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Natural astaxanthin is a high-value ketone carotenoid mainly derived from Haematococcus pluvialis, which is an excellent antioxidant for human consumption. To study the role of lipids in accumulation of astaxanthin, the H. pluvialis-derived astaxanthin synthesis pathway genes (β-carotene ketolase gene, BKT and β-carotene hydroxylase gene, BCH) and fatty acid elongation gene (mitochondrial trans-2-enoyl-coa reductase gene, MECR) were heterologously co-expressed in C. reinhardtii. Zeaxanthin, the precursor of astaxanthin synthesis, was significantly increased after BKT and BCH were expressed. In contrast, the α-carotene that competes with astaxanthin synthesis for lycopene decreased significantly. This redistribution of carbon flow was conducive to the synthesis of astaxanthin. In addition, the transformant only expressed astaxanthin metabolism related genes (BKT, BCH) would lead to an increase in total lipid, a decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids and an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids. On this basis, the expression of MECR gene further increased the total lipid, and the relative content of different fatty acids also changed. The astaxanthin content of algal strains transformed with BKT and BCH genes was nearly 50% higher than that of the wild type. On this basis, the astaxanthin content of transformants expressing MECR gene related to long-chain fatty acid synthesis was increased by 227.5%. In this study, an astaxanthin production model similar to H. pluvialis by combining carotenoid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism was constructed in C. reinhardtii. The results suggest that the increase in astaxanthin is indeed linked to the regulation of fatty acid metabolism, and this link may involve the type of fatty acids and the dynamics of astaxanthin ester in cells. The strategy of promoting the synthesis of fatty acids has potential to achieve efficient production of astaxanthin in C. reinhardtii.

Summary: Leaf senescence is a complex process regulated by developmental and environmental factors, and plays a pivotal role in the development and life cycle of higher plants. Casein kinase 1 (CK1) is a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase in eukaryotes and functions in various cellular processes including cell proliferation, light signaling and hormone effects of plants. However, the biological function of CK1 in plant senescence remains unclear.Through systemic genetic and biochemical studies, we here characterized the function of Arabidopsis EL1‐like (AEL), a CK1, in promoting leaf senescence by stimulating ethylene biosynthesis through phosphorylating transcription factor WRKY22. Seedlings lacking or overexpressing AELs presented delayed or accelerated leaf senescence, respectively.AELs interact with and phosphorylate WRKY22 at Thr57, Thr60 and Ser69 residues to enhance whose transactivation activity. Being consistent, increased or suppressed phosphorylation of WRKY22 resulted in the promoted or delayed leaf senescence. WRKY22 directly binds to promoter region and stimulates the transcription of 1‐amino‐cyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase 7 gene to promote ethylene level and hence leaf senescence.Our studies demonstrated the crucial role of AEL‐mediated phosphorylation in regulating ethylene biosynthesis and promoting leaf senescence by enhancing WRKY22 transactivation activity, which helps to elucidate the fine‐controlled ethylene biosynthesis and regulatory network of leaf senescence. See also the Commentary on this article by Mei & Wang, 244: 5–6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C14H20N4Si2 or [(Apy)2(μ-SiMe)2], systematic name 2-[2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,2,4-diazadisiletidin-1-yl]pyridine, was obtained as a side product from the reaction of 2-amino-pyridine with LiBun followed by the addition of Me2NMe2SiCl in hexane. The compound was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The title compound lies about an inversion center at the centroid of the cyclodisilazane ring. The four-membered Si2N2 core is strictly planar with the two pyridyl rings placed centrosymmetrically on either side of the Si2N2 plane and are almost coplanar with the central four-membered ring.