1
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Marillonnet S, Werner S. Golden Gate Cloning of Multigene Constructs Using the Modular Cloning System MoClo. Methods Mol Biol 2025; 2850:21-39. [PMID: 39363064 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4220-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
Modular cloning systems that rely on type IIS enzymes for DNA assembly have many advantages for construct engineering for biological research and synthetic biology. These systems are simple to use, efficient, and allow users to assemble multigene constructs by performing a series of one-pot assembly steps, starting from libraries of cloned and sequenced parts. The efficiency of these systems also facilitates the generation of libraries of construct variants. We describe here a protocol for assembly of multigene constructs using the modular cloning system MoClo. Making constructs using the MoClo system requires to first define the structure of the final construct to identify all basic parts and vectors required for the construction strategy. The assembly strategy is then defined following a set of standard rules. Multigene constructs are then assembled using a series of one-pot assembly steps with the set of identified parts and vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvestre Marillonnet
- Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle, Germany.
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2
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Lebedev V. Impact of Intron and Retransformation on Transgene Expression in Leaf and Fruit Tissues of Field-Grown Pear Trees. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12883. [PMID: 37629068 PMCID: PMC10454629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612883] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Stable and high expression of introduced genes is a prerequisite for using transgenic trees. Transgene stacking enables combining several valuable traits, but repeated transformation increases the risk of unintended effects. This work studied the stability and intron-mediated enhancement of uidA gene expression in leaves and different anatomical parts of pear fruits during field trials over 14 years. The stability of reporter and herbicide resistance transgenes in retransformed pear plants, as well as possible unintended effects using high-throughput phenotyping tools, were also investigated. The activity of β-glucuronidase (GUS) varied depending on the year, but silencing did not occur. The uidA gene was expressed to a maximum in seeds, slightly less in the peel and peduncles, and much less in the pulp of pear fruits. The intron in the uidA gene stably increased expression in leaves and fruits by approximately twofold. Retransformants with the bar gene showed long-term herbicide resistance and exhibited no consistent changes in leaf size and shape. The transgenic pear was used as rootstock and scion, but grafted plants showed no transport of the GUS protein through the graft in the greenhouse and field. This longest field trial of transgenic fruit trees demonstrates stable expression under varying environmental conditions, the expression-enhancing effect of intron and the absence of unintended effects in single- and double-transformed woody plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Lebedev
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
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3
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Brooks EG, Elorriaga E, Liu Y, Duduit JR, Yuan G, Tsai CJ, Tuskan GA, Ranney TG, Yang X, Liu W. Plant Promoters and Terminators for High-Precision Bioengineering. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2023; 5:0013. [PMID: 37849460 PMCID: PMC10328392 DOI: 10.34133/bdr.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
High-precision bioengineering and synthetic biology require fine-tuning gene expression at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Gene transcription is tightly regulated by promoters and terminators. Promoters determine the timing, tissues and cells, and levels of the expression of genes. Terminators mediate transcription termination of genes and affect mRNA levels posttranscriptionally, e.g., the 3'-end processing, stability, translation efficiency, and nuclear to cytoplasmic export of mRNAs. The promoter and terminator combination affects gene expression. In the present article, we review the function and features of plant core promoters, proximal and distal promoters, and terminators, and their effects on and benchmarking strategies for regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G. Brooks
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Estefania Elorriaga
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - James R. Duduit
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Chung-Jui Tsai
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Gerald A. Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Thomas G. Ranney
- Mountain Crop Improvement Lab, Department of Horticultural Science, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, North Carolina State University, Mills River, NC 28759, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Wusheng Liu
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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4
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Lammens EM, Putzeys L, Boon M, Lavigne R. Sourcing Phage-Encoded Terminators Using ONT-cappable-seq for SynBio Applications in Pseudomonas. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1415-1423. [PMID: 37092882 PMCID: PMC10204088 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Efficient transcriptional terminators are essential for the performance of genetic circuitry in microbial SynBio hosts. In recent years, several libraries of characterized strong terminators have become available for model organisms such as Escherichia coli. Conversely, terminator libraries for nonmodel species remain scarce, and individual terminators are often ported over from model systems, leading to unpredictable performance in their new hosts. In this work, we mined the genomes of Pseudomonas infecting phages LUZ7 and LUZ100 for transcriptional terminators utilizing the full-length RNA sequencing technique "ONT-cappable-seq" and validated these terminators in three Gram-negative hosts using a terminator trap assay. Based on these results, we present nine terminators for E. coli, Pseudomonas putida, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which outperform current reference terminators. Among these, terminator LUZ7 T50 displays potent bidirectional activity. These data further support that bacteriophages, as evolutionary-adapted natural predators of the targeted bacteria, provide a valuable source of microbial SynBio parts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maarten Boon
