Suppression of CCR impacts metabolite profile and cell wall composition in Pinus radiata tracheary elements

Suppression of the lignin-related gene cinnamoyl-CoA reductase ( CCR ) in the Pinus radiata tracheary element (TE) system impacted both the metabolite profile and the cell wall matrix in CCR -RNAi lines. UPLC–MS/MS-based metabolite profiling identified elevated levels of p -coumaroyl hexose, caffeic acid hexoside and ferulic acid hexoside in CCR -RNAi lines, indicating a redirection of metabolite flow within phenylpropanoid metabolism. Dilignols derived from coniferyl alcohol such as G(8-5)G, G(8-O-4)G and isodihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (IDDDC) were substantially depleted, providing evidence for CCR’s involvement in coniferyl alcohol biosynthesis. Severe CCR suppression almost halved lignin content in TEs based on a depletion of both H-type and G-type lignin, providing evidence for CCR’s involvement in the biosynthesis of both lignin types. 2D-NMR studies revealed minor changes in the H:G-ratio and consequently a largely unchanged interunit linkage distribution in the lignin polymer. However, unusual cell wall components including ferulate and unsaturated fatty acids were identified in TEs by thioacidolysis, pyrolysis-GC/MS and/or 2D-NMR in CCR -RNAi lines, providing new insights into the consequences of CCR suppression in pine. Interestingly, CCR suppression substantially promoted pyrolytic breakdown of cell wall polysaccharides, a phenotype most likely caused by the incorporation of acidic compounds into the cell wall matrix in CCR -RNAi lines.