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Wang Y, Wang M, Zhang Y, Chen F, Sun M, Li S, Zhang J, Zhang F. Resistance to both aphids and nematodes in tobacco plants expressing a Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3098-3106. [PMID: 38319036 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its crystal toxin or δ-endotoxins (Cry) offer great potential for the efficient control of crop pests. A vast number of pests can potentially infect the same host plant, either simultaneously or sequentially. However, no effective Bt-Cry protein has been reported to control both aphids and plant parasitic nematodes due to its highly specific activity. RESULTS Our study indicated that the Cry5Ba2 protein was toxic to the green peach aphid Myzus persicae, which had a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 9.7 ng μL-1 and fiducial limits of 3.1-34.6 ng μL-1. Immunohistochemical localization of Cry5Ba2 revealed that it could bind to the apical tip of microvilli in midgut regions. Moreover, transgenic tobacco plants expressing Cry5Ba2 exhibited significant resistance to Myzus persicae, as evidenced by reduced insect survival and impaired fecundity, and also intoxicated the Meloidogyne incognita as indicated by a decrease in galls and progeny reproduction. CONCLUSION In sum, we identified a new aphicidal Bt toxin resource that could simultaneously control both aboveground and belowground pests, thus extending the application range of Bt-based strategy for crop protection. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Hubei Hongshan laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - MengNan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Hubei Hongshan laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Hubei Hongshan laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shengchun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Hubei Hongshan laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Hubei Hongshan laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fengjuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Hubei Hongshan laboratory, Wuhan, China
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2
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Dong Y, Zhang Q, Mao Y, Wu M, Wang Z, Chang L, Zhang J. Control of two insect pests by expression of a mismatch corrected double-stranded RNA in plants. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:2010-2019. [PMID: 38426894 PMCID: PMC11182576 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an efficient technology for pest control by silencing the essential genes of targeted insects. Owing to its nucleotide sequence-guided working mechanism, RNAi has a high degree of species-specificity without impacts on non-target organisms. However, as plants are inevitably under threat by two or more insect pests in nature, the species-specific mode of RNAi-based technology restricts its wide application for pest control. In this study, we artificially designed an intermediate dsRNA (iACT) targeting two β-Actin (ACT) genes of sap-sucking pests Bemisia tabaci and Myzus persicae by mutual correction of their mismatches. When expressing hairpin iACT (hpiACT) from tobacco nuclear genome, transgenic plants are well protected from both B. tabaci and M. persicae, either individually or simultaneously, as evidenced by reduced fecundity and suppressed ACT gene expression, whereas expression of hpRNA targeting BtACT or MpACT in transgenic tobacco plants could only confer specific resistance to either B. tabaci or M. persicae, respectively. In sum, our data provide a novel proof-of-concept that two different insect species could be simultaneously controlled by artificial synthesis of dsRNA with sequence optimization, which expands the range of transgenic RNAi methods for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yarou Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Mengting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Zican Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Ling Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life SciencesHubei UniversityWuhanChina
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at ShenzhenChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesShenzhenChina
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3
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Zhang Y, Ke Z, Xu L, Yang Y, Chang L, Zhang J. A faster killing effect of plastid-mediated RNA interference on a leaf beetle through induced dysbiosis of the gut bacteria. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2024:100974. [PMID: 38751119 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The expression of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) from the plastid genome has been proven to be an effective method for controlling herbivorous pests by targeting essential insect genes. However, there are limitations to the efficiency of plastid-mediated RNA interference (PM-RNAi) due to the initial damage caused by the insects and their slow response to RNA interference. In this study, we developed transplastomic poplar plants that express dsRNAs targeting the β-Actin (dsACT) and Srp54k (dsSRP54K) genes of Plagiodera versicolora. Feeding experiments showed that transplastomic poplar plants can cause significantly higher mortality in P. versicolora larvae compared with nuclear transgenic or wild-type poplar plants. The efficient killing effect of PM-RNAi on P. versicolora larvae was found to be dependent on the presence of gut bacteria. Importantly, foliar application of a gut bacterial strain, Pseudomonas putida, will induce dysbiosis in the gut bacteria of P. versicolora larvae, leading to a significant acceleration in the speed of killing by PM-RNAi. Overall, our findings suggest that interfering with gut bacteria could be a promising strategy to enhance the effectiveness of PM-RNAi for insect pest control, offering a novel and effective approach for crop protection based on RNAi technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Zebin Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Letian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Ling Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China.
