Biology subjects

Lingwan, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Lingwan, M..

8 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Large seed size accompanying GmSDP1 suppression is linked to cellular remodeling and phytohormone regulation

Soybean (Glycine max) seeds contain approximately 20% oil and 40% protein and are important for food, feed, and biofuel. Improving soybean productivity and seed quality requires optimizing carbon partitioning during seed development. Previously, seed-specific suppression of the lipase-encoding gene Sugar-Dependent 1 (SDP1) increased seed oil content by approximately 5% while slightly reducing raffinose family oligosaccharides without compromising protein content. Seed-specific SDP1 suppression also increased seed size by 18-25% without affecting seed number, resulting in greater seed biomass per plant. To determine the developmental basis of the increased seed size, we investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotype. Microscopy and biochemical analyses showed that larger seeds were associated with increased seed cell size and enhanced lignocellulosic cell wall accumulation. Temporal biochemical and transcriptomic analyses further revealed coordinated changes in hormone homeostasis, including altered levels of abscisic acid, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, and jasmonoyl-isoleucine, together with differential expression of F-box and RING/U-box family genes. The results indicate that the enhanced seed size resulting from SDP1 suppression is associated with coordinated changes in cellular development, cell wall accumulation, hormone homeostasis, and regulation of gene expression during seed development. Developmental and metabolic changes associated with the increased seed size phenotype support SDP1 manipulation as a potential strategy for improving soybean seed yield and quality.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Wavelength induced cultivar specific enrichment of essential amino acids and phenolics in Amaranthus tricolor

Light wavelengths modulate plant growth, metabolism, and physiology. Amaranthus, a C4 underutilized climate resilient crop with promising nutritional properties remained unexplored in terms of metabolite enrichment under monochromatic light wavelengths of visible spectrum. In current study, two cultivars of Amaranthus tricolor (green and red) were exposed to seven light regimes of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400-700 nm): deep blue, blue, green, amber, red, deep red, far red, and their metabolic responses were captured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The metabolic analysis revealed wavelength-specific reprogramming in the levels of organic acids, sugars, amino acids, fatty acids as well as phenolics. In both the green and red Amaranthus, branched-chain amino acids and phenylalanine, which are nutritionally essential, were significantly elevated under far-red light. While the phenolics such as caffeic acid and ferulic acid were elevated under green and deep blue light respectively in green Amaranthus, amber light wavelengths enhanced these phenolics in red Amaranthus. The study highlighted cultivar-specific metabolic rewiring triggered by specific wavelengths. Altogether, these findings provides insights into metabolic adaptation and demonstrate the ability of light wavelength to specifically enrich the targeted metabolite of nutritional relevance in Amaranthus. It offers strategies to improve the nutritional value of crops in controlled agriculture systems. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=167 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/714947v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (40K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8de67forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@17a03corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@118d18corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@6568f3_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Kinetic 13CO2 mapping revealed distinct light-dark metabolic transition phenotypes in Brassica napus seedlings under visible and UV-B light

Dynamic stable-isotope tracing using 13CO2 has gained significant attention in systems biology due to its potential to visualise carbon assimilation patterns. However, the plant metabolic phenotypes under visible and UV-B light, explaining the light-to-dark transition between photoperiods, remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and resource partitioning during the day-night transition under visible and UV-B light in Brassica napus seedlings. Kinetic 13CO2 tracing via the analysis of mass isotopomer distributions of metabolite fragments using GC-MS revealed reprogramming of the source-sink carbon dynamics. While visible light enabled the dynamic redistribution of newly fixed carbon during the light and dark photoperiod, de novo biosynthesis of shikimic acid, TCA cycle intermediates and metabolites of the glutamate-GABA metabolism was strongly favoured in dark metabolism. In contrast, a delayed and reduced photosynthetic carbon assimilation response was observed in the UV-B phenotype during the light period. Moreover, towards the late light period, de novo biosynthesis of sucrose, shikimic acid, phenylalanine, citric, succinic and malic acid was favoured, along with a greater reliance on pre-existing carbon pools for other metabolites. However, ketoglutarate, succinic acid, malic acid and GABA showed limited de novo synthesis in the dark period. Across both light regimes, amino acid pools largely remained in constant sync with the pre-existing pools during the light-dark transition. Overall, our findings demonstrate that light quality and photoperiod-driven metabolic transitions distinctly shape plant metabolic phenotypes.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Persistent fatty acid catabolism during plant oil synthesis

