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Morgan MF, Diab J, Gilliham M, Mortimer JC. Green horizons: how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 86:103069. [PMID: 38341984 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
As humanity looks towards expanding activity from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond, resource use efficiency and self-sustainability will be critical to ensuring success in the long term. Furthermore, solutions developed for the stringent requirements of space will be equally valuable in meeting sustainability goals here on Earth. Advances in synthetic biology allow us to harness the complex metabolism of life to produce the materials we need in situ. Translating those lessons learned from microbial systems to more carbon-efficient photosynthetic organisms is an area of growing interest. Plants can be engineered to sustainably meet a range of needs, from fuels to materials and medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fox Morgan
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia
| | - Jonathan Diab
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia
| | - Matthew Gilliham
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia.
| | - Jenny C Mortimer
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia; Joint BioEnergy Institute, CA, USA.
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2
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Basallo O, Perez L, Lucido A, Sorribas A, Marin-Saguino A, Vilaprinyo E, Perez-Fons L, Albacete A, Martínez-Andújar C, Fraser PD, Christou P, Capell T, Alves R. Changing biosynthesis of terpenoid percursors in rice through synthetic biology. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1133299. [PMID: 37465386 PMCID: PMC10350630 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1133299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Many highly valued chemicals in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, cosmetic, and biomedical industries belong to the terpenoid family. Biosynthesis of these chemicals relies on polymerization of Isopentenyl di-phosphate (IPP) and/or dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) monomers, which plants synthesize using two alternative pathways: a cytosolic mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway and a plastidic methyleritritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. As such, developing plants for use as a platform to use IPP/DMAPP and produce high value terpenoids is an important biotechnological goal. Still, IPP/DMAPP are the precursors to many plant developmental hormones. This creates severe challenges in redirecting IPP/DMAPP towards production of non-cognate plant metabolites. A potential solution to this problem is increasing the IPP/DMAPP production flux in planta. Here, we aimed at discovering, understanding, and predicting the effects of increasing IPP/DMAPP production in plants through modelling. We used synthetic biology to create rice lines containing an additional ectopic MVA biosynthetic pathway for producing IPP/DMAPP. The rice lines express three alternative versions of the additional MVA pathway in the plastid, in addition to the normal endogenous pathways. We collected data for changes in macroscopic and molecular phenotypes, gene expression, isoprenoid content, and hormone abundance in those lines. To integrate the molecular and macroscopic data and develop a more in depth understanding of the effects of engineering the exogenous pathway in the mutant rice lines, we developed and analyzed data-centric, line-specific, multilevel mathematical models. These models connect the effects of variations in hormones and gene expression to changes in macroscopic plant phenotype and metabolite concentrations within the MVA and MEP pathways of WT and mutant rice lines. Our models allow us to predict how an exogenous IPP/DMAPP biosynthetic pathway affects the flux of terpenoid precursors. We also quantify the long-term effect of plant hormones on the dynamic behavior of IPP/DMAPP biosynthetic pathways in seeds, and predict plant characteristics, such as plant height, leaf size, and chlorophyll content from molecular data. In addition, our models are a tool that can be used in the future to help in prioritizing re-engineering strategies for the exogenous pathway in order to achieve specific metabolic goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orio Basallo
- Systems Biology Group, Department Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
| | - Lucia Perez
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department de Producció Vegetal I Ciència Florestal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agroalimentària i Forestal i de Veterinària (ETSEAFiV), Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Agrotecnio Centres de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Abel Lucido
- Systems Biology Group, Department Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
| | - Albert Sorribas
- Systems Biology Group, Department Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
| | - Alberto Marin-Saguino
- Systems Biology Group, Department Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
| | - Ester Vilaprinyo
- Systems Biology Group, Department Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
| | - Laura Perez-Fons
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, United Kingdom
| | - Alfonso Albacete
- Departament of Plant Nutrition, Center of Edaphology and Applied Biology of the Segura (CEBAS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Plant Production and Agrotechnology, Institute for Agri-Food Research and Development of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Martínez-Andújar
- Departament of Plant Nutrition, Center of Edaphology and Applied Biology of the Segura (CEBAS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Paul D. Fraser
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Christou
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department de Producció Vegetal I Ciència Florestal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agroalimentària i Forestal i de Veterinària (ETSEAFiV), Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Agrotecnio Centres de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
- ICREA, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Capell
