1
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Li X, Zhang Y, Zhu C, Zheng P, Chen C, Zhang N, Ji H, Dong C, Yu J, Ren J, Zhu Y, Wang Y. Enzymatic Characterization of SpPAL Genes in S. polyrhiza and Overexpression of the SpPAL3. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2607. [PMID: 39339582 PMCID: PMC11435183 DOI: 10.3390/plants13182607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2024] [Revised: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) catalyzes the deamination of phenylalanine, which is the initial step in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. It serves as a crucial enzyme that facilitates the transfer of carbon from primary to secondary metabolism in plants. Duckweed is regarded as a promising chassis plant in synthetic biology research and application, due to its being rich in secondary metabolites and other advantages. The genes encoding PAL in Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid, the giant duckweed, were investigated in this study. Three SpPAL genes (SpPAL1-SpPAL3) were identified and cloned. All of them were successfully expressed in E. coli, and their recombinant proteins all showed PAL activity. In addition, SpPAL1 and SpPAL2 proteins could also utilize tyrosine as substrate, although the activity was low. A qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of SpPAL3 was most pronounced in young fronds. It was found that the expression of SpPAL1 and SpPAL3 was significantly induced by MeJA treatment. Overexpression of SpPAL3 in Lemna turionifera inhibited the growth of fronds and adventitious roots in the transgenic plants, indicating the importance of SpPAL3 in duckweed besides its involvement in the secondary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Li
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yinxing Zhang
- School of Life Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Chunfeng Zhu
- School of Life Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Pufan Zheng
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Cunkun Chen
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Haipeng Ji
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Chenghu Dong
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Jinze Yu
- Institute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, National Engineering Technology Research Center for Preservation of Agriculture Product, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Jie Ren
- College of Food Science and Biological Engineering, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China
| | - Yerong Zhu
- College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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2
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Jiang X, Zhang Z, Wu X, Li C, Sun X, Li Y, Chang A, Yang A, Yang C. Multiplex Expression Cassette Assembly: A flexible and versatile method for building complex genetic circuits in conventional vectors. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024. [PMID: 39175411 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
The manipulation of multiple transcription units for simultaneous and coordinated expression is not only key to building complex genetic circuits to accomplish diverse functions in synthetic biology, but is also important in crop breeding for significantly improved productivity and overall performance. However, building constructs with multiple independent transcription units for fine-tuned and coordinated regulation is complicated and time-consuming. Here, we introduce the Multiplex Expression Cassette Assembly (MECA) method, which modifies canonical vectors compatible with Golden Gate Assembly, and then uses them to produce multi-cassette constructs. By embedding the junction syntax in primers that are used to amplify functional elements, MECA is able to make complex constructs using only one intermediate vector and one destination vector via two rounds of one-pot Golden Gate assembly reactions, without the need for dedicated vectors and a coherent library of standardized modules. As a proof-of-concept, we modified eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression vectors to generate constructs for transient expression of green fluorescent protein and β-glucuronidase in Nicotiana benthamiana, genome editing to block monoterpene metabolism in tomato glandular trichomes, production of betanin in tobacco and synthesis of β-carotene in Escherichia coli. Additionally, we engineered the stable production of thymol and carvacrol, bioactive compounds from Lamiaceae family plants, in glandular trichomes of tobacco. These results demonstrate that MECA is a flexible, efficient and versatile method for building complex genetic circuits, which will not only play a critical role in plant synthetic biology, but also facilitate improving agronomic traits and pyramiding traits for the development of next-generation elite crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Jiang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhuoxiang Zhang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiuming Wu
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Changmei Li
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuan Sun
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yiting Li
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Aixia Chang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Aiguo Yang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Changqing Yang
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
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3
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Kumari K, Sherpa T, Dey N. Analysis of plant pararetrovirus promoter sequence(s) for developing a useful synthetic promoter with enhanced activity in rice, pearl millet, and tobacco plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1426479. [PMID: 39166238 PMCID: PMC11333926 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1426479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Promoters are one of the most important components for many gene-based research as they can fine-tune precise gene expression. Many unique plant promoters have been characterized, but strong promoters with dual expression in both monocot and dicot systems are still lacking. In this study, we attempted to make such a promoter by combining specific domains from monocot-infecting pararetroviral-based promoters sugarcane bacilliform virus (SCBV) and banana streak virus (BSV) to a strong dicot-infecting pararetroviral-based promoter mirabilis mosaic virus (MMV). The generated chimeric promoters, MS, SM, MB, and BM, were tested in monocot and dicot systems and further validated in transgenic tobacco plants. We found that the developed chimeric promoters were species-specific (monocot or dicot), which depended on their respective core promoter (CP) region. Furthermore, with this knowledge, deletion-hybrid promoters were developed and evaluated, which led to the development of a unique dual-expressing promoter, MSD3, with high gene expression efficiency (GUS and GFP reporter genes) in rice, pearl millet, and tobacco plants. We conclude that the MSD3 promoter can be an important genetic tool and will be valuable in plant biology research and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushbu Kumari
