title: Characterization of factors underlying the metabolic shifts in developing kernels of colored maize.
abstract: Elucidation of the metabolic pathways determining pigmentation and their underlying regulatory mechanisms in maize kernels is of high importance in attempts to improve the nutritional composition of our food. In this study, we compared dynamics in the transcriptome and metabolome between colored SW93 and white SW48 by integrating RNA-Seq and non-targeted metabolomics. Our data revealed that expression of enzyme coding genes and levels of primary metabolites decreased gradually from 11 to 21 DAP, corresponding well with the physiological change of developing maize kernels from differentiation through reserve accumulation to maturation, which was cultivar independent. A remarkable up-regulation of anthocyanin and phlobaphene pathway distinguished SW93 from SW48, in which anthocyanin regulating transcriptional factors (R1 and C1), enzyme encoding genes involved in both pathways and corresponding metabolic intermediates were up-regulated concurrently in SW93 but not in SW48. The shift from the shikimate pathway of primary metabolism to the flavonoid pathway of secondary metabolism, however, appears to be under posttranscriptional regulation. This study revealed the link between primary metabolism and kernel coloration, which facilitate further study to explore fundamental questions regarding the evolution of seed metabolic capabilities as well as their potential applications in maize improvement regarding both staple and functional foods.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Chaoyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Quanlin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China.
authors.forename: Xuefang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China.
authors.forename: Yifa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Guorun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.|Plant Genomics Center, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, South Australia 5064, Australia.|Key Laboratory of Crop Marker-Assisted Breeding of Huaian Municipality, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaian 223300, China.
authors.forename: Dabing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Marker-Assisted Breeding of Huaian Municipality, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaian 223300, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Marker-Assisted Breeding of Huaian Municipality, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaian 223300, China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010858:Pigmentation; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D005419:Flavonoids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C091603:phlobaphene