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. 2020 Nov;228(3):922-931.
doi: 10.1111/nph.16764. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Asparagine accumulation in chicory storage roots is controlled by translocation and feedback regulation of asparagine biosynthesis in leaves

Emanoella Soares  1 , Leonard Shumbe  1 , Nicolas Dauchot  2 , Christine Notté  3 , Claire Prouin  3 , Olivier Maudoux  3 , Hervé Vanderschuren  1   4
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Free article

Asparagine accumulation in chicory storage roots is controlled by translocation and feedback regulation of asparagine biosynthesis in leaves

Emanoella Soares et al. New Phytol. 2020 Nov.
Free article

Abstract

The presence of acrylamide (AA), a potentially carcinogenic and neurotoxic compound, in food has become a major concern for public health. AA in plant-derived food mainly arises from the reaction of the amino acid asparagine (Asn) and reducing sugars during processing of foodstuffs at high temperature. Using a selection of genotypes from the chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) germplasm, we performed Asn measurements in storage roots and leaves to identify genotypes contrasting for Asn accumulation. We combined molecular analysis and grafting experiments to show that leaf to root translocation controls Asn biosynthesis and accumulation in chicory storage roots. We could demonstrate that Asn accumulation in storage roots depends on Asn biosynthesis and transport from the leaf, and that a negative feedback loop by Asn on CiASN1 expression impacts Asn biosynthesis in leaves. Our results provide a new model for Asn biosynthesis in root crop species and highlight the importance of characterizing and manipulating Asn transport to reduce AA content in processed plant-based foodstuffs.

Keywords: Cichorium intybus (chicory); acrylamide; asparagine (Asn); feedback regulation; long-distance transport; reference genes; storage roots; translocation.

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