- Laboratory of Gene
Technology,
Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene
Technology,
Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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5
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Koukara J, Papadopoulou KK. Advances in plant synthetic biology approaches to control expression of gene circuits. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 654:55-61. [PMID: 36889035 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The applications of synthetic biology range from creating simple circuits to monitor an organism's state to complex circuits capable of reconstructing aspects of life. The latter has the potential to be used in plant synthetic biology to address current societal issues by reforming agriculture and enhancing production of molecules of increased demand. For this reason, development of efficient tools to precisely control gene expression of circuits must be prioritized. In this review, we report the latest efforts towards characterization, standardization and assembly of genetic parts into higher-order constructs, as well as available types of inducible systems to modulate their transcription in plant systems. Subsequently, we discuss recent developments in the orthogonal control of gene expression, Boolean logic gates and synthetic genetic toggle-like switches. Finally, we conclude that by combining different means of controlling gene expression, we can create complex circuits capable of reshaping plant life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Koukara
- Laboratory of Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Kalliope K Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
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6
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Tansley C, Houghton J, Rose AME, Witek B, Payet RD, Wu T, Miller JB. CIPK-B is essential for salt stress signalling in Marchantia polymorpha. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:2210-2223. [PMID: 36660914 PMCID: PMC10953335 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18633] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Calcium signalling is central to many plant processes, with families of calcium decoder proteins having expanded across the green lineage and redundancy existing between decoders. The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has fast become a new model plant, but the calcium decoders that exist in this species remain unclear. We performed phylogenetic analyses to identify the calcineurin B-like (CBL) and CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) network of M. polymorpha. We analysed CBL-CIPK expression during salt stress, and determined protein-protein interactions using yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation. We also created genetic knockouts using CRISPR/Cas9. We confirm that M. polymorpha has two CIPKs and three CBLs. Both CIPKs and one CBL show pronounced salt-responsive transcriptional changes. All M. polymorpha CBL-CIPKs interact with each other in planta. Knocking out CIPK-B causes increased sensitivity to salt, suggesting that this CIPK is involved in salt signalling. We have identified CBL-CIPKs that form part of a salt tolerance pathway in M. polymorpha. Phylogeny and interaction studies imply that these CBL-CIPKs form an evolutionarily conserved salt overly sensitive pathway. Hence, salt responses may be some of the early functions of CBL-CIPK networks and increased abiotic stress tolerance required for land plant emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor Tansley
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - James Houghton
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Althea M. E. Rose
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Bartosz Witek
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Rocky D. Payet
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Taoyang Wu
- School of Computing SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - J. Benjamin Miller
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
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7
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Li XR, Sun J, Albinsky D, Zarrabian D, Hull R, Lee T, Jarratt-Barnham E, Chiu CH, Jacobsen A, Soumpourou E, Albanese A, Kohlen W, Luginbuehl LH, Guillotin B, Lawrensen T, Lin H, Murray J, Wallington E, Harwood W, Choi J, Paszkowski U, Oldroyd GED. Nutrient regulation of lipochitooligosaccharide recognition in plants via NSP1 and NSP2. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6421. [PMID: 36307431 PMCID: PMC9616857 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33908-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many plants associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient acquisition, while legumes also associate with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Both associations rely on symbiosis signaling and here we show that cereals can perceive lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) for activation of symbiosis signaling, surprisingly including Nod factors produced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, legumes show stringent perception of specifically decorated LCOs, that is absent in cereals. LCO perception in plants is activated by nutrient starvation, through transcriptional regulation of Nodulation Signaling Pathway (NSP)1 and NSP2. These transcription factors induce expression of an LCO receptor and act through the control of strigolactone biosynthesis and the karrikin-like receptor DWARF14-LIKE. We conclude that LCO production and perception is coordinately regulated by nutrient starvation to promote engagement with mycorrhizal fungi. Our work has implications for the use of both mycorrhizal and rhizobial associations for sustainable productivity in cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Ran Li
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK
| | - Jongho Sun
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK
| | - Doris Albinsky
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Darius Zarrabian
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Raphaella Hull
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Tak Lee
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Edwin Jarratt-Barnham
