1
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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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2
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Davis GV, de Souza Moraes T, Khanapurkar S, Dromiack H, Ahmad Z, Bayer EM, Bhalerao RP, Walker SI, Bassel GW. Toward uncovering an operating system in plant organs. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:742-753. [PMID: 38036390 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Molecular motifs can explain information processing within single cells, while how assemblies of cells collectively achieve this remains less well understood. Plant fitness and survival depend upon robust and accurate decision-making in their decentralised multicellular organ systems. Mobile agents, including hormones, metabolites, and RNAs, have a central role in coordinating multicellular collective decision-making, yet mechanisms describing how cell-cell communication scales to organ-level transitions is poorly understood. Here, we explore how unified outputs may emerge in plant organs by distributed information processing across different scales and using different modalities. Mathematical and computational representations of these events are also explored toward understanding how these events take place and are leveraged to manipulate plant development in response to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolyn V Davis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Tatiana de Souza Moraes
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire, UMR 5200, F-33140 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Swanand Khanapurkar
- ASU-SFI Center for Biosocial Complex Systems, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Hannah Dromiack
- ASU-SFI Center for Biosocial Complex Systems, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Zaki Ahmad
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Emmanuelle M Bayer
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire, UMR 5200, F-33140 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Rishikesh P Bhalerao
- Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sara I Walker
- ASU-SFI Center for Biosocial Complex Systems, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - George W Bassel
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
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3
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Jung S, Maeda HA. Debottlenecking the L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase step with enhanced tyrosine supply boosts betalain production in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:2456-2471. [PMID: 38498597 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology provides emerging tools to produce valuable compounds in plant hosts as sustainable chemical production platforms. However, little is known about how supply and utilization of precursors is coordinated at the interface of plant primary and specialized metabolism, limiting our ability to efficiently produce high levels of target specialized metabolites in plants. L-Tyrosine is an aromatic amino acid precursor of diverse plant natural products including betalain pigments, which are used as the major natural food red colorants and more recently a visual marker for plant transformation. Here, we studied the impact of enhanced L-tyrosine supply on the production of betalain pigments by expressing arogenate dehydrogenase (TyrA) from table beet (Beta vulgaris, BvTyrAα), which has relaxed feedback inhibition by L-tyrosine. Unexpectedly, betalain levels were reduced when BvTyrAα was coexpressed with the betalain pathway genes in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves; L-tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) levels were drastically elevated but not efficiently converted to betalains. An additional expression of L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase (DODA), but not CYP76AD1 or cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase, together with BvTyrAα and the betalain pathway, drastically enhanced betalain production, indicating that DODA is a major rate-limiting step of betalain biosynthesis in this system. Learning from this initial test and further debottlenecking the DODA step maximized betalain yield to an equivalent or higher level than that in table beet. Our data suggest that balancing between enhanced supply ("push") and effective utilization ("pull") of precursor by alleviating a bottleneck step is critical in successful plant synthetic biology to produce high levels of target compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyoung Jung
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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4
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Pfotenhauer AC, Lenaghan SC. Phytosensors: harnessing plants to understand the world around us. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103134. [PMID: 38705091 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103134] [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] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Although plants are sessile, their ubiquitous distribution, ability to harness energy from the sun, and ability to sense above and belowground signals make them ideal candidates for biosensor development. Synthetic biology has allowed scientists to reimagine biosensors as engineered devices that are focused on accomplishing novel tasks. As such, a new wave of plant-based sensors, phytosensors, are being engineered as multi-component sense-and-report devices that can alert human operators to a variety of hazards. While phytosensors are intrinsically tied to agriculture, a new generation of phytosensors has been envisioned to function in the built environment and even in austere environments, such as space. In this review, we will explore the current state of the art with regard to phytosensor engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott C Lenaghan
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
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5
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Vollen K, Zhao C, Alonso JM, Stepanova AN. Sourcing DNA parts for synthetic biology applications in plants. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103140. [PMID: 38723389 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103140] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Transgenic approaches are now standard in plant biology research aiming to characterize gene function or improve crops. Recent advances in DNA synthesis and assembly make constructing transgenes a routine task. What remains nontrivial is the selection of the DNA parts and optimization of the transgene design. Early career researchers and seasoned molecular biologists alike often face difficult decisions on what promoter or terminator to use, what tag to include, and where to place it. This review aims to inform about the current approaches being employed to identify and characterize DNA parts with the desired functionalities and give general advice on basic construct design. Furthermore, we hope to share the excitement about new experimental and computational tools being developed in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Vollen
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Chengsong Zhao
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Jose M Alonso
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Anna N Stepanova
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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6
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Guiziou S. Biocomputing in plants, from proof of concept to application. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103146. [PMID: 38781700 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103146] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
In response to the challenges of climate change and the transition toward sustainability, synthetic biology offers innovative solutions. Most current plant synthetic biology applications rely on the constitutive expression of enzymes and regulators. To engineer plant phenotypes tuneable to environmental conditions and plant cellular states, the integration of multiple signals in synthetic circuits is required. While most circuits are developed in model organisms, numerous tools were recently developed to implement biocomputation in plant synthetic circuits. I presented in this review the tools and design methods for logic circuit implementation in plants. I highlighted recent and potential applications of those circuits to understand and engineer plant interaction with the environment, development, and metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guiziou
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK.
