptation des Plantes à leur Environnement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1318, INRA-Agro-ParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de Versailles-Grignon, RD 10, 78026 Versailles cedex, France.
authors.forename: Lenaïg
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillard
authors.affiliation: Plateau Technique Spécifique de Chimie du Végétal, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de Versailles-Grignon, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1318, INRA-Agro-ParisTech, Route de St Cyr, F-78026 Versailles Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.affiliation: Adaptation des Plantes à leur Environnement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1318, INRA-Agro-ParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de Versailles-Grignon, RD 10, 78026 Versailles cedex, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Armengaud
authors.affiliation: Adaptation des Plantes à leur Environnement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1318, INRA-Agro-ParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de Versailles-Grignon, RD 10, 78026 Versailles cedex, France.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cañas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Costas D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Maranas
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.affiliation: Adaptation des Plantes à leur Environnement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1318, INRA-Agro-ParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de Versailles-Grignon, RD 10, 78026 Versailles cedex, France hirel@versailles.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hirel
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005308:Fertilizers; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D055442:Metabolome; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D020543:Proteome; D049490:Systems Biology; D059467:Transcriptome; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D020543:Proteome; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Maize; metabolic modelling; metabolome; proteome; systems biology; transcriptome.