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Tsheten Sherpa
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Nrisingha Dey
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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4
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Ferreira SS, Antunes MS. Genetically encoded Boolean logic operators to sense and integrate phenylpropanoid metabolite levels in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:674-687. [PMID: 38752334 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has the potential to revolutionize biotechnology, public health, and agriculture. Recent studies have shown the enormous potential of plants as chassis for synthetic biology applications. However, tools to precisely manipulate metabolic pathways for bioproduction in plants are still needed. We used bacterial allosteric transcription factors (aTFs) that control gene expression in a ligand-specific manner and tested their ability to repress semi-synthetic promoters in plants. We also tested the modulation of their repression activity in response to specific plant metabolites, especially phenylpropanoid-related molecules. Using these aTFs, we also designed synthetic genetic circuits capable of computing Boolean logic operations. Three aTFs, CouR, FapR, and TtgR, achieved c. 95% repression of their respective target promoters. For TtgR, a sixfold de-repression could be triggered by inducing its ligand accumulation, showing its use as biosensor. Moreover, we designed synthetic genetic circuits that use AND, NAND, IMPLY, and NIMPLY Boolean logic operations and integrate metabolite levels as input to the circuit. We showed that biosensors can be implemented in plants to detect phenylpropanoid-related metabolites and activate a genetic circuit that follows a predefined logic, demonstrating their potential as tools for exerting control over plant metabolic pathways and facilitating the bioproduction of natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savio S Ferreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
| | - Mauricio S Antunes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
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5
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Yang Y, Chaffin TA, Shao Y, Balasubramanian VK, Markillie M, Mitchell H, Rubio‐Wilhelmi MM, Ahkami AH, Blumwald E, Neal Stewart C. Novel synthetic inducible promoters controlling gene expression during water-deficit stress with green tissue specificity in transgenic poplar. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:1596-1609. [PMID: 38232002 PMCID: PMC11123411 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic promoters may be designed using short cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and core promoter sequences for specific purposes. We identified novel conserved DNA motifs from the promoter sequences of leaf palisade and vascular cell type-specific expressed genes in water-deficit stressed poplar (Populus tremula × Populus alba), collected through low-input RNA-seq analysis using laser capture microdissection. Hexamerized sequences of four conserved 20-base motifs were inserted into each synthetic promoter construct. Two of these synthetic promoters (Syn2 and Syn3) induced GFP in transformed poplar mesophyll protoplasts incubated in 0.5 M mannitol solution. To identify effect of length and sequence from a valuable 20 base motif, 5' and 3' regions from a basic sequence (GTTAACTTCAGGGCCTGTGG) of Syn3 were hexamerized to generate two shorter synthetic promoters, Syn3-10b-1 (5': GTTAACTTCA) and Syn3-10b-2 (3': GGGCCTGTGG). These promoters' activities were compared with Syn3 in plants. Syn3 and Syn3-10b-1 were specifically induced in transient agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana leaves in water cessation for 3 days. In stable transgenic poplar, Syn3 presented as a constitutive promoter but had the highest activity in leaves. Syn3-10b-1 had stronger induction in green tissues under water-deficit stress conditions than mock control. Therefore, a synthetic promoter containing the 5' sequence of Syn3 endowed both tissue-specificity and water-deficit inducibility in transgenic poplar, whereas the 3' sequence did not. Consequently, we have added two new synthetic promoters to the poplar engineering toolkit: Syn3-10b-1, a green tissue-specific and water-deficit stress-induced promoter, and Syn3, a green tissue-preferential constitutive promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongil Yang
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic BiologyUniversity of Tennessee Institute of AgricultureKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Timothy A. Chaffin
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic BiologyUniversity of Tennessee Institute of AgricultureKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Yuanhua Shao
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic BiologyUniversity of Tennessee Institute of AgricultureKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | | | - Meng Markillie
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWAUSA
| | - Hugh Mitchell
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWAUSA
| | | | - Amir H. Ahkami
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWAUSA
| | - Eduardo Blumwald
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - C. Neal Stewart
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic BiologyUniversity of Tennessee Institute of AgricultureKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
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6