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Chai Hao Chiu
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Amy Jacobsen
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Eleni Soumpourou
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Alessio Albanese
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Wouter Kohlen
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leonie H. Luginbuehl
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Bruno Guillotin
- grid.503344.50000 0004 0445 6769Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Castanet-Tolosan, France ,grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Present Address: NYU-Center of Genomic and System Biology, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY USA
| | - Tom Lawrensen
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Hui Lin
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Jeremy Murray
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Emma Wallington
- grid.17595.3f0000 0004 0383 6532NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Wendy Harwood
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Jeongmin Choi
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Uta Paszkowski
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Giles E. D. Oldroyd
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
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8
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Sirirungruang S, Markel K, Shih PM. Plant-based engineering for production of high-valued natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1492-1509. [PMID: 35674317 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00017b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to March 2022Plants are a unique source of complex specialized metabolites, many of which play significant roles in human society. In many cases, however, the availability of these metabolites from naturally occurring sources fails to meet current demands. Thus, there is much interest in expanding the production capacity of target plant molecules. Traditionally, plant breeding, chemical synthesis, and microbial fermentation are considered the primary routes towards large scale production of natural products. Here, we explore the advances, challenges, and future of plant engineering as a complementary path. Although plants are an integral part of our food and agricultural systems and sustain an extensive array of chemical constituents, their complex genetics and physiology have prevented the optimal exploitation of plants as a production chassis. We highlight emerging engineering tools and scientific advances developed in recent years that have improved the prospects of using plants as a sustainable and scalable production platform. We also discuss technological limitations and overall economic outlook of plant-based production of natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasilada Sirirungruang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Structure, Function and Application, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Kasey Markel
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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9
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Basu D, South PF. Design and Analysis of Native Photorespiration Gene Motifs of Promoter Untranslated Region Combinations Under Short Term Abiotic Stress Conditions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:828729. [PMID: 35251099 PMCID: PMC8888687 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.828729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative traits are rarely controlled by a single gene, thereby making multi-gene transformation an indispensable component of modern synthetic biology approaches. However, the shortage of unique gene regulatory elements (GREs) for the robust simultaneous expression of multiple nuclear transgenes is a major bottleneck that impedes the engineering of complex pathways in plants. In this study, we compared the transcriptional efficacies of a comprehensive list of well-documented promoter and untranslated region (UTR) sequences side by side. The strength of GREs was examined by a dual-luciferase assay in conjunction with transient expression in tobacco. In addition, we created suites of new GREs with higher transcriptional efficacies by combining the best performing promoter-UTR sequences. We also tested the impact of elevated temperature and high irradiance on the effectiveness of these GREs. While constitutive promoters ensure robust expression of transgenes, they lack spatiotemporal regulations exhibited by native promoters. Here, we present a proof-of-principle study on the characterization of synthetic promoters based on cis-regulatory elements of three key photorespiratory genes. This conserved biochemical process normally increases under elevated temperature, low CO2, and high irradiance stress conditions and results in ∼25% loss in fixed CO2. To select stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements involved in photorespiration, we analyzed promoters of two chloroplast transporters (AtPLGG1 and AtBASS6) and a key plastidial enzyme, AtPGLP using PlantPAN3.0 and AthaMap. Our results suggest that these motifs play a critical role for PLGG1, BASS6, and PGLP in mediating response to elevated temperature and high-intensity light stress. These findings will not only enable the advancement of metabolic and genetic engineering of photorespiration but will also be instrumental in related synthetic biology approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul F. South
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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10
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Wang B, Li N, Huang S, Hu J, Wang Q, Tang Y, Yang T, Asmutola P, Wang J, Yu Q. Enhanced soluble sugar content in tomato fruit using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SlINVINH1 and SlVPE5 gene editing. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12478. [PMID: 34820200 PMCID: PMC8588851 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Soluble sugar is known to improve the sweetness and increase tomato sauce yield. Studies have focused on improving the content of soluble sugar in tomato fruits, usually by promoting functional genes. We studied two genes (SlINVINH1 and SlVPE5) that inhibited the accumulation of soluble sugar in tomato fruits and obtained two genes’ knocked-out lines (CRISPR-invinh1 or CRISPR-vpe5) using CRISPR/Cas9. Aggregated lines with CRISPR-invinh1 and CRISPR-vpe5 were gained by hybridization and self-pollination. Compared to wild-type lines, the glucose, fructose, and total soluble solid (TSS) contents of CRISPR-invinh1 and CRISPR-vpe5 increased significantly. Glucose, fructose, and TSS levels further improved simultaneously with CRISPR-invinh1 and CRISPR-vpe5 than with single gene knock-out lines. This indicates that these genes have a synergistic effect and will increase the soluble sugar content. Thus, the knock-out SlINVINH1 and SlVPE5 may provide a practical basis for improving the sweetness of tomato fruits and their processing quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baike Wang