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7
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Akter S, Castaneda-Méndez O, Beltrán J. Synthetic reprogramming of plant developmental and biochemical pathways. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103139. [PMID: 38691988 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103139] [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: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Plant synthetic biology (Plant SynBio) is an emerging field with the potential to enhance agriculture, human health, and sustainability. Integrating genetic tools and engineering principles, Plant SynBio aims to manipulate cellular functions and construct novel biochemical pathways to develop plants with new phenotypic traits, enhanced yield, and be able to produce natural products and pharmaceuticals. This review compiles research efforts in reprogramming plant developmental and biochemical pathways. We highlight studies leveraging new gene expression toolkits to alter plant architecture for improved performance in model and crop systems and to produce useful metabolites in plant tissues. Furthermore, we provide insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of Plant SynBio in addressing complex issues impacting agriculture and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shammi Akter
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA
| | - Oscar Castaneda-Méndez
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA
| | - Jesús Beltrán
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
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8
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Ferriera Neres D, Wright RC. Pleiotropy, a feature or a bug? Toward co-ordinating plant growth, development, and environmental responses through engineering plant hormone signaling. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 88:103151. [PMID: 38823314 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The advent of gene editing technologies such as CRISPR has simplified co-ordinating trait development. However, identifying candidate genes remains a challenge due to complex gene networks and pathways. These networks exhibit pleiotropy, complicating the determination of specific gene and pathway functions. In this review, we explore how systems biology and single-cell sequencing technologies can aid in identifying candidate genes for co-ordinating specifics of plant growth and development within specific temporal and tissue contexts. Exploring sequence-function space of these candidate genes and pathway modules with synthetic biology allows us to test hypotheses and define genotype-phenotype relationships through reductionist approaches. Collectively, these techniques hold the potential to advance breeding and genetic engineering strategies while also addressing genetic diversity issues critical for adaptation and trait development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deisiany Ferriera Neres
- Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg, Virginia, United States; Translational Plant Science Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg, Virginia, United States
| | - R Clay Wright
- Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg, Virginia, United States; Translational Plant Science Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg, Virginia, United States.
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9
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Advancing programmable gene expression in plants using CRISPRi-based Boolean gates. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02273-5. [PMID: 38769425 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02273-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
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10
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Khan MA, Herring G, Zhu JY, Oliva M, Fourie E, Johnston B, Zhang Z, Potter J, Pineda L, Pflueger J, Swain T, Pflueger C, Lloyd JPB, Secco D, Small I, Kidd BN, Lister R. CRISPRi-based circuits to control gene expression in plants. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02236-w. [PMID: 38769424 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02236-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The construction of synthetic gene circuits in plants has been limited by a lack of orthogonal and modular parts. Here, we implement a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) interference (CRISPRi)-based reversible gene circuit platform in plants. We create a toolkit of engineered repressible promoters of different strengths and construct NOT and NOR gates in Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. We determine the optimal processing system to express single guide RNAs from RNA Pol II promoters to introduce NOR gate programmability for interfacing with host regulatory sequences. The performance of a NOR gate in stably transformed Arabidopsis plants demonstrates the system's programmability and reversibility in a complex multicellular organism. Furthermore, cross-species activity of CRISPRi-based logic gates is shown in Physcomitrium patens, Triticum aestivum and Brassica napus protoplasts. Layering multiple NOR gates together creates OR, NIMPLY and AND logic functions, highlighting the modularity of our system. Our CRISPRi circuits are orthogonal, compact, reversible, programmable and modular and provide a platform for sophisticated spatiotemporal control of gene expression in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Adil Khan
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gabrielle Herring
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jia Yuan Zhu
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Marina Oliva
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Elliott Fourie
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Benjamin Johnston
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Zhining Zhang
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jarred Potter
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Luke Pineda
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jahnvi Pflueger
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tessa Swain
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Christian Pflueger
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - James P B Lloyd
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David Secco
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ian Small
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Brendan N Kidd
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Ryan Lister
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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11
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Tian C, Li J, Wu Y, Wang G, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Sun Y, Wang Y. An integrative database and its application for plant synthetic biology research. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 5:100827. [PMID: 38297840 PMCID: PMC11121754 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Plant synthetic biology research requires diverse bioparts that facilitate the redesign and construction of new-to-nature biological devices or systems in plants. Limited by few well-characterized bioparts for plant chassis, the development of plant synthetic biology lags behind that of its microbial counterpart. Here, we constructed a web-based Plant Synthetic BioDatabase (PSBD), which currently categorizes 1677 catalytic bioparts and 384 regulatory elements and provides information on 309 species and 850 chemicals. Online bioinformatics tools including local BLAST, chem similarity, phylogenetic analysis, and visual strength are provided to assist with the rational design of genetic circuits for manipulation of gene expression in planta. We demonstrated the utility of the PSBD by functionally characterizing taxadiene synthase 2 and its quantitative regulation in tobacco leaves. More powerful synthetic devices were then assembled to amplify the transcriptional signals, enabling enhanced expression of flavivirus non-structure 1 proteins in plants. The PSBD is expected to be an integrative and user-centered platform that provides a one-stop service for diverse applications in plant synthetic biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenfei Tian