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department de Producció Vegetal I Ciència Florestal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agroalimentària i Forestal i de Veterinària (ETSEAFiV), Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Agrotecnio Centres de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Rui Alves
- Systems Biology Group, Department Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
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3
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Anderson CE, Ferreira SS, Antunes MS. Integration of multiple stress signals in plants using synthetic Boolean logic gates. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023:kiad254. [PMID: 37119276 PMCID: PMC10400031 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
As photosynthetic organisms, plants have a potential role in the sustainable production of high-value products such as medicines, biofuels, and chemical feedstocks. With effective engineering using synthetic biology approaches, plant-based platforms could conceivably be designed to minimize the costs and waste of production for materials that would otherwise be uneconomical. Additionally, modern agricultural crops could be engineered to be more productive, resilient, or restorative in different or rapidly changing environments and climates. Information-processing genetic devices and circuits containing multiple interacting parts that behave predictably must be developed to achieve these complex goals. A genetic Boolean AND logic gate is a device that computes the presence or absence of two inputs (signals, stimuli) and produces an output (response) only when both inputs are present. We optimized individual genetic components and used synthetic protein heterodimerizing domains to rationally assemble genetic AND logic gates that integrate two hormonal inputs in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants. These AND gates produce an output only in the presence of both abscisic acid and auxin but not when either or neither hormone is present. The AND logic gate can also integrate signals resulting from two plant stresses, cold temperature and bacterial infection, to produce a response. The design principles used here are generalizable, and, therefore, multiple orthogonal AND gates could be assembled and rationally layered to process complex genetic information in plants. These layered logic gates may be used in genetic circuits to probe fundamental questions in plant biology, such as hormonal crosstalk, in addition to plant engineering for bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Savio S Ferreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Mauricio S Antunes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
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4
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Goodchild-Michelman IM, Church GM, Schubert MG, Tang TC. Light and carbon: Synthetic biology toward new cyanobacteria-based living biomaterials. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100583. [PMID: 36846306 PMCID: PMC9945787 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are ideal candidates to use in developing carbon neutral and carbon negative technologies; they are efficient photosynthesizers and amenable to genetic manipulation. Over the past two decades, researchers have demonstrated that cyanobacteria can make sustainable, useful biomaterials, many of which are engineered living materials. However, we are only beginning to see such technologies applied at an industrial scale. In this review, we explore the ways in which synthetic biology tools enable the development of cyanobacteria-based biomaterials. First we give an overview of the ecological and biogeochemical importance of cyanobacteria and the work that has been done using cyanobacteria to create biomaterials so far. This is followed by a discussion of commonly used cyanobacteria strains and synthetic biology tools that exist to engineer cyanobacteria. Then, three case studies-bioconcrete, biocomposites, and biophotovoltaics-are explored as potential applications of synthetic biology in cyanobacteria-based materials. Finally, challenges and future directions of cyanobacterial biomaterials are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella M. Goodchild-Michelman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George M. Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Max G. Schubert
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tzu-Chieh Tang
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Watts S, Kaur S, Kariyat R. Revisiting plant defense-fitness trade-off hypotheses using Solanum as a model genus. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1094961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants possess physical and chemical defenses which have been found to deter herbivores that feed and oviposit on them. Despite having wide variety of defenses which can be constitutive or induced, plants are attacked and damaged by insects associated with different mouthparts and feeding habits. Since these defenses are costly, trade-offs for growth and defense traits play an important role in warding off the herbivores, with consequences for plant and herbivore growth, development and fitness. Solanum is a diverse and rich genus comprising of over 1,500 species with economic and ecological importance. Although a large number of studies on Solanum species with different herbivores have been carried out to understand plant defenses and herbivore counter defenses, they have primarily focused on pairwise interactions, and a few species of economic and ecological importance. Therefore, a detailed and updated understanding of the integrated defense system (sum of total defenses and trade-offs) is still lacking. Through this review, we take a closer look at the most common plant defense hypotheses, their assumptions and trade-offs and also a comprehensive evaluation of studies that use the genus Solanum as their host plant, and their generalist and specialist herbivores from different feeding guilds. Overall, review emphasizes on using ubiquitous Solanum genus and working toward building an integrated model which can predict defense-fitness-trade-offs in various systems with maximum accuracy and minimum deviations from realistic results.