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Ning Li
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China.,College of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Shaoyong Huang
- College of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jiahui Hu
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China.,Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China.,College of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yaping Tang
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Patiguli Asmutola
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Qinghui Yu
- Institute of Horticulture Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
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11
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Feng J, Lee T, Schiessl K, Oldroyd GED. Processing of NODULE INCEPTION controls the transition to nitrogen fixation in root nodules. Science 2021; 374:629-632. [PMID: 34709900 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg2804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Feng
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Tak Lee
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK.,Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Katharina Schiessl
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Giles E D Oldroyd
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK.,Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
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12
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González-Grandío E, Demirer GS, Ma W, Brady S, Landry MP. A Ratiometric Dual Color Luciferase Reporter for Fast Characterization of Transcriptional Regulatory Elements in Plants. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2763-2766. [PMID: 34520169 PMCID: PMC10503406 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Plant synthetic biology requires precise characterization of genetic elements to construct complex genetic circuits that can improve plant traits or confer them with new characteristics. Transcriptional reporter assays are essential to quantify the effect of gene expression regulator elements. Additionally, transcriptional reporter systems are a key tool in understanding control of gene expression in biology. In this work, we construct and characterize a dual color luciferase ratiometric reporter system that possesses several advantages over currently used reporters. It is ratiometric, thus reducing variability and increasing consistency between experiments; it is fast, as both reporters can be measured at the same time in a single reaction, and it is less expensive to perform than current dual luciferase reporter assays. We have validated our system quantifying the transcriptional capability of a panel of promoters and terminators commonly used in synthetic biology with a broad range of expression magnitudes, and in a biologically relevant system, nitrate response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo González-Grandío
- University of California Berkeley, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Gozde S Demirer
- University of California Davis, Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Wenhe Ma
- University of California Berkeley, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Siobhan Brady
- University of California Davis, Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Markita P Landry
- University of California Berkeley, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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13
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Characterisation of novel regulatory sequences compatible with modular assembly in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.102159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Ainsworth EA, Long SP. 30 years of free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE): What have we learned about future crop productivity and its potential for adaptation? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:27-49. [PMID: 33135850 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) allows open-air elevation of [CO2 ] without altering the microclimate. Its scale uniquely supports simultaneous study from physiology and yield to soil processes and disease. In 2005 we summarized results of then 28 published observations by meta-analysis. Subsequent studies have combined FACE with temperature, drought, ozone, and nitrogen treatments. Here, we summarize the results of now almost 250 observations, spanning 14 sites and five continents. Across 186 independent studies of 18 C3 crops, elevation of [CO2 ] by ca. 200 ppm caused a ca. 18% increase in yield under non-stress conditions. Legumes and root crops showed a greater increase and cereals less. Nitrogen deficiency reduced the average increase to 10%, as did warming by ca. 2°C. Two conclusions of the 2005 analysis were that C4 crops would not be more productive in elevated [CO2 ], except under drought, and that yield responses of C3 crops were diminished by nitrogen deficiency and wet conditions. Both stand the test of time. Further studies of maize and sorghum showed no yield increase, except in drought, while soybean productivity was negatively affected by early growing season wet conditions. Subsequent study showed reduced levels of nutrients, notably Zn and Fe in most crops, and lower nitrogen and protein in the seeds of non-leguminous crops. Testing across crop germplasm revealed sufficient variation to maintain nutrient content under rising [CO2 ]. A strong correlation of yield response under elevated [CO2 ] to genetic yield potential in both rice and soybean was observed. Rice cultivars with the highest yield potential showed a 35% yield increase in elevated [CO2 ] compared to an average of 14%. Future FACE experiments have the potential to develop cultivars and management strategies for co-promoting sustainability and productivity under future elevated [CO2 ].