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuhan Wu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Guangyi Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuwei Sun
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Yong Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
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12
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Morey K, Khakhar A. Exploring the frontier of rapid prototyping technologies for plant synthetic biology and what could lie beyond. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:903-908. [PMID: 38426415 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19650] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Realizing the full potential of plant synthetic biology both to elucidate the relationship between genotype and phenotype and to apply these insights to engineer traits requires rapidly iterating through design-build-test cycles. However, the months-long process of transgenesis, the long generation times, and the size-based limitations on experimentation have stymied progress by limiting the speed and scale of these cycles. Herein, we review a representative sample of recent studies that demonstrate a variety of rapid prototyping technologies that overcome some of these bottlenecks and accelerate progress. However, each of them has caveats that limit their broad utility. Their complementary strengths and weaknesses point to the intriguing possibility that these strategies could be combined in the future to enable rapid and scalable deployment of synthetic biology in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Morey
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80525, USA
| | - Arjun Khakhar
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80525, USA
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13
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Dixon RA, Dickinson AJ. A century of studying plant secondary metabolism-From "what?" to "where, how, and why?". PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:48-66. [PMID: 38163637 PMCID: PMC11060662 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Over the past century, early advances in understanding the identity of the chemicals that collectively form a living plant have led scientists to deeper investigations exploring where these molecules localize, how they are made, and why they are synthesized in the first place. Many small molecules are specific to the plant kingdom and have been termed plant secondary metabolites, despite the fact that they can play primary and essential roles in plant structure, development, and response to the environment. The past 100 yr have witnessed elucidation of the structure, function, localization, and biosynthesis of selected plant secondary metabolites. Nevertheless, many mysteries remain about the vast diversity of chemicals produced by plants and their roles in plant biology. From early work characterizing unpurified plant extracts, to modern integration of 'omics technology to discover genes in metabolite biosynthesis and perception, research in plant (bio)chemistry has produced knowledge with substantial benefits for society, including human medicine and agricultural biotechnology. Here, we review the history of this work and offer suggestions for future areas of exploration. We also highlight some of the recently developed technologies that are leading to ongoing research advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Dixon
- BioDiscovery Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Alexandra Jazz Dickinson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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14
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Tansley C, Patron NJ, Guiziou S. Engineering Plant Cell Fates and Functions for Agriculture and Industry. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:998-1005. [PMID: 38573786 PMCID: PMC11036505 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Many plant species are grown to enable access to specific organs or tissues, such as seeds, fruits, or stems. In some cases, a value is associated with a molecule that accumulates in a single type of cell. Domestication and subsequent breeding have often increased the yields of these target products by increasing the size, number, and quality of harvested organs and tissues but also via changes to overall plant growth architecture to suit large-scale cultivation. Many of the mutations that underlie these changes have been identified in key regulators of cellular identity and function. As key determinants of yield, these regulators are key targets for synthetic biology approaches to engineer new forms and functions. However, our understanding of many plant developmental programs and cell-type specific functions is still incomplete. In this Perspective, we discuss how advances in cellular genomics together with synthetic biology tools such as biosensors and DNA-recording devices are advancing our understanding of cell-specific programs and cell fates. We then discuss advances and emerging opportunities for cell-type-specific engineering to optimize plant morphology, responses to the environment, and the production of valuable compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor Tansley
- Engineering
Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ United Kingdom
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA United
Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Patron
- Engineering
Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ United Kingdom
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA United
Kingdom
| | - Sarah Guiziou
- Engineering
Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ United Kingdom
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15
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Maini Rekdal V, van der Luijt CRB, Chen Y, Kakumanu R, Baidoo EEK, Petzold CJ, Cruz-Morales P, Keasling JD. Edible mycelium bioengineered for enhanced nutritional value and sensory appeal using a modular synthetic biology toolkit. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2099. [PMID: 38485948 PMCID: PMC10940619 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46314-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are critical in the transition to a more sustainable food system. While genetic modification of these organisms has promise for enhancing the nutritional value, sensory appeal, and scalability of fungal foods, genetic tools and demonstrated use cases for bioengineered food production by edible strains are lacking. Here, we develop a modular synthetic biology toolkit for Aspergillus oryzae, an edible fungus used in fermented foods, protein production, and meat alternatives. Our toolkit includes a CRISPR-Cas9 method for gene integration, neutral loci, and tunable promoters. We use these tools to elevate intracellular levels of the nutraceutical ergothioneine and the flavor-and color molecule heme in the edible biomass. The strain overproducing heme is red in color and is readily formulated into imitation meat patties with minimal processing. These findings highlight the promise of synthetic biology to enhance fungal foods and provide useful genetic tools for applications in food production and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vayu Maini Rekdal
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Casper R B van der Luijt
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, 1958, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Yan Chen
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ramu Kakumanu
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Edward E K Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Christopher J Petzold
