Taylor Lab

From left to right: Mark Taylor, Laurence Ducreux, Wayne Morris

Figure 1: Over-expression of a bacterial phytoene synthase gene (CrtB) increases the tuber carotenoid content and radically changes the types of carotenoid that accumulate in tubers (right) compared with controls (left).

The Taylor lab is part of the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Over the past 16 years we have studied many aspects of potato tuber development and tuber quality traits. We have a particular interest in the control of the potato tuber life-cycle, addressing issues such as tuber initiation, tuber size distribution and control of tuber dormancy.

In recent years we have focused on isoprenoid metabolism in potato. Isoprenoids are a large group of metabolites that impact directly on nutritional quality (for example carotenoid content) and also on plant growth and development (for example gibberellins, cytokinins). Understanding the regulation of this metabolic network remains a major challenge. Using a transgenic approach we have perturbed isoprenoid metabolism in potato tubers and obtained several phenotypes of interest – such as enhanced tuber beta-carotene content (Figure 1).

Figure 2: Over-expression of a bacterial DXS gene results in an early sprouting phenotype (right) compared with empty vector controls (left).

Using profiling methodologies in combination with the transgenics we hope to learn how the isoprenoid metabolic pathways are regulated. In other transgenics we over-expressed a bacterial gene encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5 –phosphate synthase. Although there was only a small impact on tuber carotenoid profile, major changes occurred in the tuber life-cycle, providing us with clues as to how dormancy and sprouting is controlled (Figure 2).

Although we are a small group, we interact with many colleagues at SCRI. We are interested in using VIGS in potato tubers to rapidly assess gene function and work with Dr Christophe Lacomme’s group in this area. Dr Steve Millam provides expertise in potato transformation and tissue culture and Dr Pete Hedley collaborates with microarray experiments. We are increasingly adopting a genetic approach to dissecting potato quality traits and work closely with Drs Gavin Ramsay and Glenn Bryan in these areas, benefiting also from the Commonwealth Potato Collection at SCRI.

In the future we shall direct our attention to looking at traits of interest to the potato industry such as flavour and texture. We shall work closely with colleagues in the Quality, Health and Nutrition programme who are developing metabolomic approaches, an effort lead by Professor Howard Davies and Dr Derek Stewart. The development of genetic, genomic and metabolomic resources for potato makes this a very exciting time for potato research, with real prospects for finding solutions to age-old problems.

Contact Information

Dr. Mark Taylor
Quality, Health, Nutrition,
Scottish Crop Research Institute,
Invergowrie,
Dundee,
DD2 5DA,
UK.
Email: M.Taylor@scri.sari.ac.uk
Tel: +44 1382 562731
Website: http://www.scri.sari.ac.uk/

Selected Publications

Taylor MA, Ramsay G (2005) Carotenoid biosynthesis in plant storage organs: recent advances and prospects for improving plant food quality. Physiol Plant in press

Ducreux LJ, Morris WL, Hedley PE, Shepherd T, Davies HV, Millam S, Taylor MA (2005). Metabolic engineering of high carotenoid potato tubers containing enhanced levels of {beta}-carotene and lutein. J Exp Bot 56(409):81-89.

Ducreux LJ, Morris WL, Taylor MA, Millam S (2005). Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Solanum phureja. Plant Cell Reports DOI: 10.1007/s00299-004-0902-z

Witte CP, Tiller S, Isidore E, Davies HV, Taylor MA (2005) Analysis of two alleles of the urease gene from potato: polymorphisms, expression and extensive alternative splicing of the corresponding mRNA. J Exp Bot 56:91-99

Faivre-Rampant O, Gilroy E, Hrubikova K, Hein I, Millam S, Loake G, Birch PRJ, Taylor MA, Lacomme C (2004) Potato virus X-induced gene silencing in leaves and tubers of potato. Plant Physiology 134, 1308-1316

Morris WL, Ducreux L, Griffiths DW, Stewart D, Davies HV, Taylor MA (2004) Carotenogenesis during tuber development and storage in potato. J Exp Bot 55, 975-982

Faivre-Rampant O, Cardle L, Marshall D, Viola R, Taylor MA (2004) Changes in gene expression during meristem activation processes in Solanum tuberosum with a focus on the regulation of an auxin response factor gene. J Exp Bot 55, 613-622

Faivre-Rampant O, Bryan GJ, Roberts AG, Milbourne D, Viola R, Taylor MA (2004) Regulated expression of a novel TCP domain transcription factor indicates an involvement in the control of meristem activation processes in Solanum tuberosum J. Exp Bot 55, 951-953

Witte C-P, Tiller SA, Taylor MA and Davies HV (2002) Leaf urea metabolism in potato: Urease activity profile and patterns of recovery and distribution of ¹⁵N after foliar urea application in wild-type and urease-antisense transgenics. Plant Physiol 128, 1129-1136

Taylor MA, Ross HA, McRae D, Wright F, Viola R and Davies HV (2001) cDNA cloning and characterisation of a potato α glucosidase:expression in E.coli and effects of down-regulation in transgenic potato. Planta 213, 258-264

Witte CP, Isidore E, Tiller SA, Davies HV, Taylor MA (2001) Functional characterisation of urease accessory protein G (ureG) from potato. Plant Molecular Biology 45, 169-179

Taylor MA, Ross HA, McRae D, Stewart D,Roberts I, Duncan G, Wright F, Millam S and Davies HV (2000) A potato α glucosidase gene encodes a glycoprotein processing α-glucosidase II-like activity. Demonstration of enzyme activity and effects of down-regulation in transgenic plants. Plant Journal 24, 305-316

Davies PJ, Simko I, Mueller SM, Yencho GC, Lewis C, McMurry S, Taylor MA and Ewing EE (1999) Quantitative trait loci for polyamine content in an RFLP-mapped potato population and their relationship to tuberisation. Physiol Plant 106, 210-218

Rafart Pedros A, MacLeod MR, Ross HA, McRae D, Tiburcio AF, Davies HV and Taylor MA (1999) Manipulation of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase transcript level in potato tubers. Planta 209, 153-160

Taylor MA, George LA, Ross HA and Davies HV (1998) cDNA cloning of a potato alpha-glucosidase gene and functional characterisation by complementation of a yeast mutant. Plant Journal 13, 419-425

Kumar A, Taylor MA, Mad Arif SA and Davies HV (1996) Potato plants expressing antisense and sense S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) transgenes show altered levels of polyamines and ethylene. Plant Journal 9, 147-158

Taylor MA, Ross HA Gardner A and Davies HV (1995) Characterisation of the fructokinase gene from potato J.Plant Physiol.145, 253-257

Mad Arif SA, Taylor MA, George LA, Butler AR, Burch LR, Davies HV, Stark MJR and Kumar A (1994) Characterisation of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene of potato. Plant Mol. Biol. 26, 327-338

Taylor MA, Mad Arif SA, Kumar A, Davies HV, Scobie LA, Pearce SR and Flavell AJ (1992) Expression and sequence analysis of cDNAs induced during the early stages of tuberisation in different organs of the potato plant (Solanum tuberosum L.). Plant Mol. Biol. 20, 641-651

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