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Yang Y, Chaffin TA, Ahkami AH, Blumwald E, Stewart CN. Plant synthetic biology innovations for biofuels and bioproducts. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1454-1468. [PMID: 36241578 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Plant-based biosynthesis of fuels, chemicals, and materials promotes environmental sustainability, which includes decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Advances in plant synthetic biology (synbio) should improve precision and efficacy of genetic engineering for sustainability. Applicable synbio innovations include genome editing, gene circuit design, synthetic promoter development, gene stacking technologies, and the design of environmental sensors. Moreover, recent advancements in developing spatially resolved and single-cell omics contribute to the discovery and characterization of cell-type-specific mechanisms and spatiotemporal gene regulations in distinct plant tissues for the expression of cell- and tissue-specific genes, resulting in improved bioproduction. This review highlights recent plant synbio progress and new single-cell molecular profiling towards sustainable biofuel and biomaterial production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongil Yang
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Timothy Alexander Chaffin
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Amir H Ahkami
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA
| | - Eduardo Blumwald
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Charles Neal Stewart
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.
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7
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Using synthetic biology to improve photosynthesis for sustainable food production. J Biotechnol 2022; 359:1-14. [PMID: 36126804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthesis is responsible for the primary productivity and maintenance of life on Earth, boosting biological activity and contributing to the maintenance of the environment. In the past, traditional crop improvement was considered sufficient to meet food demands, but the growing demand for food coupled with climate change has modified this scenario over the past decades. However, advances in this area have not focused on photosynthesis per se but rather on fixed carbon partitioning. In short, other approaches must be used to meet an increasing agricultural demand. Thus, several paths may be followed, from modifications in leaf shape and canopy architecture, improving metabolic pathways related to CO2 fixation, the inclusion of metabolic mechanisms from other species, and improvements in energy uptake by plants. Given the recognized importance of photosynthesis, as the basis of the primary productivity on Earth, we here present an overview of the latest advances in attempts to improve plant photosynthetic performance. We focused on points considered key to the enhancement of photosynthesis, including leaf shape development, RuBisCO reengineering, Calvin-Benson cycle optimization, light use efficiency, the introduction of the C4 cycle in C3 plants and the inclusion of other CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs). We further provide compelling evidence that there is still room for further improvements. Finally, we conclude this review by presenting future perspectives and possible new directions on this subject.
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8
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Lopez-Nieves S, El-Azaz J, Men Y, Holland CK, Feng T, Brockington SF, Jez JM, Maeda HA. Two independently evolved natural mutations additively deregulate TyrA enzymes and boost tyrosine production in planta. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:844-855. [PMID: 34807484 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
l-Tyrosine is an essential amino acid for protein synthesis and is also used in plants to synthesize diverse natural products. Plants primarily synthesize tyrosine via TyrA arogenate dehydrogenase (TyrAa or ADH), which are typically strongly feedback inhibited by tyrosine. However, two plant lineages, Fabaceae (legumes) and Caryophyllales, have TyrA enzymes that exhibit relaxed sensitivity to tyrosine inhibition and are associated with elevated production of tyrosine-derived compounds, such as betalain pigments uniquely produced in core Caryophyllales. Although we previously showed that a single D222N substitution is primarily responsible for the deregulation of legume TyrAs, it is unknown when and how the deregulated Caryophyllales TyrA emerged. Here, through phylogeny-guided TyrA structure-function analysis, we found that functionally deregulated TyrAs evolved early in the core Caryophyllales before the origin of betalains, where the E208D amino acid substitution in the active site, which is at a different and opposite location from D222N found in legume TyrAs, played a key role in the TyrA functionalization. Unlike legumes, however, additional substitutions on non-active site residues further contributed to the deregulation of TyrAs in Caryophyllales. The introduction of a mutation analogous to E208D partially deregulated tyrosine-sensitive TyrAs, such as Arabidopsis TyrA2 (AtTyrA2). Moreover, the combined introduction of D222N and E208D additively deregulated AtTyrA2, for which the expression in Nicotiana benthamiana led to highly elevated accumulation of tyrosine in planta. The present study demonstrates that phylogeny-guided characterization of key residues underlying primary metabolic innovations can provide powerful tools to boost the production of essential plant natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Lopez-Nieves