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Pablo Cruz-Morales
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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16
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Collins E, Shou H, Mao C, Whelan J, Jost R. Dynamic interactions between SPX proteins, the ubiquitination machinery, and signalling molecules for stress adaptation at a whole-plant level. Biochem J 2024; 481:363-385. [PMID: 38421035 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230163] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The plant macronutrient phosphorus is a scarce resource and plant-available phosphate is limiting in most soil types. Generally, a gene regulatory module called the phosphate starvation response (PSR) enables efficient phosphate acquisition by roots and translocation to other organs. Plants growing on moderate to nutrient-rich soils need to co-ordinate availability of different nutrients and repress the highly efficient PSR to adjust phosphate acquisition to the availability of other macro- and micronutrients, and in particular nitrogen. PSR repression is mediated by a small family of single SYG1/Pho81/XPR1 (SPX) domain proteins. The SPX domain binds higher order inositol pyrophosphates that signal cellular phosphorus status and modulate SPX protein interaction with PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1 (PHR1), the central transcriptional regulator of PSR. Sequestration by SPX repressors restricts PHR1 access to PSR gene promoters. Here we focus on SPX4 that primarily acts in shoots and sequesters many transcription factors other than PHR1 in the cytosol to control processes beyond the classical PSR, such as nitrate, auxin, and jasmonic acid signalling. Unlike SPX1 and SPX2, SPX4 is subject to proteasomal degradation not only by singular E3 ligases, but also by SCF-CRL complexes. Emerging models for these different layers of control and their consequences for plant acclimation to the environment will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Collins
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Huixia Shou
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China
- The Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Base on Engineering Biology, International Campus of Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, China
| | - Chuanzao Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
| | - James Whelan
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
- The Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Base on Engineering Biology, International Campus of Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, China
| | - Ricarda Jost
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
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17
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Quiroz LF, Gondalia N, Brychkova G, McKeown PC, Spillane C. Haploid rhapsody: the molecular and cellular orchestra of in vivo haploid induction in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:1936-1949. [PMID: 38180262 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19523] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
In planta haploid induction (HI), which reduces the chromosome number in the progeny after fertilization, has garnered increasing attention for its significant potential in crop breeding and genetic research. Despite the identification of several natural and synthetic HI systems in different plant species, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these HI systems remain largely unknown. This review synthesizes the current understanding of HI systems in plants (with a focus on genes and molecular mechanisms involved), including the molecular and cellular interactions which orchestrate the HI process. As most HI systems can function across taxonomic boundaries, we particularly discuss the evidence for conserved mechanisms underlying the process. These include mechanisms involved in preserving chromosomal integrity, centromere function, gamete communication and/or fusion, and maintenance of karyogamy. While significant discoveries and advances on haploid inducer systems have arisen over the past decades, we underscore gaps in understanding and deliberate on directions for further research for a more comprehensive understanding of in vivo HI processes in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Felipe Quiroz
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
| | - Nikita Gondalia
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
| | - Galina Brychkova
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
| | - Peter C McKeown
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
| | - Charles Spillane
- Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
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18
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Boo A, Toth T, Yu Q, Pfotenhauer A, Fields BD, Lenaghan SC, Stewart CN, Voigt CA. Synthetic microbe-to-plant communication channels. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1817. [PMID: 38418817 PMCID: PMC10901793 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45897-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants and microbes communicate to collaborate to stop pests, scavenge nutrients, and react to environmental change. Microbiota consisting of thousands of species interact with each other and plants using a large chemical language that is interpreted by complex regulatory networks. In this work, we develop modular interkingdom communication channels, enabling bacteria to convey environmental stimuli to plants. We introduce a "sender device" in Pseudomonas putida and Klebsiella pneumoniae, that produces the small molecule p-coumaroyl-homoserine lactone (pC-HSL) when the output of a sensor or circuit turns on. This molecule triggers a "receiver device" in the plant to activate gene expression. We validate this system in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum tuberosum (potato) grown hydroponically and in soil, demonstrating its modularity by swapping bacteria that process different stimuli, including IPTG, aTc and arsenic. Programmable communication channels between bacteria and plants will enable microbial sentinels to transmit information to crops and provide the building blocks for designing artificial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Boo
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Tyler Toth
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Qiguo Yu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Alexander Pfotenhauer
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Brandon D Fields
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Scott C Lenaghan
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - C Neal Stewart
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Christopher A Voigt
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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19
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Ragland CJ, Shih KY, Dinneny JR. Choreographing root architecture and rhizosphere interactions through synthetic biology. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1370. [PMID: 38355570 PMCID: PMC10866969 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45272-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is driving extreme changes to the environment, posing substantial threats to global food security and bioenergy. Given the direct role of plant roots in mediating plant-environment interactions, engineering the form and function of root systems and their associated microbiota may mitigate these effects. Synthetic genetic circuits have enabled sophisticated control of gene expression in microbial systems for years and a surge of advances has heralded the extension of this approach to multicellular plant species. Targeting these tools to affect root structure, exudation, and microbe activity on root surfaces provide multiple strategies for the advancement of climate-ready crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carin J Ragland
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Kevin Y Shih
