1
|
Wang Y, Demirer GS. Synthetic biology for plant genetic engineering and molecular farming. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1182-1198. [PMID: 37012119 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Many efforts have been put into engineering plants to improve crop yields and stress tolerance and boost the bioproduction of valuable molecules. Yet, our capabilities are still limited due to the lack of well-characterized genetic building blocks and resources for precise manipulation and given the inherently challenging properties of plant tissues. Advancements in plant synthetic biology can overcome these bottlenecks and release the full potential of engineered plants. In this review, we first discuss the recently developed plant synthetic elements from single parts to advanced circuits, software, and hardware tools expediting the engineering cycle. Next, we survey the advancements in plant biotechnology enabled by these recent resources. We conclude the review with outstanding challenges and future directions of plant synthetic biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunqing Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Gozde S Demirer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Han J, Ma K, Li H, Su J, Zhou L, Tang J, Zhang S, Hou Y, Chen L, Liu Y, Zhu Q. All-in-one: a robust fluorescent fusion protein vector toolbox for protein localization and BiFC analyses in plants. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:1098-1109. [PMID: 35179286 PMCID: PMC9129086 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescent tagging protein localization (FTPL) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) are popular tools for in vivo analyses of the subcellular localizations of proteins and protein-protein interactions in plant cells. The efficiency of fluorescent fusion protein (FFP) expression analyses is typically impaired when the FFP genes are co-transformed on separate plasmids compared to when all are cloned and transformed in a single vector. Functional genomics applications using FFPs such as a gene family studies also often require the generation of multiple plasmids. Here, to address these needs, we developed an efficient, modular all-in-one (Aio) FFP (AioFFP) vector toolbox, including a set of fluorescently labelled organelle markers, FTPL and BiFC plasmids and associated binary vectors. This toolbox uses Gibson assembly (GA) and incorporates multiple unique nucleotide sequences (UNSs) to facilitate efficient gene cloning. In brief, this system enables convenient cloning of a target gene into various FFP vectors or the insertion of two or more target genes into the same FFP vector in a single-tube GA reaction. This system also enables integration of organelle marker genes or fluorescently fused target gene expression units into a single transient expression plasmid or binary vector. We validated the AioFFP system by testing genes encoding proteins known to be functional in FTPL and BiFC assays. In addition, we performed a high-throughput assessment of the accurate subcellular localizations of an uncharacterized rice CBSX protein subfamily. This modular UNS-guided GA-mediated AioFFP vector toolkit is cost-effective, easy to use and will promote functional genomics research in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingluan Han
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Kun Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Huali Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jing Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant ProtectionPlant Protection Research InstituteGuangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Lian Zhou
- Rice Research InstituteGuangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Jintao Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Shijuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yuke Hou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Letian Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yao‐Guang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Qinlong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
- College of Life ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vazquez-Vilar M, Juarez P, Bernabé-Orts JM, Orzaez D. Design of Multiplexing CRISPR/Cas9 Constructs for Plant Genome Engineering Using the GoldenBraid DNA Assembly Standard. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2379:27-44. [PMID: 35188654 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1791-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to the huge potential of CRISPR/Cas9 for synthetic biology and genome engineering, many plant researchers are adopting this technology in their laboratories. CRISPR/Cas9 allows multiplexing of guide RNAs (gRNAs), therefore targeting several loci in the genome simultaneously. However, making DNA constructs for this purpose is not always straightforward for first-time users. Here we show how to make multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 constructs using the GoldenBraid (GB) DNA assembly system. As an example, we create a polycistronic gRNA construct that guides a dead version of Cas9 to three different positions of the nopaline synthase promoter, leading to transcriptional repression. After a description of the reagents, the protocol describes step-by-step the considerations for DNA target selection and the molecular cloning process of the final T-DNA construct as well as its testing by transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves along with a reporter construct for luciferase expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Vazquez-Vilar
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - P Juarez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J M Bernabé-Orts
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - D Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Phytobricks are standardized DNA parts for plants that can be assembled hierarchically into transcriptional units and, subsequently, into multigene constructs. Phytobricks each contain the sequences of one or more functional elements that comprise eukaryotic transcription units, with sequence features that enable them to be used interchangeably in one-step cloning reactions to facilitate combinatorial assembly. The simplicity and efficiency of this one-step reaction has enabled Phytobrick assembly to be miniaturized and automated on liquid handing platforms. In this method, we describe how to design and construct new Phytobricks as well as how to assemble them in both manual and nanoscale automated one-step reactions. Finally, we describe a high-throughput method for sequence verification of assembled plasmids.
