Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Quizalofop-Resistant Wheat Acetyl-Coa Carboxylase

A novel nucleotide mutation in ACC1 resulting in an alanine to valine amino acid substitution in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) at position 2004 of the Alopecurus myosuroides reference sequence (A2004V) imparts quizalofop resistance in wheat. Genotypes endowed with one or two homozygous mutant ACC1 homoelogs are 7- and 68-fold more resistant to quizalofop than a wildtype variety in greenhouse experiments, respectively. In vitro assays of ACCase activities in protein extracts from these varieties reveal a 3.8- and 39.4-fold increase in resistance to quizalofop in the single and double-mutants relative to the wildtype. The A2004V mutation does not alter the specific activity of wheat ACCase, suggesting that ACCase mutants retain their normal catalytic functions. Modeling of wildtype and quizalofop-resistant wheat ACCase demonstrates that the A2004V amino acid substitution causes a reduction in the volume of the binding pocket that hinders quizalofop’s interaction with ACCase. Docking studies confirm that the mutation reduces the binding affinity of quizalofop. Interestingly, the models suggest that the A2004V mutation does not affect haloxyfop binding. Follow up in vivo and in vitro experiments reveal that the mutation, in fact, imparts negative cross-resistance to haloxyfop, with quizalofop-resistant varieties exhibiting more sensitivity to haloxyfop than the wildtype variety.