Gene expression analysis of starch metabolism using mRNAseq and the potato genome sequence

Crops such as potatoes that have storage organs (tubers) placed in the soil produce twice the amount of energy per area unit compared to cereals. This makes these kinds of crops well suited as a starting point for future crops for food and energy production. In order to develop a potato with higher starch yield than presently possible, detailed knowledge about starch metabolism is crucial. Accumulation of carbohydrates in the form of starch in potato tubers is the result of both anabolic and catabolic processes. These processes are highly redundant in terms of gene isoforms and multiple metabolic pathways. Synthesis of starch can take place by direct incorporation of glucose-1-phosphate into starch catalysed by starch phosphorylase or via ADP-glucose catalysed by ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and starch synthase, while starch breakdown can occur via phosphorylytic or hydrolytic reactions. In potato, starch synthesis takes place not only in tubers but also in leaves in the form of transient starch during the day, which is consumed in the absence of photosynthesis during the night.
This poster will present the results of a transcriptome analysis based on the draft potato genome sequence v3. Samples from leafs, stolons and tubers from the two potato varieties; the diploid breeding hy-brid RH (S. tuberosum x tuberosum) and the doubled monoploid DM (S. tuberosum x phureja),