Collapse
|
5
|
Kautsar SA, Suarez Duran HG, Blin K, Osbourn A, Medema MH. plantiSMASH: automated identification, annotation and expression analysis of plant biosynthetic gene clusters. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 45:W55-W63. [PMID: 28453650 PMCID: PMC5570173 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant specialized metabolites are chemically highly diverse, play key roles in host-microbe interactions, have important nutritional value in crops and are frequently applied as medicines. It has recently become clear that plant biosynthetic pathway-encoding genes are sometimes densely clustered in specific genomic loci: biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Here, we introduce plantiSMASH, a versatile online analysis platform that automates the identification of candidate plant BGCs. Moreover, it allows integration of transcriptomic data to prioritize candidate BGCs based on the coexpression patterns of predicted biosynthetic enzyme-coding genes, and facilitates comparative genomic analysis to study the evolutionary conservation of each cluster. Applied on 48 high-quality plant genomes, plantiSMASH identifies a rich diversity of candidate plant BGCs. These results will guide further experimental exploration of the nature and dynamics of gene clustering in plant metabolism. Moreover, spurred by the continuing decrease in costs of plant genome sequencing, they will allow genome mining technologies to be applied to plant natural product discovery. The plantiSMASH web server, precalculated results and source code are freely available from http://plantismash.secondarymetabolites.org.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satria A Kautsar
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Teknik Informatika, Universitas Lampung, Jln. Sumantri Brojonegoro No. 01, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
| | | | - Kai Blin
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Marnix H Medema
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gerasymenko I, Sheludko Y, Fräbel S, Staniek A, Warzecha H. Combinatorial biosynthesis of small molecules in plants: Engineering strategies and tools. Methods Enzymol 2019; 617:413-442. [PMID: 30784411 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Biosynthetic capacity of plants, rooted in a near inexhaustible supply of photosynthetic energy and founded upon an intricate matrix of metabolic networks, makes them versatile chemists producing myriad specialized compounds. Along with tremendous success in elucidation of several plant biosynthetic routes, their reestablishment in heterologous hosts has been a hallmark of recent bioengineering endeavors. However, current efforts in the field are, in the main, aimed at grafting the pathways to fermentable recipient organisms, like bacteria or yeast. Conversely, while harboring orthologous metabolic trails, select plant species now emerge as viable vehicles for mobilization and engineering of complex biosynthetic pathways. Their distinctive features, like intricate cell compartmentalization and formation of specialized production and storage structures on tissue and organ level, make plants an especially promising chassis for the manufacture of considerable amounts of high-value natural small molecules. Inspired by the fundamental tenets of synthetic biology, capitalizing on the versatility of the transient plant transformation system, and drawing on the unique compartmentation of plant cells, we explore combinatorial approaches affording production of natural and new-to-nature, bespoke chemicals of potential importance. Here, we focus on the transient engineering of P450 monooxygenases, alone or in concert with other orthogonal catalysts, like tryptophan halogenases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Gerasymenko
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yuriy Sheludko
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sabine Fräbel
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Agata Staniek
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tomlinson L, Yang Y, Emenecker R, Smoker M, Taylor J, Perkins S, Smith J, MacLean D, Olszewski NE, Jones JDG. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in tomato to create a gibberellin-responsive dominant dwarf DELLA allele. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:132-140. [PMID: 29797460 PMCID: PMC6330640 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The tomato PROCERA gene encodes a DELLA protein, and loss-of-function mutations derepress growth. We used CRISPR/Cas9 and a single guide RNAs (sgRNA) to target mutations to the PROCERA DELLA domain, and recovered several loss-of-function mutations and a dominant dwarf mutation that carries a deletion of one amino acid in the DELLA domain. This is the first report of a dominant dwarf PROCERA allele. This allele retains partial responsiveness to exogenously applied gibberellin. Heterozygotes show an intermediate phenotype at the seedling stage, but adult heterozygotes are as dwarfed as homozygotes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ying Yang
- The Sainsbury LaboratoryNorwich Research ParkNorwichUK
| | - Ryan Emenecker
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMNUSA
| | | | - Jodie Taylor
- The Sainsbury LaboratoryNorwich Research ParkNorwichUK
| | - Sara Perkins
- The Sainsbury LaboratoryNorwich Research ParkNorwichUK
| | - Justine Smith
- The Sainsbury LaboratoryNorwich Research ParkNorwichUK
| | - Dan MacLean
- The Sainsbury LaboratoryNorwich Research ParkNorwichUK
| | - Neil E. Olszewski
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMNUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