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- USDA ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Urbana, IL, USA
- Departments of Plant Biology and of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Stephen P Long
- Departments of Plant Biology and of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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15
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Dickinson PJ, Kneřová J, Szecówka M, Stevenson SR, Burgess SJ, Mulvey H, Bågman AM, Gaudinier A, Brady SM, Hibberd JM. A bipartite transcription factor module controlling expression in the bundle sheath of Arabidopsis thaliana. NATURE PLANTS 2020; 6:1468-1479. [PMID: 33230313 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-00805-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis evolved repeatedly from the ancestral C3 state, improving photosynthetic efficiency by ~50%. In most C4 lineages, photosynthesis is compartmented between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, but how gene expression is restricted to these cell types is poorly understood. Using the C3 model Arabidopsis thaliana, we identified cis-elements and transcription factors driving expression in bundle sheath strands. Upstream of the bundle sheath preferentially expressed MYB76 gene, we identified a region necessary and sufficient for expression containing two cis-elements associated with the MYC and MYB families of transcription factors. MYB76 expression is reduced in mutant alleles for these transcription factors. Moreover, downregulated genes shared by both mutants are preferentially expressed in the bundle sheath. Our findings are broadly relevant for understanding the spatial patterning of gene expression, provide specific insights into mechanisms associated with the evolution of C4 photosynthesis and identify a short tuneable sequence for manipulating gene expression in the bundle sheath.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jana Kneřová
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marek Szecówka
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sean R Stevenson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Steven J Burgess
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hugh Mulvey
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anne-Maarit Bågman
- Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Allison Gaudinier
- Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Siobhan M Brady
- Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Milner MJ, Craze M, Hope MS, Wallington EJ. Turning Up the Temperature on CRISPR: Increased Temperature Can Improve the Editing Efficiency of Wheat Using CRISPR/Cas9. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:583374. [PMID: 33324433 PMCID: PMC7726164 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.583374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The application of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies has transformed our ability to target and edit designated regions of a genome. It's broad adaptability to any organism has led to countless advancements in our understanding of many biological processes. Many current tools are designed for simple plant systems such as diploid species, however, efficient deployment in crop species requires a greater efficiency of editing as these often contain polyploid genomes. Here, we examined the role of temperature to understand if CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency can be improved in wheat. The recent finding that plant growth under higher temperatures could increase mutation rates was tested with Cas9 expressed from two different promoters in wheat. Increasing the temperature of the tissue culture or of the seed germination and early growth phase increases the frequency of mutation in wheat when the Cas9 enzyme is driven by the ZmUbi promoter but not OsActin. In contrast, Cas9 expression driven by the OsActin promoter did not increase the mutations detected in either transformed lines or during the transformation process itself. These results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency can be significantly increased in a polyploid cereal species with a simple change in growth conditions to facilitate increased mutations for the creation of homozygous or null knock-outs.
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17
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Rosset SL, Oakley CA, Ferrier-Pagès C, Suggett DJ, Weis VM, Davy SK. The Molecular Language of the Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis. Trends Microbiol 2020; 29:320-333. [PMID: 33041180 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis is of huge importance as it underpins the success of coral reefs, yet we know very little about how the host cnidarian and its dinoflagellate endosymbionts communicate with each other to form a functionally integrated unit. Here, we review the current knowledge of interpartner molecular signaling in this symbiosis, with an emphasis on lipids, glycans, reactive species, biogenic volatiles, and noncoding RNA. We draw upon evidence of these compounds from recent omics-based studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and discuss the signaling roles that they play in other, better-studied symbioses. We then consider how improved knowledge of interpartner signaling might be used to develop solutions to the coral reef crisis by, for example, engineering more thermally resistant corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina L Rosset
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Clinton A Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | | | - David J Suggett
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Virginia M Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
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18
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Lu H, Yuan G, Strauss SH, Tschaplinski TJ, Tuskan GA, Chen JG, Yang X. Reconfiguring Plant Metabolism for Biodegradable Plastic Production. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2020; 2020:9078303. [PMID: 37849903 PMCID: PMC10530661 DOI: 10.34133/2020/9078303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