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - José R Dinneny
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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20
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Calvache C, Vazquez‐Vilar M, Moreno‐Giménez E, Orzaez D. A quantitative autonomous bioluminescence reporter system with a wide dynamic range for Plant Synthetic Biology. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:37-47. [PMID: 37882352 PMCID: PMC10754000 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Plant Synthetic Biology aims to enhance the capacities of plants by designing and integrating synthetic gene circuits (SGCs). Quantitative reporting solutions that can produce quick, rich datasets affordably are necessary for SGC optimization. In this paper, we present a new, low-cost, and high-throughput reporter system for the quantitative measurement of gene expression in plants based on autonomous bioluminescence. This method eliminates the need for an exogenous supply of luciferase substrate by exploiting the entire Neonothopanus nambi fungal bioluminescence cyclic pathway to build a self-sustained reporter. The HispS gene, the pathway's limiting step, was set up as the reporter's transcriptional entry point as part of the new system's design, which significantly improved the output's dynamic range and brought it on par with that of the gold standard FLuc/RLuc reporter. Additionally, transient ratiometric measurements in N. benthamiana were made possible by the addition of an enhanced GFP as a normalizer. The performance of new NeoLuc/eGFP system was extensively validated with SGCs previously described, including phytohormone and optogenetic sensors. Furthermore, we employed NeoLuc/eGFP in the optimization of challenging SGCs, including new configurations for an agrochemical (copper) switch, a new blue optogenetic sensor, and a dual copper/red-light switch for tight regulation of metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Calvache
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValénciaValenciaSpain
| | - Marta Vazquez‐Vilar
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValénciaValenciaSpain
| | - Elena Moreno‐Giménez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValénciaValenciaSpain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValénciaValenciaSpain
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21
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Pfotenhauer AC, Reuter DN, Clark M, Harbison SA, Schimel TM, Stewart CN, Lenaghan SC. Development of new binary expression systems for plant synthetic biology. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 43:22. [PMID: 38150091 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03100-y] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE A novel plant binary expression system was developed from the compactin biosynthetic pathway 27 of Penicillium citrinum ML-236B. The system achieved >fivefold activation of gene expression in 28 transgenic tobacco. A diverse and well-characterized genetic toolset is fundamental to achieve the overall goals of plant synthetic biology. To properly coordinate expression of a multigene pathway, this toolset should include binary systems that control gene expression at the level of transcription. In plants, few highly functional, orthogonal transcriptional regulators have been identified. Here, we describe the process of developing synthetic plant transcription factors using regulatory elements from the Penicillium citrinum ML-236B (compactin) pathway. This pathway contains several genes including mlcA and mlcC that are transcriptionally regulated in a dose-dependent manner by the activator mlcR. In Nicotiana benthamiana, we first expressed mlcR with several cognate synthetic promoters driving expression of GFP. Synthetic promoters contained operator sequences from the compactin gene cluster. Following identification of the most active synthetic promoter, the DNA-binding domain from mlcR was used to generate chimeric transcription factors containing variable activation domains, including QF from the Neurospora crassa Q-system. Activity was measured at both protein and RNA levels which correlated with an R2 value of 0.94. A synthetic transcription factor with a QF activation domain increased gene expression from its synthetic promoter up to sixfold in N. benthamiana. Two systems were characterized in transgenic tobacco plants. The QF-based plants maintained high expression in tobacco, increasing expression from the cognate synthetic promoter by fivefold. Transgenic plants and non-transgenic plants were morphologically indistinguishable. The framework of this study can easily be adopted for other putative transcription factors to continue improvement of the plant synthetic biology toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Pfotenhauer
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - D Nikki Reuter
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Mikayla Clark
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Stacee A Harbison
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Tayler M Schimel
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - C Neal Stewart
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
- Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Scott C Lenaghan
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
- Department of Food Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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22
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Bello AJ, Popoola A, Okpuzor J, Ihekwaba-Ndibe AE, Olorunniji FJ. A Genetic Circuit Design for Targeted Viral RNA Degradation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 11:22. [PMID: 38247899 PMCID: PMC10813695 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in synthetic biology have led to the design of biological parts that can be assembled in different ways to perform specific functions. For example, genetic circuits can be designed to execute specific therapeutic functions, including gene therapy or targeted detection and the destruction of invading viruses. Viral infections are difficult to manage through drug treatment. Due to their high mutation rates and their ability to hijack the host's ribosomes to make viral proteins, very few therapeutic options are available. One approach to addressing this problem is to disrupt the process of converting viral RNA into proteins, thereby disrupting the mechanism for assembling new viral particles that could infect other cells. This can be done by ensuring precise control over the abundance of viral RNA (vRNA) inside host cells by designing biological circuits to target vRNA for degradation. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have become important biological devices in regulating RNA processing. Incorporating naturally upregulated RBPs into a gene circuit could be advantageous because such a circuit could mimic the natural pathway for RNA degradation. This review highlights the process of viral RNA degradation and different approaches to designing genetic circuits. We also provide a customizable template for designing genetic circuits that utilize RBPs as transcription activators for viral RNA degradation, with the overall goal of taking advantage of the natural functions of RBPs in host cells to activate targeted viral RNA degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adebayo J. Bello
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (A.J.B.); (A.P.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede 232101, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Abdulgafar Popoola
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (A.J.B.); (A.P.)
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin 241102, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | - Joy Okpuzor
- Department of Cell Biology & Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos 101017, Lagos State, Nigeria;
| | | | - Femi J. Olorunniji
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (A.J.B.); (A.P.)