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Jorge El-Azaz
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Yusen Men
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Cynthia K Holland
- Department of Biology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, 01267, USA
| | - Tao Feng
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | | | - Joseph M Jez
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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9
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Staufer O, De Lora JA, Bailoni E, Bazrafshan A, Benk AS, Jahnke K, Manzer ZA, Otrin L, Díez Pérez T, Sharon J, Steinkühler J, Adamala KP, Jacobson B, Dogterom M, Göpfrich K, Stefanovic D, Atlas SR, Grunze M, Lakin MR, Shreve AP, Spatz JP, López GP. Building a community to engineer synthetic cells and organelles from the bottom-up. eLife 2021; 10:e73556. [PMID: 34927583 PMCID: PMC8716100 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Employing concepts from physics, chemistry and bioengineering, 'learning-by-building' approaches are becoming increasingly popular in the life sciences, especially with researchers who are attempting to engineer cellular life from scratch. The SynCell2020/21 conference brought together researchers from different disciplines to highlight progress in this field, including areas where synthetic cells are having socioeconomic and technological impact. Conference participants also identified the challenges involved in designing, manipulating and creating synthetic cells with hierarchical organization and function. A key conclusion is the need to build an international and interdisciplinary research community through enhanced communication, resource-sharing, and educational initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oskar Staufer
- Max Planck Institute for Medical ResearchHeidelbergGermany
- Max Planck School Matter to LifeHeidelbergGermany
- Max Planck Bristol Center for Minimal Biology, University of BristolBristolUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Amelie S Benk
- Max Planck Institute for Medical ResearchHeidelbergGermany
| | - Kevin Jahnke
- Max Planck Institute for Medical ResearchHeidelbergGermany
| | | | - Lado Otrin
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical SystemsMagdeburgGermany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kerstin Göpfrich
- Max Planck Institute for Medical ResearchHeidelbergGermany
- Max Planck School Matter to LifeHeidelbergGermany
| | | | | | - Michael Grunze
- Max Planck Institute for Medical ResearchHeidelbergGermany
- Max Planck School Matter to LifeHeidelbergGermany
| | | | | | - Joachim P Spatz
- Max Planck Institute for Medical ResearchHeidelbergGermany
- Max Planck School Matter to LifeHeidelbergGermany
- Max Planck Bristol Center for Minimal Biology, University of BristolBristolUnited Kingdom
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Johnson AR, Moghe GD, Frank MH. Growing a glue factory: Open questions in laticifer development. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 64:102096. [PMID: 34461600 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Latex-containing cells called laticifers are present in at least 41 flowering plant families and are thought to have convergently evolved at least 12 times. These cells are known to function in defense, but little is known about the molecular genetic mechanisms of their development. The expansion of laticifers into their distinctive tube shape can occur through two distinct mechanisms, cell fusion and intrusive growth. The mechanism and extent of intrusive laticifer growth are still being investigated. Hormonal regulation by jasmonic acid and ethylene is important for both laticifer differentiation and latex biosynthesis. Current evidence suggests that laticifers can be specified independently of latex production, but extensive latex production requires specified laticifers. Laticifers are an emerging system for studying the intersection of cell identity specification and specialized metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle R Johnson
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gaurav D Moghe
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Margaret H Frank
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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11
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Wu T, Kerbler SM, Fernie AR, Zhang Y. Plant cell cultures as heterologous bio-factories for secondary metabolite production. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 2:100235. [PMID: 34746764 PMCID: PMC8554037 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2021.100235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has been developing rapidly in the last decade and is attracting increasing attention from many plant biologists. The production of high-value plant-specific secondary metabolites is, however, limited mostly to microbes. This is potentially problematic because of incorrect post-translational modification of proteins and differences in protein micro-compartmentalization, substrate availability, chaperone availability, product toxicity, and cytochrome p450 reductase enzymes. Unlike other heterologous systems, plant cells may be a promising alternative for the production of high-value metabolites. Several commercial plant suspension cell cultures from different plant species have been used successfully to produce valuable metabolites in a safe, low cost, and environmentally friendly manner. However, few metabolites are currently being biosynthesized using plant platforms, with the exception of the natural pigment anthocyanin. Both Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum cell cultures can be developed by multiple gene transformations and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. Given that the introduction of heterologous biosynthetic pathways into Arabidopsis and N. tabacum is not widely used, the biosynthesis of foreign metabolites is currently limited; however, therein lies great potential. Here, we discuss the exemplary use of plant cell cultures and prospects for using A. thaliana and N. tabacum cell cultures to produce valuable plant-specific metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Sandra M. Kerbler
- Leibniz-Institute für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Groβbeeren, Germany
| | - Alisdair R. Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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12
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Abstract
Tremendous chemical diversity is the hallmark of plants and is supported by highly complex biochemical machinery. Plant metabolic enzymes originated and were transferred from eukaryotic and prokaryotic ancestors and further diversified by the unprecedented rates of gene duplication and functionalization experienced in land plants. Unlike microbes, which have frequent horizontal gene transfer events and multiple inputs of energy and organic carbon, land plants predominantly rely on organic carbon generated from CO2 and have experienced very few, if any, gene transfers during their recent evolutionary history. As such, plant metabolic networks have evolved in a stepwise manner and on existing networks under various evolutionary constraints. This review aims to take a broader view of plant metabolic evolution and lay a framework to further explore evolutionary mechanisms of the complex metabolic network. Understanding the underlying metabolic and genetic constraints is also an empirical prerequisite for rational engineering and redesigning of plant metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA;
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany;
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13
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Tiwari P, Khare T, Shriram V, Bae H, Kumar V. Plant synthetic biology for producing potent phyto-antimicrobials to combat antimicrobial resistance. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 48:107729. [PMID: 33705914 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Inappropriate and injudicious use of antimicrobial drugs in human health, hygiene, agriculture, animal husbandry and food industries has contributed significantly to rapid emergence and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the serious global public health threats. The crisis of AMR versus slower discovery of newer antibiotics put forth a daunting task to control these drug-resistant superbugs. Several phyto-antimicrobials have been identified in recent years with direct-killing (bactericidal) and/or drug-resistance reversal (re-sensitization of AMR phenotypes) potencies. Phyto-antimicrobials may hold the key in combating AMR owing to their abilities to target major microbial drug-resistance determinants including cell membrane, drug-efflux pumps, cell communication and biofilms. However, limited distribution, low intracellular concentrations, eco-geographical variations, beside other considerations like dynamic environments, climate change and over-exploitation of plant-resources are major blockades in full potential exploration phyto-antimicrobials. Synthetic biology (SynBio) strategies integrating metabolic engineering, RNA-interference, genome editing/engineering and/or systems biology approaches using plant chassis (as engineerable platforms) offer prospective tools for production of phyto-antimicrobials. With expanding SynBio toolkit, successful attempts towards introduction of entire gene cluster, reconstituting the metabolic pathway or transferring an entire metabolic (or synthetic) pathway into heterologous plant systems highlight the potential of this field. Through this perspective review, we are presenting herein the current situation and options for addressing AMR, emphasizing on the significance of phyto-antimicrobials in this apparently post-antibiotic era, and effective use of plant chassis for phyto-antimicrobial production at industrial scales along with major SynBio tools and useful databases. Current knowledge, recent success stories, associated challenges and prospects of translational success are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Tiwari
- Molecular Metabolic Engineering Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Tushar Khare
- Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411016, India; Department of Environmental Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India
| | - Varsha Shriram
- Department of Botany, Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts, Commerce and Science College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Akurdi, Pune 411044, India
| | - Hanhong Bae
- Molecular Metabolic Engineering Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea.