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Sadre R. Plant synthetic biology for human health: advances in producing medicines in heterologous expression systems. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103142. [PMID: 38735192 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103142] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Plant synthetic biology has the capability to provide solutions to global challenges in the production and supply of medicines. Recent advances in 'omics' technologies have accelerated gene discoveries in medicinal plant research so that even multistep biosynthetic pathways for bioactive plant natural products with high structural complexity can be reconstituted in heterologous plant expression systems more rapidly. This review provides an overview of concept and strategies used to produce high-value plant natural products in heterologous plant systems and highlights recent successes in engineering the biosynthesis of conventional and new medicines in alternative plant hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radin Sadre
- Pelotonia Research Center, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, the Ohio State University, 2255 Kenny Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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7
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Virgens GS, Oliveira J, Cardoso MIO, Teodoro JA, Amaral DT. BioProtIS: Streamlining protein-ligand interaction pipeline for analysis in genomic and transcriptomic exploration. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 128:108721. [PMID: 38308972 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2024.108721] [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] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The identification of protein-ligand interactions plays a pivotal role in elucidating biological processes and discovering potential bioproducts. Harnessing the capabilities of computational methods in drug discovery, we introduce an innovative Inverted Virtual Screening (IVS) pipeline. This pipeline Integrated molecular dynamics and docking analyses to ensure that protein structures are not only energetically favorable but also representative of stable conformations. The primary objective of this pipeline is to automate and streamline the analysis of protein-ligand interactions at both genomic and transcriptomic scales. In the contemporary post-genomic era, high-throughput computational screening for bioproducts, biological systems, and therapeutic drugs has become a cornerstone practice. This approach offers the promise of cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, and optimization of laboratory work. Nevertheless, a notable deficiency persists in the availability of efficient pipelines capable of automating the virtual screening process, seamlessly integrating input and output, and leveraging the full potential of open-source tools. To bridge this critical gap, we have developed a versatile pipeline known as BioProtIS. This tool seamlessly integrates a suite of state-of-the-art tools, including Modeller, AlphaFold, Gromacs, FPOCKET, and AutoDock Vina, thus facilitating the streamlined docking of ligands with an expansive repertoire of proteins sourced from genomes and transcriptomes, and substrates. To assess the pipeline's performance, we employed the transcriptomes of Cereus jamacaru (a cactus species) and Aspisoma lineatum (firefly), along with the genome of Homo sapiens. This integration not only improves the accuracy of ligand-protein interactions by minimizing replicability deviations but also optimizes the discovery process by enabling the simultaneous evaluation of multiple substrates. Furthermore, our pipeline accommodates distinct testing scenarios, such as blind docking or site-specific targeting, which are invaluable in applications ranging from drug repositioning to the exploration of new allosteric binding sites and toxicity assessments. BioProtIS has been designed with modularity at its core. This inherent flexibility empowers users to make custom modifications directly within the source code, tailoring the pipeline to their specific research needs. Moreover, it lays the foundation for seamless integration of diverse docking algorithms in future iterations, promising ongoing advancements in the field of computational biology. This pipeline is available for free distribution and can be download at: https://github.com/BBMDO/BioProtIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziela Sória Virgens
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Júlia Oliveira
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - João Alfredo Teodoro
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo T Amaral
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
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8
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Mo H, Chang H, Zhao G, Hu G, Luo X, Jia X, Xu Z, Ren G, Feng L, Wendel JF, Chen X, Ren M, Li F. iJAZ-based approach to engineer lepidopteran pest resistance in multiple crop species. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:771-784. [PMID: 38684916 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01682-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW) poses a significant threat to global crop production. Here we showed that overexpression of jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) protein GhJAZ24 confers resistance to cotton bollworm and FAW, while also causing sterility in transgenic cotton by recruiting TOPLESS and histone deacetylase 6. We identified the NGR motif of GhJAZ24 that recognizes and binds the aminopeptidase N receptor, enabling GhJAZ24 to enter cells and disrupt histone deacetylase 3, leading to cell death. To overcome plant sterility associated with GhJAZ24 overexpression, we developed iJAZ (i, induced), an approach involving damage-induced expression and a switch from intracellular to extracellular localization of GhJAZ24. iJAZ transgenic cotton maintained fertility and showed insecticidal activity against cotton bollworm and FAW. In addition, iJAZ transgenic rice, maize and tobacco plants showed insecticidal activity against their lepidopteran pests, resulting in an iJAZ-based approach for generating alternative insecticidal proteins with distinctive mechanisms of action, thus holding immense potential for future crop engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Mo
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Huimin Chang
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Ge Zhao
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guanjing Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiumei Luo
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Jia
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenlu Xu
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guangming Ren
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li Feng
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jonathan F Wendel
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
| | - Xiaoya Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China.
