The manipulation of gene expression and the biosynthesis of Vitamin C, E and folate in light-and dark-germination of sweet corn seeds

• Published in: Scientific reports 2017-08, Vol.7 (1), p.7484-11, Article 7484
• Main Authors: Liu, Fengyuan, Xiang, Nan, Hu, Jian Guang, Shijuan, Yan, Xie, Lihua, Brennan, Charles Stephen, Huang, Wenjie, Guo, Xinbo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 38/39; 631/449/2667; 631/449/2686; Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - biosynthesis; Biosynthesis; Corn; Folic acid; Folic Acid - biosynthesis; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - radiation effects; Germination - radiation effects; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; GTP Cyclohydrolase - genetics; GTP Cyclohydrolase - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Illumination; Kernels; Light; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - radiation effects; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins - genetics; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins - metabolism; multidisciplinary; Photoperiod; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seed germination; Seedlings - genetics; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - metabolism; Seedlings - radiation effects; Seeds; Seeds - genetics; Seeds - growth & development; Seeds - metabolism; Seeds - radiation effects; Vegetables; Vitamin B; Vitamin C; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - biosynthesis; Zea mays; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - growth & development; Zea mays - metabolism; Zea mays - radiation effects
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07774-9

This study investigates the potential interrelationship between gene expression and biosynthesis of vitamin C, E and folate in sweet corn sprouts. Germination of sweet corn kernels was conducted in light and dark environments to determine if this relationship was regulated by photo-illumination. Results indicated that light and dark environments affected the DHAR , TMT and GTPCH expression and that these genes were the predominant genes of vitamin C, E and folate biosynthesis pathways respectively during the germination. Levels of vitamin C and folate increased during the germination of sweet corn seeds while vitamin E had a declining manner. Sweet corn sprouts had higher vitamin C and E levels as well as relevant gene expression levels in light environment while illumination had little influence on the folate contents and the gene expression levels during the germination. These results indicate that there might be a collaborative relationship between vitamin C and folate regulation during sweet corn seed germination, while an inhibitive regulation might exist between vitamin C and E.