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23
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Gao Y, Wang L, Wang B. Customizing cellular signal processing by synthetic multi-level regulatory circuits. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8415. [PMID: 38110405 PMCID: PMC10728147 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44256-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
As synthetic biology permeates society, the signal processing circuits in engineered living systems must be customized to meet practical demands. Towards this mission, novel regulatory mechanisms and genetic circuits with unprecedented complexity have been implemented over the past decade. These regulatory mechanisms, such as transcription and translation control, could be integrated into hybrid circuits termed "multi-level circuits". The multi-level circuit design will tremendously benefit the current genetic circuit design paradigm, from modifying basic circuit dynamics to facilitating real-world applications, unleashing our capabilities to customize cellular signal processing and address global challenges through synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanli Gao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Lei Wang
- Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering & School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310030, China.
| | - Baojun Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Research Center for Biological Computation, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, 311100, China.
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24
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Bull T, Khakhar A. Design principles for synthetic control systems to engineer plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 42:1875-1889. [PMID: 37789180 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03072-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Synthetic control systems have led to significant advancement in the study and engineering of unicellular organisms, but it has been challenging to apply these tools to multicellular organisms like plants. The ability to predictably engineer plants will enable the development of novel traits capable of alleviating global problems, such as climate change and food insecurity. Engineering predictable multicellular phenotypes will require the development of synthetic control systems that can precisely regulate how the information encoded in genomes is translated into phenotypes. Many efficient control systems have been developed for unicellular organisms. However, it remains challenging to use such tools to study or engineer multicellular organisms. Plants are a good chassis within which to develop strategies to overcome these challenges, thanks to their capacity to withstand large-scale reprogramming without lethality. Additionally, engineered plants have great potential for solving major societal problems. Here we briefly review the progress of control system development in unicellular organisms, and how that information can be leveraged to characterize control systems in plants. Further, we discuss strategies for developing control systems designed to regulate the expression of transgenes or endogenous loci and generate dosage-dependent or discrete traits. Finally, we discuss the utility that mathematical models of biological processes have for control system deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawni Bull
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Arjun Khakhar
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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25
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Nolan TM, Shahan R. Resolving plant development in space and time with single-cell genomics. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 76:102444. [PMID: 37696725 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell genomics technologies are ushering in a new research era. In this review, we summarize the benefits and current challenges of using these technologies to probe the transcriptional regulation of plant development. In addition to profiling cells at a single snapshot in time, researchers have recently produced time-resolved datasets to map cell responses to stimuli. Live-imaging and spatial transcriptomic techniques are rapidly being adopted to link a cell's transcriptional profile with its spatial location within a tissue. Combining these technologies is a powerful spatiotemporal approach to investigate cell plasticity and developmental responses that contribute to plant resilience. Although there are hurdles to overcome, we conclude by discussing how single-cell genomics is poised to address developmental questions in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor M Nolan
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Rachel Shahan
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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26
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Yang EJY, Maranas CJ, Nemhauser JL. A comparative analysis of stably expressed genes across diverse angiosperms exposes flexibility in underlying promoter architecture. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad206. [PMID: 37697043 PMCID: PMC10627262 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad206] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Promoters regulate both the amplitude and pattern of gene expression-key factors needed for optimization of many synthetic biology applications. Previous work in Arabidopsis found that promoters that contain a TATA-box element tend to be expressed only under specific conditions or in particular tissues, while promoters that lack any known promoter elements, thus designated as Coreless, tend to be expressed more uniformly. To test whether this trend represents a conserved promoter design rule, we identified stably expressed genes across multiple angiosperm species using publicly available RNA-seq data. Comparisons between core promoter architectures and gene expression stability revealed differences in core promoter usage in monocots and eudicots. Furthermore, when tracing the evolution of a given promoter across species, we found that core promoter type was not a strong predictor of expression pattern. Our analysis suggests that core promoter types are correlative rather than causative in promoter expression patterns and highlights the challenges in finding or building constitutive promoters that will work across diverse plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Y Yang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-1800, USA
| | - Cassandra J Maranas
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-1800, USA
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27
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Yang EJ, Nemhauser JL. Building a pipeline to identify and engineer constitutive and repressible promoters. QUANTITATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 4:e12. [PMID: 37901686 PMCID: PMC10600573 DOI: 10.1017/qpb.2023.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
To support the increasingly complex circuits needed for plant synthetic biology applications, additional constitutive promoters are essential. Reusing promoter parts can lead to difficulty in cloning, increased heterogeneity between transformants, transgene silencing and trait instability. We have developed a pipeline to identify genes that have stable expression across a wide range of Arabidopsis tissues at different developmental stages and have identified a number of promoters that are well expressed in both transient (Nicotiana benthamiana) and stable (Arabidopsis) transformation assays. We have also introduced two genome-orthogonal gRNA target sites in a subset of the screened promoters, converting them into NOR logic gates. The work here establishes a pipeline to screen for additional constitutive promoters and can form the basis of constructing more complex information processing circuits in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J.Y. Yang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Drummond RSM, Lee HW, Luo Z, Dakin JF, Janssen BJ, Snowden KC. Varying the expression pattern of the strigolactone receptor gene DAD2 results in phenotypes distinct from both wild type and knockout mutants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1277617. [PMID: 37900765 PMCID: PMC10600376 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1277617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