| | - Maozhi Ren
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China.
| | - Fuguang Li
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China.
- The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou, China.
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9
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Yang Y, Tagaloguin P, Chaffin TA, Shao Y, Mazarei M, Millwood RJ, Stewart CN. Drought stress-inducible synthetic promoters designed for poplar are functional in rice. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:69. [PMID: 38345745 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03141-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Water deficit-inducible synthetic promoters, SD9-2 and SD18-1, designed for use in the dicot poplar, are functional in the monocot crop, rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongil Yang
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Paolo Tagaloguin
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Science Department, Mindanao State University-General Santos, Fatima, 9500, General Santos City, Philippines
| | - Timothy A Chaffin
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Yuanhua Shao
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Mitra Mazarei
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - C 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.
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10
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Ahkami AH. Systems biology of root development in Populus: Review and perspectives. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 335:111818. [PMID: 37567482 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The root system of plants consists of primary, lateral, and adventitious roots (ARs) (aka shoot-born roots). ARs arise from stem- or leaf-derived cells during post-embryonic development. Adventitious root development (ARD) through stem cuttings is the first requirement for successful establishment and growth of planted trees; however, the details of the molecular mechanisms underlying ARD are poorly understood. This knowledge is important to both basic plant biology and because of its necessary role in the successful propagation of superior cultivars of commercial woody bioenergy crops, like poplar. In this review article, the molecular mechanisms that control both endogenous (auxin) and environmentally (nutrients and microbes) regulated ARD and how these systems interact to control the rooting efficiency of poplar trees are described. Then, potential future studies in employing integrated systems biology approaches at cellular resolutions are proposed to more precisely identify the molecular mechanisms that cause AR. Using genetic transformation and genome editing approaches, this information can be used for improving ARD in economically important plants for which clonal propagation is a requirement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir H Ahkami
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA.
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11
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Van Gelder K, Oliveira-Filho ER, Messina CD, Venado RE, Wilker J, Rajasekar S, Ané JM, Amthor JS, Hanson AD. Running the numbers on plant synthetic biology solutions to global problems. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 335:111815. [PMID: 37543223 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering promise to deliver sustainable solutions to global problems such as phasing out fossil fuels and replacing industrial nitrogen fixation. While this promise is real, scale matters, and so do knock-on effects of implementing solutions. Both scale and knock-on effects can be estimated by 'Fermi calculations' (aka 'back-of-envelope calculations') that use uncontroversial input data plus simple arithmetic to reach rough but reliable conclusions. Here, we illustrate how this is done and how informative it can be using two cases: oilcane (sugarcane engineered to accumulate triglycerides instead of sugar) as a source of bio-jet fuel, and nitrogen fixation by bacteria in mucilage secreted by maize aerial roots. We estimate that oilcane could meet no more than about 1% of today's U.S. jet fuel demand if grown on all current U.S. sugarcane land and that, if cane land were expanded to meet two-thirds of this demand, the fertilizer and refinery requirements would create a large carbon footprint. Conversely, we estimate that nitrogen fixation in aerial-root mucilage could replace up to 10% of the fertilizer nitrogen applied to U.S. maize, that 2% of plant carbon income used for growth would suffice to fuel the fixation, and that this extra carbon consumption would likely reduce grain yield only slightly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Van Gelder
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Carlos D Messina
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Rafael E Venado
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jennifer Wilker
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Shanmugam Rajasekar
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jean-Michel Ané
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Amthor
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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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: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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.
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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.