van Dolleweerd CJ, Kessans SA, Van de Bittner KC, Bustamante LY, Bundela R, Scott B, Nicholson MJ, Parker EJ. MIDAS: A Modular DNA Assembly System for Synthetic Biology. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:1018-1029. [PMID: 29620866 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A modular and hierarchical DNA assembly platform for synthetic biology based on Golden Gate (Type IIS restriction enzyme) cloning is described. This enabling technology, termed MIDAS (for Modular Idempotent DNA Assembly System), can be used to precisely assemble multiple DNA fragments in a single reaction using a standardized assembly design. It can be used to build genes from libraries of sequence-verified, reusable parts and to assemble multiple genes in a single vector, with full user control over gene order and orientation, as well as control of the direction of growth (polarity) of the multigene assembly, a feature that allows genes to be nested between other genes or genetic elements. We describe the detailed design and use of MIDAS, exemplified by the reconstruction, in the filamentous fungus Penicillium paxilli, of the metabolic pathway for production of paspaline and paxilline, key intermediates in the biosynthesis of a range of indole diterpenes-a class of secondary metabolites produced by several species of filamentous fungi. MIDAS was used to efficiently assemble a 25.2 kb plasmid from 21 different modules (seven genes, each composed of three basic parts). By using a parts library-based system for construction of complex assemblies, and a unique set of vectors, MIDAS can provide a flexible route to assembling tailored combinations of genes and other genetic elements, thereby supporting synthetic biology applications in a wide range of expression hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig J. van Dolleweerd
- Protein Science & Engineering, Callaghan Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Sarah A. Kessans
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Kyle C. Van de Bittner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Leyla Y. Bustamante
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Rudranuj Bundela
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Barry Scott
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Matthew J. Nicholson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Emily J. Parker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lukan T, Machens F, Coll A, Baebler Š, Messerschmidt K, Gruden K. Plant X-tender: An extension of the AssemblX system for the assembly and expression of multigene constructs in plants. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190526. [PMID: 29300787 PMCID: PMC5754074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cloning multiple DNA fragments for delivery of several genes of interest into the plant genome is one of the main technological challenges in plant synthetic biology. Despite several modular assembly methods developed in recent years, the plant biotechnology community has not widely adopted them yet, probably due to the lack of appropriate vectors and software tools. Here we present Plant X-tender, an extension of the highly efficient, scar-free and sequence-independent multigene assembly strategy AssemblX, based on overlap-depended cloning methods and rare-cutting restriction enzymes. Plant X-tender consists of a set of plant expression vectors and the protocols for most efficient cloning into the novel vector set needed for plant expression and thus introduces advantages of AssemblX into plant synthetic biology. The novel vector set covers different backbones and selection markers to allow full design flexibility. We have included ccdB counterselection, thereby allowing the transfer of multigene constructs into the novel vector set in a straightforward and highly efficient way. Vectors are available as empty backbones and are fully flexible regarding the orientation of expression cassettes and addition of linkers between them, if required. We optimised the assembly and subcloning protocol by testing different scar-less assembly approaches: the noncommercial SLiCE and TAR methods and the commercial Gibson assembly and NEBuilder HiFi DNA assembly kits. Plant X-tender was applicable even in combination with low efficient homemade chemically competent or electrocompetent Escherichia coli. We have further validated the developed procedure for plant protein expression by cloning two cassettes into the newly developed vectors and subsequently transferred them to Nicotiana benthamiana in a transient expression setup. Thereby we show that multigene constructs can be delivered into plant cells in a streamlined and highly efficient way. Our results will support faster introduction of synthetic biology into plant science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tjaša Lukan
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- * E-mail:
| | - Fabian Machens
- University of Potsdam, Cell2Fab Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anna Coll
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Špela Baebler
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Kristina Gruden
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
CRISPR-based tools for plant genome engineering. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:135-149. [PMID: 33525768 PMCID: PMC7289020 DOI: 10.1042/etls20170011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Molecular tools adapted from bacterial CRISPR (clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat) adaptive immune systems have been demonstrated in an increasingly wide range of plant species. They have been applied for the induction of targeted mutations in one or more genes as well as for directing the integration of new DNA to specific genomic loci. The construction of molecular tools for multiplexed CRISPR-mediated editing in plants has been facilitated by cloning techniques that allow multiple sequences to be assembled together in a single cloning reaction. Modifications of the canonical Cas9 protein from Streptococcus pyogenes and the use of nucleases from other bacteria have increased the diversity of genomic sequences that can be targeted and allow the delivery of protein cargos such as transcriptional activators and repressors. Furthermore, the direct delivery of protein-RNA complexes to plant cells and tissues has enabled the production of engineered plants without the delivery or genomic integration of foreign DNA. Here, we review toolkits derived from bacterial CRISPR systems for targeted mutagenesis, gene delivery and modulation of gene expression in plants, focusing on their composition and the strategies employed to reprogramme them for the recognition of specific genomic targets.