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4
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Xu Z, Zhai Y, Chang H, Yan D, Ge P, Ren G, Zhang L, Yuan Y, Wang R, Li W, Li F, Ren M, Mo H. Heterologous expression of taxane genes confers resistance to fall armyworm in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:94. [PMID: 38472660 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03169-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Taxadiene synthase, taxadiene-5α-hydroxylase, and taxane 13α-hydroxylase genes were introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana, and the improved resistance to lepidoptera pest fall armyworm was reported. Fall armyworm (FAW) is a serious agricultural pest. Genetic engineering techniques have been used to create pest-resistant plant varieties for reducing pest damage. Paclitaxel is a diterpenoid natural metabolite with antineoplastic effects in medicine. However, the effects of taxanes on the growth and development of lepidoptera pests, such as the FAW, are unknown. Here, selected paclitaxel precursor biosynthesis pathway genes, taxadiene synthase, taxane 5α-hydroxylase, and taxane 13α-hydroxylase, were engineered in the heterologous host Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Bioassay experiments showed that the transgenic N. benthamiana plants displayed improved resistance to FAW infestation, with degeneration of gut tissues and induced expression of apoptosis-related genes. Cytotoxicity experiment showed that the paclitaxel precursor, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, is cytotoxic to Sf9 cells, causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and disorder of the cytoskeleton. Metabolome analysis showed that heterologous expression of taxane genes in N. benthamiana affected the digestive system, steroid hormone and purine metabolism pathways of FAW larvae. In summary, this study provides a candidate approach for FAW control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenlu Xu
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yaohua Zhai
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Huimin Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Da Yan
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Pengliang Ge
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430000, China
| | - Guangming Ren
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Ye Yuan
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Ruoyan Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Wentao Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Fuguang Li
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China.
| | - Maozhi Ren
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China.
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610000, China.
| | - Huijuan Mo
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China.
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Yao L, Wu X, Jiang X, Shan M, Zhang Z, Li Y, Yang A, Li Y, Yang C. Subcellular compartmentalization in the biosynthesis and engineering of plant natural products. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108258. [PMID: 37722606 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) are specialized metabolites with diverse bioactivities. They are extensively used in the pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and food industries. PNPs are synthesized in plant cells by enzymes that are distributed in different subcellular compartments with unique microenvironments, such as ions, co-factors and substrates. Plant metabolic engineering is an emerging and promising approach for the sustainable production of PNPs, for which the knowledge of the subcellular compartmentalization of their biosynthesis is instrumental. In this review we describe the state of the art on the role of subcellular compartments in the biosynthesis of major types of PNPs, including terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids and glucosinolates, and highlight the efforts to target biosynthetic pathways to subcellular compartments in plants. In addition, we will discuss the challenges and strategies in the field of plant synthetic biology and subcellular engineering. We expect that newly developed methods and tools, together with the knowledge gained from the microbial chassis, will greatly advance plant metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yao
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Xiuming Wu
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Xun Jiang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Muhammad Shan
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Zhuoxiang Zhang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Yiting Li
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Aiguo Yang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China
| | - Yu Li
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Changqing Yang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China.
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6
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Wang Q, Zhao X, Jiang Y, Jin B, Wang L. Functions of Representative Terpenoids and Their Biosynthesis Mechanisms in Medicinal Plants. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1725. [PMID: 38136596 PMCID: PMC10741589 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Terpenoids are the broadest and richest group of chemicals obtained from plants. These plant-derived terpenoids have been extensively utilized in various industries, including food and pharmaceuticals. Several specific terpenoids have been identified and isolated from medicinal plants, emphasizing the diversity of biosynthesis and specific functionality of terpenoids. With advances in the technology of sequencing, the genomes of certain important medicinal plants have been assembled. This has improved our knowledge of the biosynthesis and regulatory molecular functions of terpenoids with medicinal functions. In this review, we introduce several notable medicinal plants that produce distinct terpenoids (e.g., Cannabis sativa, Artemisia annua, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ginkgo biloba, and Taxus media). We summarize the specialized roles of these terpenoids in plant-environment interactions as well as their significance in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Additionally, we highlight recent findings in the fields of molecular regulation mechanisms involved in these distinct terpenoids biosynthesis, and propose future opportunities in terpenoid research, including biology seeding, and genetic engineering in medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Li Wang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.W.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (B.J.)