The action of the petunia strigolactone (SL) hormone receptor DAD2 is dependent not only on its interaction with the PhMAX2A and PhD53A proteins, but also on its expression patterns within the plant. Previously, in a yeast-2-hybrid system, we showed that a series of a single and double amino acid mutants of DAD2 had altered interactions with these binding partners. In this study, we tested the mutants in two plant systems, Arabidopsis and petunia. Testing in Arabidopsis was enabled by creating a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout mutant of the Arabidopsis strigolactone receptor (AtD14). We produced SL receptor activity in both systems using wild type and mutant genes; however, the mutants had functions largely indistinguishable from those of the wild type. The expression of the wild type DAD2 from the CaMV 35S promoter in dad2 petunia produced plants neither quite like the dad2 mutant nor the V26 wild type. These plants had greater height and leaf size although branch number and the plant shape remained more like those of the mutant. These traits may be valuable in the context of a restricted area growing system such as controlled environment agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Revel S. M. Drummond
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | - Kimberley C. Snowden
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
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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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30
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Oliva M, Lister R. Exploring the identity of individual plant cells in space and time. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:61-67. [PMID: 37483019 PMCID: PMC10952157 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19153] [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: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, single-cell genomics, coupled to imaging techniques, have become the state-of-the-art approach for characterising biological systems. In plant sciences, a variety of tissues and species have been profiled, providing an enormous quantity of data on cell identity at an unprecedented resolution, but what biological insights can be gained from such data sets? Using recently published studies in plant sciences, we will highlight how single-cell technologies have enabled a better comprehension of tissue organisation, cell fate dynamics in development or in response to various stimuli, as well as identifying key transcriptional regulators of cell identity. We discuss the limitations and technical hurdles to overcome, as well as future directions, and the promising use of single-cell omics to understand, predict, and manipulate plant development and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Oliva
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular SciencesUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWA6009Australia
| | - Ryan Lister
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular SciencesUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWA6009Australia
- The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical ResearchThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWA6009Australia
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31
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Liu S, Zenda T, Tian Z, Huang Z. Metabolic pathways engineering for drought or/and heat tolerance in cereals. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1111875. [PMID: 37810398 PMCID: PMC10557149 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1111875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Drought (D) and heat (H) are the two major abiotic stresses hindering cereal crop growth and productivity, either singly or in combination (D/+H), by imposing various negative impacts on plant physiological and biochemical processes. Consequently, this decreases overall cereal crop production and impacts global food availability and human nutrition. To achieve global food and nutrition security vis-a-vis global climate change, deployment of new strategies for enhancing crop D/+H stress tolerance and higher nutritive value in cereals is imperative. This depends on first gaining a mechanistic understanding of the mechanisms underlying D/+H stress response. Meanwhile, functional genomics has revealed several stress-related genes that have been successfully used in target-gene approach to generate stress-tolerant cultivars and sustain crop productivity over the past decades. However, the fast-changing climate, coupled with the complexity and multigenic nature of D/+H tolerance suggest that single-gene/trait targeting may not suffice in improving such traits. Hence, in this review-cum-perspective, we advance that targeted multiple-gene or metabolic pathway manipulation could represent the most effective approach for improving D/+H stress tolerance. First, we highlight the impact of D/+H stress on cereal crops, and the elaborate plant physiological and molecular responses. We then discuss how key primary metabolism- and secondary metabolism-related metabolic pathways, including carbon metabolism, starch metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis, and phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling can be modified using modern molecular biotechnology approaches such as CRISPR-Cas9 system and synthetic biology (Synbio) to enhance D/+H tolerance in cereal crops. Understandably, several bottlenecks hinder metabolic pathway modification, including those related to feedback regulation, gene functional annotation, complex crosstalk between pathways, and metabolomics data and spatiotemporal gene expressions analyses. Nonetheless, recent advances in molecular biotechnology, genome-editing, single-cell metabolomics, and data annotation and analysis approaches, when integrated, offer unprecedented opportunities for pathway engineering for enhancing crop D/+H stress tolerance and improved yield. Especially, Synbio-based strategies will accelerate the development of climate resilient and nutrient-dense cereals, critical for achieving global food security and combating malnutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songtao Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Analysis-Testing for Agro-Products and Food, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Tinashe Zenda
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Zaimin Tian
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Analysis-Testing for Agro-Products and Food, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Zhihong Huang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Analysis-Testing for Agro-Products and Food, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
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32
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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: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Many efforts have been put into engineering plants to improve crop yields and stress tolerance and boost the bioproduction of valuable molecules. Yet, our capabilities are still limited due to the lack of well-characterized genetic building blocks and resources for precise manipulation and given the inherently challenging properties of plant tissues. Advancements in plant synthetic biology can overcome these bottlenecks and release the full potential of engineered plants. In this review, we first discuss the recently developed plant synthetic elements from single parts to advanced circuits, software, and hardware tools expediting the engineering cycle. Next, we survey the advancements in plant biotechnology enabled by these recent resources. We conclude the review with outstanding challenges and future directions of plant synthetic biology.
