Fructokinase is required for carbon partitioning to cellulose in aspen wood

Abstract

Sucrose is the main transported form of carbon in several plant species, including Populus species. Sucrose metabolism in developing wood has therefore a central role in carbon partitioning to stem biomass. Half of the sucrose-derived carbon is in the form of fructose, but metabolism of fructose has received little attention as a factor in carbon partitioning to walls of wood cells. We show that RNAi-mediated reduction of FRK2 activity in developing wood of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula X tremuloides) led to the accumulation of soluble neutral sugars and a decrease in hexose phosphates and UDP-glucose, indicating that carbon flux to cell-wall polysaccharide precursors is decreased. Reduced FRK2 activity also led to thinner fiber cell walls with a reduction in the proportion of cellulose. No pleiotropic effects on stem height or diameter were observed. The results establish a central role for FRK2 activity in carbon flux to wood cellulose.

Keywords

aspen; sucrose; fructose; fructokinase; cellulose; cell wall; carbon partitioning; Populus

Published in

Plant Journal
2012, volume: 70, number: 6, pages: 967-977
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

SLU Authors

• Roach, Melissa

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gerber, Lorenz

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sandquist, David

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gorzsas, Andras

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kumar, Manoj

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Daniel, Geoffrey

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sundberg, Björn

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Niittylä, Totte

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.04929.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/56731