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7
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Zhang S, Ye T, Liu Y, Hou G, Wang Q, Zhao F, Li F, Meng Q. Research Advances in Clinical Applications, Anticancer Mechanism, Total Chemical Synthesis, Semi-Synthesis and Biosynthesis of Paclitaxel. Molecules 2023; 28:7517. [PMID: 38005238 PMCID: PMC10673093 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Paclitaxel, a natural secondary metabolite isolated and purified from the bark of the Taxus tree, is considered one of the most successful natural anticancer drugs due to its low toxicity, high potency and broad-spectrum anticancer activity. Taxus trees are scarce and slow-growing, and with extremely low paclitaxel content, the contradiction between supply and demand in the market is becoming more and more intense. Therefore, researchers have tried to obtain paclitaxel by various methods such as chemical synthesis, artificial culture, microbial fermentation and tissue cell culture to meet the clinical demand for this drug. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of paclitaxel extraction, combination therapy, total synthesis, semi-synthesis and biosynthesis in recent years and provides an outlook, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and reference for further research on the production and application of paclitaxel in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.)
| | - Taiqiang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.)
| | - Yibin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.)
| | - Guige Hou
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China;
| | - Qibao Wang
- School of Biological Science, Jining Medical University, Rizhao 276800, China;
| | - Fenglan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.)
| | - Feng Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.)
| | - Qingguo Meng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.)
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8
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Wu M, Zhang Q, Dong Y, Wang Z, Zhan W, Ke Z, Li S, He L, Ruf S, Bock R, Zhang J. Transplastomic tomatoes expressing double-stranded RNA against a conserved gene are efficiently protected from multiple spider mites. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:1363-1373. [PMID: 36328788 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Spider mites are serious pests and have evolved significant resistance to many chemical pesticides, thus making their control challenging. Several insect pests can be combated by plastid-mediated RNA interference (PM-RNAi), but whether PM-RNAi can be utilized to control noninsect pests is unknown. Here, we show that three species of spider mites (Tetranychus evansi, Tetranychus truncatus, and Tetranychus cinnabarinus) take up plastid RNA upon feeding. We generated transplastomic tomato plants expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeted against a conserved region of the spider mite β-Actin mRNA. Transplastomic plants exhibited high levels of resistance to all three spider mite species, as evidenced by increased mortality and suppression of target gene expression. Notably, transplastomic plants induced a more robust RNAi response, caused higher mortality, and were overall better protected from spider mites than dsRNA-expressing nuclear transgenic plants. Our data demonstrate the potential of PM-RNAi as an efficient pest control measure for spider mites and extend the application range of the technology to noninsect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Zican Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Wenqin Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Zebin Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Shengchun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Lin He
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Stephanie Ruf
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Ralph Bock
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
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9
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Perez-Matas E, Hidalgo-Martinez D, Escrich A, Alcalde MA, Moyano E, Bonfill M, Palazon J. Genetic approaches in improving biotechnological production of taxanes: An update. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1100228. [PMID: 36778697 PMCID: PMC9909606 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1100228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Paclitaxel (PTX) and its derivatives are diterpene alkaloids widely used as chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various types of cancer. Due to the scarcity of PTX in nature, its production in cell cultures and plant organs is a major challenge for plant biotechnology. Although significant advances have been made in this field through the development of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology techniques, production levels remain insufficient to meet the current market demand for these powerful anticancer drugs. A key stumbling block is the difficulty of genetically transforming the gymnosperm Taxus spp. This review focuses on the progress made in improving taxane production through genetic engineering techniques. These include the overexpression of limiting genes in the taxane biosynthetic pathway and transcription factors involved in its regulation in Taxus spp. cell cultures and transformed roots, as well as the development and optimization of transformation techniques. Attempts to produce taxanes in heterologous organisms such as bacteria and yeasts are also described. Although promising results have been reported, the transfer of the entire PTX metabolic route has not been possible to date, and taxane biosynthesis is still restricted to Taxus cells and some endophytic fungi. The development of a synthetic organism other than Taxus cells capable of biotechnologically producing PTX will probably have to wait until the complete elucidation of its metabolic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Perez-Matas
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Hidalgo-Martinez
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ainoa Escrich
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Alcalde
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Moyano