Collapse
|
11
|
Synthetic genetic circuits in crop plants. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 49:16-22. [PMID: 28772191 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The love affair between crop breeding and genetics began over a century ago and has continued unabated, from mass selection programs to targeted genome modifications. Synthetic genetic circuits, a recent development, are combinations of regulatory and coding DNA introduced into a crop plant to achieve a desired function. Genetic circuits could accelerate crop improvement, allowing complex traits to be rationally designed and requisite DNA parts delivered directly into a genome of interest. However, there is not yet a standardized pipeline from exploratory laboratory testing to crop trials, and bringing transgenic products to market remains a considerable barrier. We highlight successes so far and future developments necessary to make genetic circuits a viable crop improvement technology over this century.
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Plants are attractive platforms for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. Plants' modular and plastic body plans, capacity for photosynthesis, extensive secondary metabolism, and agronomic systems for large-scale production make them ideal targets for genetic reprogramming. However, efforts in this area have been constrained by slow growth, long life cycles, the requirement for specialized facilities, a paucity of efficient tools for genetic manipulation, and the complexity of multicellularity. There is a need for better experimental and theoretical frameworks to understand the way genetic networks, cellular populations, and tissue-wide physical processes interact at different scales. We highlight new approaches to the DNA-based manipulation of plants and the use of advanced quantitative imaging techniques in simple plant models such as Marchantia polymorpha. These offer the prospects of improved understanding of plant dynamics and new approaches to rational engineering of plant traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Boehm
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
| | - Bernardo Pollak
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Jim Haseloff
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dassanayake M, Larkin JC. Making Plants Break a Sweat: the Structure, Function, and Evolution of Plant Salt Glands. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:406. [PMID: 28400779 PMCID: PMC5368257 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Salt stress is a complex trait that poses a grand challenge in developing new crops better adapted to saline environments. Some plants, called recretohalophytes, that have naturally evolved to secrete excess salts through salt glands, offer an underexplored genetic resource for examining how plant development, anatomy, and physiology integrate to prevent excess salt from building up to toxic levels in plant tissue. In this review we examine the structure and evolution of salt glands, salt gland-specific gene expression, and the possibility that all salt glands have originated via evolutionary modifications of trichomes. Salt secretion via salt glands is found in more than 50 species in 14 angiosperm families distributed in caryophyllales, asterids, rosids, and grasses. The salt glands of these distantly related clades can be grouped into four structural classes. Although salt glands appear to have originated independently at least 12 times, they share convergently evolved features that facilitate salt compartmentalization and excretion. We review the structural diversity and evolution of salt glands, major transporters and proteins associated with salt transport and secretion in halophytes, salt gland relevant gene expression regulation, and the prospect for using new genomic and transcriptomic tools in combination with information from model organisms to better understand how salt glands contribute to salt tolerance. Finally, we consider the prospects for using this knowledge to engineer salt glands to increase salt tolerance in model species, and ultimately in crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maheshi Dassanayake
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton RougeLA, USA
| | - John C. Larkin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton RougeLA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rapid generation of genetic diversity by multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in rice. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2017; 60:506-515. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
15
|
Abstract
Parallel DNA assembly methods allow multiple fragments of DNA to be compiled in a desired order in a single reaction. Several methods enable the efficient one-step assembly of multiple DNA parts into a suitable plasmid acceptor at high efficiency. Type IIS-mediated assembly offers the specific advantage of a one-step reaction that does not require proprietary reagents or the amplification and purification of linear DNA fragments. Instead, multiple plasmids housing standardized DNA parts of interest are combined in an enzyme cocktail. To make these standard parts, DNA sequences with defined functions are assigned specific sequence features. This allows parts to be interoperable and reusable. The availability of collections of DNA parts and molecular toolkits that allow the facile assembly of multigene binary constructs and the establishment of standards for the creation of new parts means Type IIS-mediated assembly has become a powerful technology for modern plant molecular biologists. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J Patron