Plant lipids are an essential energy source for diets and are a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fuels and feed stocks. Fatty acid breakdown during seed germination is crucial for seedling establishment but unexpected during seed filling. Here, we demonstrate that the simultaneous biosynthesis and degradation of fatty acids begins early and continues across all phases of oil filling and throughout the photoperiod. Tests in camelina, rapeseed and engineered high-oil tobacco line confirmed that concomitant synthesis and breakdown in oil-producing tissues over development is the rule rather than the exception. We show that transgenics, designed for significantly higher fatty acid biosynthesis, fail to achieve a proportional increase in storage lipid levels due to increasing degradation, potentially explaining the underperformance of engineered lines compared to expectations.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Time course metabolomics and 13CO2 mapping establish BBX31/miP1b mediated metabolic readjustments conferring UV-B tolerance in Arabidopsis

B-box proteins (BBXs) are transcription factors that act as signal transducers in light signaling pathways. The microprotein BBX31/miP1b is known to play a positive role in promoting photomorphogenesis and stress tolerance under UV-B. However, the BBX31-mediated metabolic reprogramming to confer UV-B tolerance in plants is not well characterised. Here, we integrate metabolomics with kinetic 13CO2 tracer-based metabolic mapping, morpho-physiological and biochemical analysis to determine the metabolic rewiring in the UV tolerant genotypes. Our results suggest that BBX31 modulates the levels of photosynthetic compounds, reduces TCA cycle intermediates and enhances GS/GOGAT metabolic intermediates and secondary metabolic pathways. 13CO2 tracing studies established BBX31 modulates phenylpropanoid and GS/GOGAT pathways to divert flux towards the accumulation of UV-B protective metabolites phenylalanine, oxoproline, glutamine, and others. Although metabolomics indicated a higher accumulation of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) under UV-B, they had negligible 13C incorporation, indicating their biosynthesis from pre-existing intermediates or via protein degradation. Further, we demonstrate that the exogenous application of phenylalanine, identified as one of the marker metabolites, confers tolerance to plants under UV-B. This study sheds light on BBX31-mediated metabolic rewiring under UV-B, which can assist targeted enrichment of metabolites and metabolic engineering to promote UV-B tolerance in plants. HighlightBBX31/miP1b modulates the levels of photosynthetic compounds, reduces TCA cycle intermediates and enhances GS/GOGAT metabolic intermediates to confer UV-B tolerance.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy profiles of red and pink Rhododendron flower petals establish them as rich sources of bioactive secondary metabolites

Rhododendron petals are considered high-value owing to their commercial utility, national/state flower status in certain countries, and bioactive potential from recent studies. Profiling and quantitative analysis of the bioactive metabolites would evaluate if they can be natural sources. This study is focused on comprehensive profiling of secondary metabolites in the petals of Red and Pink Rhododendron flowers (R. arboreum and R. campanulatum) using Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS/MS) and Proton-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) Spectroscopy. The profiling highlighted the presence of secondary metabolites belonging to phenolic acids and flavonoids. Specifically, the flowers are rich in promising bioactive molecules such as quinic acid, chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoyl quinic acid), protocatechuic acid, coumaroyl quinic acids, catechin, epigallocatechin, and shikimic acid. The profiles are correlated with the metabolic pathways which reflected the activity of shikimic acid, phenolic acid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. These metabolites are well reported for their bioactive potential as anti-oxidative, anti-viral, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, etc. While the quantitative and multivariate analysis showed variations in the levels of phenolic acids and flavonoids, it is established that red and pink Rhododendron flower petals are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals of interest to the phytochemical Industry.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Metabolic, Biochemical, Mineral and Fatty acid profiles of edible Brassicaceae microgreens establish them as promising functional food