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411016, India; Department of Environmental Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India.
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14
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Xu SY, Weng J. Climate change shapes the future evolution of plant metabolism. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2020; 1:e10022. [PMID: 36619247 PMCID: PMC9744464 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.10022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Planet Earth has experienced many dramatic atmospheric and climatic changes throughout its 4.5-billion-year history that have profoundly impacted the evolution of life as we know it. Photosynthetic organisms, and specifically plants, have played a paramount role in shaping the Earth's atmosphere through oxygen production and carbon sequestration. In turn, the diversity of plants has been shaped by historical atmospheric and climatic changes: plants rose to this challenge by evolving new developmental and metabolic traits. These adaptive traits help plants to thrive in diverse growth conditions, while benefiting humanity through the production of food, raw materials, and medicines. However, the current rapid rate of climate change caused by human activities presents unprecedented new challenges to the future of plants. Here, we discuss the potential effects of modern climate change on plants, with specific attention to plant specialized metabolism. We explore potential avenues of future scientific investigations, powered by cutting-edge methods such as synthetic biology and genome engineering, to better understand and mitigate the consequences of rapid climate change on plant fitness and plant usage by humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Y. Xu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA,Department of BiologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jing‐Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA,Department of BiologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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15
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Kalluri UC, Yang X, Wullschleger SD. Plant Biosystems Design for a Carbon-Neutral Bioeconomy. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2020; 2020:7914051. [PMID: 37849896 PMCID: PMC10521676 DOI: 10.34133/2020/7914051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Our society faces multiple daunting challenges including finding sustainable solutions towards climate change mitigation; efficient production of food, biofuels, and biomaterials; maximizing land-use efficiency; and enabling a sustainable bioeconomy. Plants can provide environmentally and economically sustainable solutions to these challenges due to their inherent capabilities for photosynthetic capture of atmospheric CO2, allocation of carbon to various organs and partitioning into various chemical forms, including contributions to total soil carbon. In order to enhance crop productivity and optimize chemistry simultaneously in the above- and belowground plant tissues, transformative biosystems design strategies are needed. Concerted research efforts will be required for accelerating the development of plant cultivars, genotypes, or varieties that are cooptimized in the contexts of biomass-derived fuels and/or materials aboveground and enhanced carbon sequestration belowground. Here, we briefly discuss significant knowledge gaps in our process understanding and the potential of synthetic biology in enabling advancements along the fundamental to applied research arc. Ultimately, a convergence of perspectives from academic, industrial, government, and consumer sectors will be needed to realize the potential merits of plant biosystems design for a carbon neutral bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udaya C. Kalluri
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | - Stan D. Wullschleger
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
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16
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Batista-Silva W, da Fonseca-Pereira P, Martins AO, Zsögön A, Nunes-Nesi A, Araújo WL. Engineering Improved Photosynthesis in the Era of Synthetic Biology. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2020; 1:100032. [PMID: 33367233 PMCID: PMC7747996 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Much attention has been given to the enhancement of photosynthesis as a strategy for the optimization of crop productivity. As traditional plant breeding is most likely reaching a plateau, there is a timely need to accelerate improvements in photosynthetic efficiency by means of novel tools and biotechnological solutions. The emerging field of synthetic biology offers the potential for building completely novel pathways in predictable directions and, thus, addresses the global requirements for higher yields expected to occur in the 21st century. Here, we discuss recent advances and current challenges of engineering improved photosynthesis in the era of synthetic biology toward optimized utilization of solar energy and carbon sources to optimize the production of food, fiber, and fuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willian Batista-Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Paula da Fonseca-Pereira
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | | | - Agustín Zsögön
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Adriano Nunes-Nesi
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Wagner L. Araújo
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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17