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Medema MH, Osbourn A. Computational genomic identification and functional reconstitution of plant natural product biosynthetic pathways. Nat Prod Rep 2016; 33:951-62. [PMID: 27321668 PMCID: PMC4987707 DOI: 10.1039/c6np00035e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2003 to 2016The last decade has seen the first major discoveries regarding the genomic basis of plant natural product biosynthetic pathways. Four key computationally driven strategies have been developed to identify such pathways, which make use of physical clustering, co-expression, evolutionary co-occurrence and epigenomic co-regulation of the genes involved in producing a plant natural product. Here, we discuss how these approaches can be used for the discovery of plant biosynthetic pathways encoded by both chromosomally clustered and non-clustered genes. Additionally, we will discuss opportunities to prioritize plant gene clusters for experimental characterization, and end with a forward-looking perspective on how synthetic biology technologies will allow effective functional reconstitution of candidate pathways using a variety of genetic systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marnix H. Medema
- Bioinformatics Group , Wageningen University , Wageningen , The Netherlands .
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Metabolic Biology , John Innes Centre , Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK .
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Blueprints for green biotech: development and application of standards for plant synthetic biology. Biochem Soc Trans 2016; 44:702-8. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20160044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology aims to apply engineering principles to the design and modification of biological systems and to the construction of biological parts and devices. The ability to programme cells by providing new instructions written in DNA is a foundational technology of the field. Large-scale de novo DNA synthesis has accelerated synthetic biology by offering custom-made molecules at ever decreasing costs. However, for large fragments and for experiments in which libraries of DNA sequences are assembled in different combinations, assembly in the laboratory is still desirable. Biological assembly standards allow DNA parts, even those from multiple laboratories and experiments, to be assembled together using the same reagents and protocols. The adoption of such standards for plant synthetic biology has been cohesive for the plant science community, facilitating the application of genome editing technologies to plant systems and streamlining progress in large-scale, multi-laboratory bioengineering projects.
Collapse
|
18
|
Rusanov K, Atanassov A, Atanassov I. Engineering Cell and Organ Cultures from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Toward Commercial Production of Bioactive Metabolites. REFERENCE SERIES IN PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-32004-5_8-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
19
|
Strategies and Methodologies for the Co-expression of Multiple Proteins in Plants. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 896:263-85. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27216-0_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
20
|
Hlavova M, Turoczy Z, Bisova K. Improving microalgae for biotechnology — From genetics to synthetic biology. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:1194-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
21
|
Carmichael RE, Boyce A, Matthewman C, Patron NJ. An introduction to synthetic biology in plant systems: ERASynBio/OpenPlant summer school for early career researchers, September 2014. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 208:20-22. [PMID: 26311282 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth E Carmichael
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH, UK
| | - Andy Boyce
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH, UK
| | - Colette Matthewman
- OpenPlant Consortium: Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- OpenPlant Consortium: University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Nicola J Patron
- OpenPlant Consortium: Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- OpenPlant Consortium: University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Patron NJ, Orzaez D, Marillonnet S, Warzecha H, Matthewman C, Youles M, Raitskin O, Leveau A, Farré G, Rogers C, Smith A, Hibberd J, Webb AAR, Locke J, Schornack S, Ajioka J, Baulcombe DC, Zipfel C, Kamoun S, Jones JDG, Kuhn H, Robatzek S, Van Esse HP, Sanders D, Oldroyd G, Martin C, Field R, O'Connor S, Fox S, Wulff B, Miller B, Breakspear A, Radhakrishnan G, Delaux PM, Loqué D, Granell A, Tissier A, Shih P, Brutnell TP, Quick WP, Rischer H, Fraser PD, Aharoni A, Raines C, South PF, Ané JM, Hamberger BR, Langdale J, Stougaard J, Bouwmeester H, Udvardi M, Murray JAH, Ntoukakis V, Schäfer P, Denby K, Edwards KJ, Osbourn A, Haseloff J. Standards for plant synthetic biology: a common syntax for exchange of DNA parts. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 208:13-9. [PMID: 26171760 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Inventors in the field of mechanical and electronic engineering can access multitudes of components and, thanks to standardization, parts from different manufacturers can be used in combination with each other. The introduction of BioBrick standards for the assembly of characterized DNA sequences was a landmark in microbial engineering, shaping the field of synthetic biology. Here, we describe a standard for Type IIS restriction endonuclease-mediated assembly, defining a common syntax of 12 fusion sites to enable the facile assembly of eukaryotic transcriptional units. This standard has been developed and agreed by representatives and leaders of the international plant science and synthetic biology communities, including inventors, developers and adopters of Type IIS cloning methods. Our vision is of an extensive catalogue of standardized, characterized DNA parts that will accelerate plant bioengineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J Patron
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Avda Tarongers SN, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 4, Darmstadt 64287, Germany
| | - Colette Matthewman