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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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Stockdale JN, Millwood RJ. Transgene Bioconfinement: Don't Flow There. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1099. [PMID: 36903958 PMCID: PMC10005267 DOI: 10.3390/plants12051099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The adoption of genetically engineered (GE) crops has led to economic and environmental benefits. However, there are regulatory and environmental concerns regarding the potential movement of transgenes beyond cultivation. These concerns are greater for GE crops with high outcrossing frequencies to sexually compatible wild relatives and those grown in their native region. Newer GE crops may also confer traits that enhance fitness, and introgression of these traits could negatively impact natural populations. Transgene flow could be lessened or prevented altogether through the addition of a bioconfinement system during transgenic plant production. Several bioconfinement approaches have been designed and tested and a few show promise for transgene flow prevention. However, no system has been widely adopted despite nearly three decades of GE crop cultivation. Nonetheless, it may be necessary to implement a bioconfinement system in new GE crops or in those where the potential of transgene flow is high. Here, we survey such systems that focus on male and seed sterility, transgene excision, delayed flowering, as well as the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 to reduce or eliminate transgene flow. We discuss system utility and efficacy, as well as necessary features for commercial adoption.
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MYC2: A Master Switch for Plant Physiological Processes and Specialized Metabolite Synthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043511. [PMID: 36834921 PMCID: PMC9963318 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway plays important roles in plant defenses, development, and the synthesis of specialized metabolites synthesis. Transcription factor MYC2 is a major regulator of the JA signaling pathway and is involved in the regulation of plant physiological processes and specialized metabolite synthesis. Based on our understanding of the mechanism underlying the regulation of specialized metabolite synthesis in plants by the transcription factor MYC2, the use of synthetic biology approaches to design MYC2-driven chassis cells for the synthesis of specialized metabolites with high medicinal value, such as paclitaxel, vincristine, and artemisinin, seems to be a promising strategy. In this review, the regulatory role of MYC2 in JA signal transduction of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses, plant growth, development and specialized metabolite synthesis is described in detail, which will provide valuable reference for the use of MYC2 molecular switches to regulate plant specialized metabolite biosynthesis.
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Yuan JS, Pavlovich MJ, Ragauskas AJ, Han B. Biotechnology for a sustainable future: biomass and beyond. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1395-1398. [PMID: 36273928 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Yuan
- Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | | | - Arthur J Ragauskas
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Center for Renewable Carbon, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Buxing Han
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Yang Y, Shao Y, Chaffin TA, Lee JH, Poindexter MR, Ahkami AH, Blumwald E, Stewart CN. Performance of abiotic stress-inducible synthetic promoters in genetically engineered hybrid poplar ( Populus tremula × Populus alba). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1011939. [PMID: 36330242 PMCID: PMC9623294 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1011939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Abiotic stresses can cause significant damage to plants. For sustainable bioenergy crop production, it is critical to generate resistant crops to such stress. Engineering promoters to control the precise expression of stress resistance genes is a very effective way to address the problem. Here we developed stably transformed Populus tremula × Populus alba hybrid poplar (INRA 717-1B4) containing one-of-six synthetic drought stress-inducible promoters (SDs; SD9-1, SD9-2, SD9-3, SD13-1, SD18-1, and SD18-3) identified previously by transient transformation assays. We screened green fluorescent protein (GFP) induction in poplar under osmotic stress conditions. Of six transgenic lines containing synthetic promoter, three lines (SD18-1, 9-2, and 9-3) had significant GFP expression in both salt and osmotic stress treatments. Each synthetic promoter employed heptamerized repeats of specific and short cis-regulatory elements (7 repeats of 7-8 bases). To verify whether the repeats of longer sequences can improve osmotic stress responsiveness, a transgenic poplar containing the synthetic promoter of the heptamerized entire SD9 motif (20 bases, containing all partial SD9 motifs) was generated and measured for GFP induction under osmotic stress. The heptamerized entire SD9 motif did not result in higher GFP expression than the shorter promoters consisting of heptamerized SD9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 (partial SD9) motifs. This result indicates that shorter synthetic promoters (~50 bp) can be used for versatile control of gene expression in transgenic poplar. These synthetic promoters will be useful tools to engineer stress-resilient bioenergy tree crops in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongil Yang
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Yuanhua Shao
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Timothy A. Chaffin
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Jun Hyung Lee
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Magen R. Poindexter
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Amir H. Ahkami
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, United States
| | - Eduardo Blumwald
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - C. Neal Stewart
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States
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