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Maeda HA. Harnessing evolutionary diversification of primary metabolism for plant synthetic biology. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:16549-16566. [PMID: 31558606 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.006132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce numerous natural products that are essential to both plant and human physiology. Recent identification of genes and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis now provides exciting opportunities to reconstruct plant natural product pathways in heterologous systems through synthetic biology. The use of plant chassis, although still in infancy, can take advantage of plant cells' inherent capacity to synthesize and store various phytochemicals. Also, large-scale plant biomass production systems, driven by photosynthetic energy production and carbon fixation, could be harnessed for industrial-scale production of natural products. However, little is known about which plants could serve as ideal hosts and how to optimize plant primary metabolism to efficiently provide precursors for the synthesis of desirable downstream natural products or specialized (secondary) metabolites. Although primary metabolism is generally assumed to be conserved, unlike the highly-diversified specialized metabolism, primary metabolic pathways and enzymes can differ between microbes and plants and also among different plants, especially at the interface between primary and specialized metabolisms. This review highlights examples of the diversity in plant primary metabolism and discusses how we can utilize these variations in plant synthetic biology. I propose that understanding the evolutionary, biochemical, genetic, and molecular bases of primary metabolic diversity could provide rational strategies for identifying suitable plant hosts and for further optimizing primary metabolism for sizable production of natural and bio-based products in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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18
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Pazhany AS, Henry RJ. Genetic Modification of Biomass to Alter Lignin Content and Structure. Ind Eng Chem Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b01163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adhini S. Pazhany
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072 Queensland, Australia
- ICAR - Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, 641 007 Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Robert J. Henry
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072 Queensland, Australia
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19
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Cheng H, Mou Z, Wang W, Zhang W, Wang Z, Zhang M, Yang E, Sun D. Chitosan-catechin coating as an antifungal and preservable agent for postharvest satsuma oranges. J Food Biochem 2019; 43:e12779. [PMID: 31353588 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The antifungal properties of chitosan-catechin coating and the effect of fruit preservation were studied. We used catechin to modify chitosan to prepare a coating. The purpose of the study was to use chitosan-catechin coating to prolong the preservation time of satsuma oranges. In vitro experiments, the results showed that the antifungal activity of chitosan-catechin increased with increasing concentration, and the results are also significantly effect of comparing to chitosan and catechin alone (*p < 0.05). In vivo studies, chitosan-catechin coating treatment significantly reduced rot caused by Penicillium Citrinum and Aspergillus niger. The physiological and biochemical indexes of the chitosan-catechin coating treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group (*p ≤ 0.05). In the toxicity test, mice injected with chitosan-catechin solution showed no significant difference compared to the control group. These results indicate that this chitosan-catechin coating may be useful as an antifungal and preserving agent for satsuma oranges. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The fruit after harvest every year is a large loss due to improper storage, and the preservation of fruits is an effective way to reduce losses. The traditional fruit wrap is not degradable, and the preservation effect is relatively general. The chitosan film is a new type of edible fruit wrap, which has the advantages of being edible and easily degradable, and can effectively reduce environmental pollution. Adding catechin to the preparation process of chitosan film can better improve the fresh-keeping effect and prolong the preservation time of the fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhipeng Mou
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Weiyun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiyan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Endong Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Dongdong Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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20
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Davies JA. Real-World Synthetic Biology: Is It Founded on an Engineering Approach, and Should It Be? Life (Basel) 2019; 9:life9010006. [PMID: 30621107 PMCID: PMC6463249 DOI: 10.3390/life9010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Authors often assert that a key feature of 21st-century synthetic biology is its use of an 'engineering approach'; design using predictive models, modular architecture, construction using well-characterized standard parts, and rigorous testing using standard metrics. This article examines whether this is, or even should be, the case. A brief survey of synthetic biology projects that have reached, or are near to, commercial application outside laboratories shows that they showed very few of these attributes. Instead, they featured much trial and error, and the use of specialized, custom components and assays. What is more, consideration of the special features of living systems suggest that a conventional engineering approach will often not be helpful. The article concludes that the engineering approach may be useful in some projects, but it should not be used to define or constrain synthetic biological endeavour, and that in fact the conventional engineering has more to gain by expanding and embracing more biological ways of working.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie A Davies
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
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21
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Hanson AD, Jez JM. Synthetic biology meets plant metabolism. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 273:1-2. [PMID: 29907301 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Joseph M Jez
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States.
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