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Mark Youles
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
| | - Oleg Raitskin
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Aymeric Leveau
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Gemma Farré
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Christian Rogers
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Alison Smith
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Julian Hibberd
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Alex A R Webb
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - James Locke
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Sebastian Schornack
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Jim Ajioka
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - David C Baulcombe
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Cyril Zipfel
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
| | - Sophien Kamoun
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
| | | | - Hannah Kuhn
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
| | - Silke Robatzek
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
| | - H Peter Van Esse
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7RG, UK
| | - Dale Sanders
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Giles Oldroyd
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Cathie Martin
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Rob Field
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Sarah O'Connor
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Samantha Fox
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Brande Wulff
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Ben Miller
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Andy Breakspear
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | | | | | - Dominique Loqué
- Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St, 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Antonio Granell
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Avda Tarongers SN, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alain Tissier
- Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Patrick Shih
- Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - W Paul Quick
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Heiko Rischer
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo 02044, Finland
| | - Paul D Fraser
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Asaph Aharoni
- Department of Plant Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Christine Raines
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Paul F South
- United States Department of Agriculture, Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, ARS 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jean-Michel Ané
- Departments of Bacteriology and Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Björn R Hamberger
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Jane Langdale
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Jens Stougaard
- Centre for Carbohydrate Recognition and Signalling, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Harro Bouwmeester
- Wageningen UR, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Udvardi
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA
| | - James A H Murray
- School of Biosciences, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Vardis Ntoukakis
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Patrick Schäfer
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Katherine Denby
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Keith J Edwards
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Anne Osbourn
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jim Haseloff
- OpenPlant Consortium: The University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kelwick R, Bowater L, Yeoman KH, Bowater RP. Promoting microbiology education through the iGEM synthetic biology competition. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2015; 362:fnv129. [DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnv129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
|
24
|
Delaux PM, Radhakrishnan G, Oldroyd G. Tracing the evolutionary path to nitrogen-fixing crops. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 26:95-99. [PMID: 26123396 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen-fixing symbioses between plants and bacteria are restricted to a few plant lineages. The plant partner benefits from these associations by gaining access to the pool of atmospheric nitrogen. By contrast, other plant species, including all cereals, rely only on the scarce nitrogen present in the soil and what they can glean from associative bacteria. Global cereal yields from conventional agriculture are dependent on the application of massive levels of chemical fertilisers. Engineering nitrogen-fixing symbioses into cereal crops could in part mitigate the economic and ecological impacts caused by the overuse of fertilisers and provide better global parity in crop yields. Comparative phylogenetics and phylogenomics are powerful tools to identify genetic and genomic innovations behind key plant traits. In this review we highlight recent discoveries made using such approaches and we discuss how these approaches could be used to help direct the engineering of nitrogen-fixing symbioses into cereals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marc Delaux
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
| | - Guru Radhakrishnan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Giles Oldroyd