Hidden hunger due to micronutrient deficiencies affecting one in three people is a global concern. Identifying functional foods which provide vital health beneficial components in addition to the nutrients is of immense health relevance. Microgreens are edible seedlings enriched with concentrated minerals and phytochemicals whose dietary potential as functional foods needs evaluation. In this study, comprehensive biochemical, mineral, metabolic, and fatty acid profiles of four Brassicaceae microgreens - mustard (Brassica juncea), pak choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), radish pink (Raphanus sativus), and radish white (Raphanus ruphanistrum) was investigated. The biochemical and mineral profiling confirmed their promising nutritional and antioxidant nature and as excellent sources of minerals. Mineral profiling using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) exhibited promising levels of Fe, Mn, Mg, K, and Ca in microgreens. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolite profiling highlighted a range of phytochemicals-sugars, amino acids, organic acids, amines, fatty acids, phenol, and other molecules. Fatty acid profiling established promising levels of Oleic acid (C18:1; Monounsaturated fatty acids-MUFA) and linoleic acids (C18:2; omega-6 Poly unsaturated fatty acid-PUFA), which are health beneficial. It is estimated that fresh microgreens (100 g) can meet about 20 % to 50 % recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of macro- and micro-minerals along with providing useful fatty acids and antioxidants. Overall, the study highlighted Brassicaceae microgreens as an excellent nutrient source that can act as functional foods with promising potential to overcome "hidden hunger". Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=133 SRC="FIGDIR/small/541100v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (62K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d3b9c9org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4a7604org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8a164corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1be187b_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LIBrassicaceae microgreens are rich in molecules with relevance to nutrition and health C_LIO_LIThe biochemical analysis supported the antioxidant nature of microgreens C_LIO_LIComprehensive metabolite profiles of edible microgreens of Brassica juncea (Mustard), Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis (Pak Choi), Raphanus sativus (Radish Pink), and Raphanus ruphanistrum (Radish white) using GC-MS are reported C_LIO_LIIonomics analysis using the Brassicaceae microgreens exhibited promising levels of microminerals Fe, Mn, Mg, K, and Ca C_LIO_LIFatty acid profiles show promising levels of Linoleic acid and Oleic acid, which have health relevance C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

A robust method of extraction and GC-MS analysis of Monophenols exhibited UV-B mediated accumulation in Arabidopsis

Studies on specialised metabolites like phenolics are of immense interest owing to their significance to agriculture, nutrition and health. In plants, phenolics accumulate and exhibits spatial and temporal regulations in response to growth conditions. Robust methodologies aimed at efficient extraction of plant phenolics, their qualitative and quantitative analysis is desired. We optimised the analytical and experimental bottlenecks that captured free, ester, glycoside and wall-bound phenolics after acid or alkali treatments of the tissue extracts and subsequent GC-MS analysis. Higher recovery of phenolics from the methanolic extracts was achieved by through a) Ultrasonication assisted extraction along with Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) enrichment b) nitrogen gas drying and c) their derivatisation using MSTFA for GC-MS analysis. The optimised protocol was tested on Arabidopsis rosette exposed to UV-B radiation (280-315 nm) which triggered enhanced levels of 11 monophenols and might be attributed to photoprotection and other physiological roles. Interestingly, coumaric acid (308 m/z) and caffeic acid (396 m/z) levels were enhanced by 12-14 folds under UV-B. Other phenolics such as cinnamic acid (220 m/z), hydroxybenzoic acid (282 m/z), vanillic acid (312 m/z, gallic acid (458 m/z), ferulic acid (338 m/z), benzoic acid (194 m/z), hydroxycinnamic acid (368 m/z) and protocatechuic acid (370 m/z) also showed elevated levels by about 1 to 4 folds. Notably, vanillin (253 m/z) was detected only in the UV-B exposed tissues. The protocol also comprehensively captured the variations in the levels of ester, glycoside and wall-bounded phenolics with high reproducibility and sensitivity. The robust method of extraction and GC-MS analysis can readily be adopted for studying phenolics in plant systems.

plant biology↗