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Bonfill
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Palazon
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Yang S, Deng Y, Li S. Advances in plastid transformation for metabolic engineering in higher plants. ABIOTECH 2022; 3:224-232. [PMID: 36313931 PMCID: PMC9590572 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-022-00083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The plastid (chloroplast) genome of higher plants is an appealing target for metabolic engineering via genetic transformation. Although the bacterial-type plastid genome is small compared with the nuclear genome, it can accommodate large quantities of foreign genes that precisely integrate through homologous recombination. Engineering complex metabolic pathways in plants often requires simultaneous and concerted expression of multiple transgenes, the possibility of stacking several transgenes in synthetic operons makes the transplastomic approach amazing. The potential for extraordinarily high-level transgene expression, absence of epigenetic gene silencing and transgene containment due to the exclusion of plastids from pollen transmission in most angiosperm species further add to the attractiveness of plastid transformation technology. This minireview describes recent advances in expanding the toolboxes for plastid genome engineering, and highlights selected high-value metabolites produced using transplastomic plants, including artemisinin, astaxanthin and paclitaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Yi Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Shengchun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 China
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Sirirungruang S, Markel K, Shih PM. Plant-based engineering for production of high-valued natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1492-1509. [PMID: 35674317 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00017b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to March 2022Plants are a unique source of complex specialized metabolites, many of which play significant roles in human society. In many cases, however, the availability of these metabolites from naturally occurring sources fails to meet current demands. Thus, there is much interest in expanding the production capacity of target plant molecules. Traditionally, plant breeding, chemical synthesis, and microbial fermentation are considered the primary routes towards large scale production of natural products. Here, we explore the advances, challenges, and future of plant engineering as a complementary path. Although plants are an integral part of our food and agricultural systems and sustain an extensive array of chemical constituents, their complex genetics and physiology have prevented the optimal exploitation of plants as a production chassis. We highlight emerging engineering tools and scientific advances developed in recent years that have improved the prospects of using plants as a sustainable and scalable production platform. We also discuss technological limitations and overall economic outlook of plant-based production of natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasilada Sirirungruang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Structure, Function and Application, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Kasey Markel
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Wu M, Dong Y, Zhang Q, Li S, Chang L, Loiacono FV, Ruf S, Zhang J, Bock R. Efficient control of western flower thrips by plastid-mediated RNA interference. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2120081119. [PMID: 35380896 PMCID: PMC9169809 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120081119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastid-mediated RNA interference (PM-RNAi) has emerged as a promising strategy for pest control. Expression from the plastid genome of stable double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targeted against essential insect genes can effectively control some herbivorous beetles, but little is known about the efficacy of the transplastomic approach in other groups of pest insects, especially nonchewing insects that do not consume large amounts of leaf material. Here we have investigated the susceptibility of the western flower thrip (WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis), a notorious pest in greenhouses and open fields, to PM-RNAi. We show that WFTs ingest chloroplasts and take up plastid-expressed dsRNAs. We generated a series of transplastomic tobacco plants expressing dsRNAs and hairpin RNAs (hpRNAs) targeted against four essential WFT genes. Unexpectedly, we discovered plastid genome instability in transplastomic plants expressing hpRNAs, suggesting that dsRNA cassettes are preferable over hpRNA cassettes when designing PM-RNAi strategies. Feeding studies revealed that, unlike nuclear transgenic plants, transplastomic plants induced a potent RNAi response in WFTs, causing efficient suppression of the targeted genes and high insect mortality. Our study extends the application range of PM-RNAi technology to an important group of nonchewing insects, reveals design principles for the construction of dsRNA-expressing transplastomic plants, and provides an efficient approach to control one of the toughest insect pests in agriculture and horticulture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
- Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department III, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Yi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Shengchun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Ling Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - F. Vanessa Loiacono
- Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department III, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Stephanie Ruf
- Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department III, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Ralph Bock
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
- Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department III, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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