Kamoi, T. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Generation of lachrymatory factor synthase-suppressed onion (Allium cepa L.) by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing

Lachrymatory factor, an irritating volatile with tear-inducing property, is produced when onion bulbs are cut or chopped. We aimed to generate onion plants with reduced lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS) activity via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing. Calli induced from primary roots were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying expression cassettes for CRISPR/Cas9, guide RNA, green fluorescent protein (GFP), and hygromycin resistance; callus lines that showed a high-frequency stable GFP expression were selected as "elite callus lines" that were suitable for transformation. Cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS), heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA), and Sanger sequencing confirmed mutations introduced into the LFS gene, and plants were regenerated from the confirmed LFS-edited callus lines. The LFS enzyme activity in the leaves and bulbs of the LFS-edited plants was lower than that in control plants, while the LFS-edited plants exhibited severe growth abnormalities and failed to set seed, possibly due to long-term culture to maintain the elite callus line. The present study first demonstrated that onion genome editing, which modified a specific trait of onion, the reduction of LFS activity, was achieved. The results obtained opened the feasible way toward the final goal: the production of tear-free, higher health-functional onions.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Structure Of Allium Lachrymatory Factor Synthase Elucidates Catalysis On Sulfenic Acid Substrate

Natural lachrymatory effects are invoked by small volatile S-oxide compounds. They are produced through alkene sulfenic acids by the action of lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS). Here we present the crystal structures of onion LFS (AcLFS) revealed in solute-free and two solute-stabilized forms. Each structure adopts a single seven-stranded helix-grip fold possessing an internal pocket. Mutagenesis analysis localized the active site to a layer near the bottom of the pocket, which is adjacent to the deduced key residues Arg71, Glu88, and Tyr114. Solute molecules visible on the active site have suggested that AcLFS accepts various small alcohol compounds as well as its natural substrate, and they inhibit this substrate according to their chemistry. Structural homologs have been found in the SRPBCC superfamily, and comparison of the active sites has demonstrated that the electrostatic potential unique to AcLFS could work in capturing the substrate in its specific state. Finally, we propose a rational catalytic mechanism based on intramolecular proton shuttling in which the microenvironment of AcLFS can bypass the canonical [1,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement principle established by microwave studies. Beyond revealing how AcLFS generates the lachrymatory compound, this study provides insights into the molecular machinery dealing with highly labile organosulfur species.\n\nSignificance statementCrushing of onion liberates a volatile compound, syn-propanethial S-oxide (PTSO), which causes lachrymatory effect on humans. We present the crystal structures of onion LFS (AcLFS), the enzyme responsible for natural production of PTSO. AcLFS features a barrel-like fold, and mutagenic and inhibitory analyses revealed that the key residues are present in the central pocket, harboring highly concentrated aromatic residues plus a dyad motif. The architecture of AcLFS is widespread among proteins with various biological functions, such as abscisic acid receptors and polyketide cyclases, and comparisons with these homologs indicate that unique steric and electronic properties maintain the pocket as a reaction compartment. We propose the molecular mechanism behind PTSO generation and shed light on biological decomposition of short-lived sulfur species.

biochemistry↗