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Coll A, Wilson ML, Gruden K, Peccoud J. Rule-Based Design of Plant Expression Vectors Using GenoCAD. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132502. [PMID: 26148190 PMCID: PMC4492961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant synthetic biology requires software tools to assist on the design of complex multi-genic expression plasmids. Here a vector design strategy to express genes in plants is formalized and implemented as a grammar in GenoCAD, a Computer-Aided Design software for synthetic biology. It includes a library of plant biological parts organized in structural categories and a set of rules describing how to assemble these parts into large constructs. Rules developed here are organized and divided into three main subsections according to the aim of the final construct: protein localization studies, promoter analysis and protein-protein interaction experiments. The GenoCAD plant grammar guides the user through the design while allowing users to customize vectors according to their needs. Therefore the plant grammar implemented in GenoCAD will help plant biologists take advantage of methods from synthetic biology to design expression vectors supporting their research projects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Coll
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mandy L. Wilson
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kristina Gruden
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jean Peccoud
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bordat A, Houvenaghel MC, German-Retana S. Gibson assembly: an easy way to clone potyviral full-length infectious cDNA clones expressing an ectopic VPg. Virol J 2015; 12:89. [PMID: 26070311 PMCID: PMC4475333 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-015-0315-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approaches to simplify and accelerate the construction of full-length infectious cDNA clones for plant potyviruses have been described, based on cloning strategies involving in vitro ligation or homologous recombination in yeast. In the present study, we developed a faster and more efficient in vitro recombination system using Gibson assembly (GA), to engineer a Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) infectious clone expressing an ectopic mcherry-tagged VPg (Viral protein genome-linked) for in planta subcellular localization of the viral protein in an infection context. METHODS Three overlapping long distance PCR fragments were amplified and assembled in a single-step process based on in vitro recombination (Gibson assembly). The resulting 17.5 kbp recombinant plasmids (LMVmchVPg_Ec) were inoculated by biolistic on lettuce plants and then propagated mechanically on Nicotiana benthamiana. Confocal microscopy was used to analyze the subcellular localization of the ectopically expressed mcherry-VPg fusion protein. RESULTS The Gibson assembly allowed the cloning of the expected plasmids without any deletion. All the inoculated plants displayed symptoms characteristic of LMV infection. The majority of the mcherry fluorescent signal observed using confocal microscopy was located in the nucleus and nucleolus as expected for a potyviral VPg. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of the use of the Gibson assembly method to construct full-length infectious cDNA clones of a potyvirus genome. This is also the first description of the ectopic expression of a tagged version of a potyviral VPg without affecting the viability of the recombinant potyvirus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Bordat
- INRA, UMR 1332 de Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, CS 20032, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 de Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, CS 20032, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
| | - Marie-Christine Houvenaghel
- INRA, UMR 1332 de Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, CS 20032, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 de Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, CS 20032, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
| | - Sylvie German-Retana
- INRA, UMR 1332 de Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, CS 20032, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 de Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, CS 20032, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Promises and pitfalls of synthetic chromosomes in plants. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:189-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
28
|
|
29
|
Vafaee Y, Staniek A, Mancheno-Solano M, Warzecha H. A modular cloning toolbox for the generation of chloroplast transformation vectors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110222. [PMID: 25302695 PMCID: PMC4193872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastid transformation is a powerful tool for basic research, but also for the generation of stable genetically engineered plants producing recombinant proteins at high levels or for metabolic engineering purposes. However, due to the genetic makeup of plastids and the distinct features of the transformation process, vector design, and the use of specific genetic elements, a large set of basic transformation vectors is required, making cloning a tedious and time-consuming effort. Here, we describe the adoption of standardized modular cloning (GoldenBraid) to the design and assembly of the full spectrum of plastid transformation vectors. The modular design of genetic elements allows straightforward and time-efficient build-up of transcriptional units as well as construction of vectors targeting any homologous recombination site of choice. In a three-level assembly process, we established a vector fostering gene expression and formation of griffithsin, a potential viral entry inhibitor and HIV prophylactic, in the plastids of tobacco. Successful transformation as well as transcript and protein production could be shown. In concert with the aforesaid endeavor, a set of modules facilitating plastid transformation was generated, thus augmenting the GoldenBraid toolbox. In short, the work presented in this study enables efficient application of synthetic biology methods to plastid transformation in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yavar Vafaee
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Agata Staniek
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Maria Mancheno-Solano
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|