Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42069819›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

The plastidial PHS1-DPE1 complex drives efficient malto-oligosaccharides synthesis in rice starch metabolism.

Jian Liu, Xinru Wu, Haitao He, Xi Yang, Yuanhuai Hu, Fei Zhang, Rong Fan, Xuecui Wang, Shenao Yang, Lian Xiong and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Jian Liu *National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Xinru Wu *National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Haitao HeNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Xi YangNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Yuanhuai HuNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Fei ZhangNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Rong FanNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Xuecui WangNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Shenao YangNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Lian XiongNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Delin ZhangNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5299-0718
Ping YinNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8001-221X
Jianping GuoNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5202-3712
Zhu LiuNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4073-7237
Junjie YanNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Bio-X, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. yanjunjie@mail.hzau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9748-7246

Funding

National Science Foundation of China | National Natural Science Foundation of China-Yunnan Joint Fund (NSFC-Yunnan Joint Fund) 32270255
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Starch serves as a vital energy reserve in plants. During its biosynthesis, malto-oligosaccharides (MOS) are essential primers. One of the key pathways for MOS production involves plastidial α-glucan phosphorylase (PHS1/Pho1) and disproportionating enzyme (DPE1). However, the functional relationship between these enzymes is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that rice PHS1 and DPE1 assemble into a multimeric complex. Cryo-EM structures of the PHS1-DPE1 complex reveal an assembly mechanism and suggest a potential substrate tunnel. Biochemical assays show the complex dramatically enhances catalytic efficiency over individual enzymes. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) visualizes conformational dynamics, enabling rapid substrate transfer between the enzymes. We further identify the unique L80 loop in PHS1 as a potential regulator. Its deletion reduces catalytic efficiency and prolongs conformational state lifetimes during substrate transfer, thereby reducing the production of longer MOSs. Our findings establish that the PHS1-DPE1 complex facilitates efficient MOS primer synthesis through efficient substrate transfer or diffusion between the two enzymes, providing mechanistic insight into a critical step of starch biosynthesis with agronomic implications.

Indexed as

Glycogen Debranching Enzyme SystemOligosaccharidesOryzaPlant ProteinsPlastidsStarchCryoelectron MicroscopyFluorescence Resonance Energy TransferGlycogen Debranching Enzyme SystemOligosaccharidesPlant ProteinsStarch

Identifiers

PMID42069819
PMCPMC13342499

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.