For decades, plants have been the subject of genetic engineering to synthesize novel, value-added compounds. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a large class of biodegradable biopolymers naturally synthesized in eubacteria, are among the novel products that have been introduced to make use of plant acetyl-CoA metabolic pathways. It was hoped that renewable PHA production would help address environmental issues associated with the accumulation of nondegradable plastic wastes. However, after three decades of effort synthesizing PHAs, and in particular the simplest form polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and seeking to improve their production in plants, it has proven very difficult to reach a commercially profitable rate in a normally growing plant. This seems to be due to the growth defects associated with PHA production and accumulation in plant cells. Here, we review major breakthroughs that have been made in plant-based PHA synthesis using traditional genetic engineering approaches and discuss challenges that have been encountered. Then, from the point of view of plant synthetic biology, we provide perspectives on reprograming plant acetyl-CoA pathways for PHA production, with the goal of maximizing PHA yield while minimizing growth inhibition. Specifically, we suggest genetic elements that can be considered in genetic circuit design, approaches for nuclear genome and plastome modification, and the use of multiomics and mathematical modeling in understanding and restructuring plant metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwei Lu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Steven H. Strauss
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Timothy J. Tschaplinski
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Gerald A. Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Jin-Gui Chen
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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Abstract
Modular cloning systems that rely on type IIS enzymes for DNA assembly have many advantages for complex pathway engineering. These systems are simple to use, efficient, and allow users to assemble multigene constructs by performing a series of one-pot assembly steps, starting from libraries of cloned and sequenced parts. The efficiency of these systems also facilitates the generation of libraries of construct variants. We describe here a protocol for assembly of multigene constructs using the Modular Cloning system MoClo. Making constructs using the MoClo system requires users to first define the structure of the final construct to identify all basic parts and vectors required for the construction strategy. The assembly strategy is then defined following a set of standard rules. Multigene constructs are then assembled using a series of one-pot assembly steps with the set of identified parts and vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvestre Marillonnet
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany.
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20
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Vlad D, Abu-Jamous B, Wang P, Langdale JA. A modular steroid-inducible gene expression system for use in rice. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:426. [PMID: 31615413 PMCID: PMC6794914 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-2038-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemically inducible systems that provide both spatial and temporal control of gene expression are essential tools, with many applications in plant biology, yet they have not been extensively tested in monocotyledonous species. RESULTS Using Golden Gate modular cloning, we have created a monocot-optimized dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible pOp6/LhGR system and tested its efficacy in rice using the reporter enzyme β-glucuronidase (GUS). The system is tightly regulated and highly sensitive to DEX application, with 6 h of induction sufficient to induce high levels of GUS activity in transgenic callus. In seedlings, GUS activity was detectable in the root after in vitro application of just 0.01 μM DEX. However, transgenic plants manifested severe developmental perturbations when grown on higher concentrations of DEX. The direct cause of these growth defects is not known, but the rice genome contains sequences with high similarity to the LhGR target sequence lacO, suggesting non-specific activation of endogenous genes by DEX induction. These off-target effects can be minimized by quenching with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that the system is suitable for general use in rice, when the method of DEX application and relevant controls are tailored appropriately for each specific application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vlad
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3RB UK
| | - Basel Abu-Jamous
- Present address: Sensyne Health, Schrödinger Building, Heatley Road, Oxford Science Park, Oxford, OX4 4GE UK
| | - Peng Wang
- Present Address: Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Jane A. Langdale
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3RB UK
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21
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Lebedev V. The Rooting of Stem Cuttings and the Stability of uidA Gene Expression in Generative and Vegetative Progeny of Transgenic Pear Rootstock in the Field. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E291. [PMID: 31430873 PMCID: PMC6724118 DOI: 10.3390/plants8080291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Adventitious rooting plays an important role in the commercial vegetative propagation of trees. Adventitious root formation is a complex biological process, but knowledge of the possible unintended effects induced by both the integration/expression of transgenes and in vitro conditions on the rooting is limited. The long-term stability of transgene expression is important both for original transformants of woody plants and its progeny. In this study, we used field-grown pear rootstock GP217 trees transformed with the reporter ß-glucuronidase (uidA) genes with and without intron and re-transformed with the herbicide resistance bar gene as model systems. We assessed the unintended effects on rooting of pear semi-hardwood cuttings and evaluated the stability of transgene expression in progeny produced by generative (seedlings) and vegetative (grafting, cutting) means up to four years. Our investigation revealed that: (1) The single and repeated transformations of clonal pear rootstocks did not result in unintended effects on adventitious root formation in cuttings; (2) stability of the transgene expression was confirmed on both generative and vegetative progeny, and no silenced transgenic plants were detected; (3) yearly variation in the gene expressions was observed and expression levels were decreased in extremely hot and dry summer; (4) the intron enhanced the expression of uidA gene in pear plants approximately two-fold compared to gene without intron. The current study provides useful information on transgene expression in progeny of fruit trees under natural environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Lebedev
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Science avenue 6, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia.
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