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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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33
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Ranawaka B, An J, Lorenc MT, Jung H, Sulli M, Aprea G, Roden S, Llaca V, Hayashi S, Asadyar L, LeBlanc Z, Ahmed Z, Naim F, de Campos SB, Cooper T, de Felippes FF, Dong P, Zhong S, Garcia-Carpintero V, Orzaez D, Dudley KJ, Bombarely A, Bally J, Winefield C, Giuliano G, Waterhouse PM. A multi-omic Nicotiana benthamiana resource for fundamental research and biotechnology. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:1558-1571. [PMID: 37563457 PMCID: PMC10505560 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01489-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is an invaluable model plant and biotechnology platform with a ~3 Gb allotetraploid genome. To further improve its usefulness and versatility, we have produced high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies, coupled with transcriptome, epigenome, microRNA and transposable element datasets, for the ubiquitously used LAB strain and a related wild accession, QLD. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphism maps have been produced for a further two laboratory strains and four wild accessions. Despite the loss of five chromosomes from the ancestral tetraploid, expansion of intergenic regions, widespread segmental allopolyploidy, advanced diploidization and evidence of recent bursts of Copia pseudovirus (Copia) mobility not seen in other Nicotiana genomes, the two subgenomes of N. benthamiana show large regions of synteny across the Solanaceae. LAB and QLD have many genetic, metabolic and phenotypic differences, including disparate RNA interference responses, but are highly interfertile and amenable to genome editing and both transient and stable transformation. The LAB/QLD combination has the potential to be as useful as the Columbia-0/Landsberg errecta partnership, utilized from the early pioneering days of Arabidopsis genomics to today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buddhini Ranawaka
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jiyuan An
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Michał T Lorenc
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hyungtaek Jung
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maria Sulli
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aprea
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy
| | - Sally Roden
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Victor Llaca
- Genomics Technologies, Corteva Agriscience, Johnston, IA, USA
| | - Satomi Hayashi
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leila Asadyar
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zacharie LeBlanc
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zuba Ahmed
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fatima Naim
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Samanta Bolzan de Campos
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tal Cooper
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Felipe F de Felippes
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pengfei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Silin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Victor Garcia-Carpintero
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politècnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politècnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Kevin J Dudley
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- QUT Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aureliano Bombarely
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politècnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Julia Bally
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher Winefield
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Department of Wine Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand.
| | - Giovanni Giuliano
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy
| | - Peter M Waterhouse
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature & Agriculture, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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34
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Wallace AK. Treating the untreatable: precision microbials for crop protection. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1096-1097. [PMID: 37087304 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
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35
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Yang JS, Reyna-Llorens I. Plant synthetic biology: exploring the frontiers of sustainable agriculture and fundamental plant biology. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:3787-3790. [PMID: 37462736 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Seong Yang
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivan Reyna-Llorens
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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36
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Kocaoglan EG, Radhakrishnan D, Nakayama N. Synthetic developmental biology: molecular tools to re-design plant shoots and roots. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:3864-3876. [PMID: 37155965 PMCID: PMC10826796 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad169] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant morphology and anatomy strongly influence agricultural yield. Crop domestication has strived for desirable growth and developmental traits, such as larger and more fruits and semi-dwarf architecture. Genetic engineering has accelerated rational, purpose-driven engineering of plant development, but it can be unpredictable. Developmental pathways are complex and riddled with environmental and hormonal inputs, as well as feedback and feedforward interactions, which occur at specific times and places in a growing multicellular organism. Rational modification of plant development would probably benefit from precision engineering based on synthetic biology approaches. This review outlines recently developed synthetic biology technologies for plant systems and highlights their potential for engineering plant growth and development. Streamlined and high-capacity genetic construction methods (Golden Gate DNA Assembly frameworks and toolkits) allow fast and variation-series cloning of multigene transgene constructs. This, together with a suite of gene regulation tools (e.g. cell type-specific promoters, logic gates, and multiplex regulation systems), is starting to enable developmental pathway engineering with predictable outcomes in model plant and crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Gediz Kocaoglan
- Department of Bioengineering, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Dhanya Radhakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Naomi Nakayama
- Department of Bioengineering, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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37
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Yang EJ, Maranas CJ, Nemhauser JL. A comparative analysis of stably expressed genes across diverse angiosperms exposes flexibility in underlying promoter architecture. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.12.544596. [PMID: 37398445 PMCID: PMC10312641 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.12.544596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Promoters regulate both the amplitude and pattern of gene expression-key factors needed for optimization of many synthetic biology applications. Previous work in Arabidopsis found that promoters that contain a TATA-box element tend to be expressed only under specific conditions or in particular tissues, while promoters which lack any known promoter elements, thus designated as Coreless, tend to be expressed more ubiquitously. To test whether this trend represents a conserved promoter design rule, we identified stably expressed genes across multiple angiosperm species using publicly available RNA-seq data. Comparisons between core promoter architectures and gene expression stability revealed differences in core promoter usage in monocots and eudicots. Furthermore, when tracing the evolution of a given promoter across species, we found that core promoter type was not a strong predictor of expression stability. Our analysis suggests that core promoter types are correlative rather than causative in promoter expression patterns and highlights the challenges in finding or building constitutive promoters that will work across diverse plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J.Y. Yang
- University of Washington, Department of Biology, Seattle, WA 98105-1800, USA
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38
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Occhialini A, Lenaghan SC. Plastid engineering using episomal DNA. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023:10.1007/s00299-023-03020-x. [PMID: 37127835 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03020-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Novel episomal systems have the potential to accelerate plastid genetic engineering for application in plant synthetic biology. Plastids represent valuable subcellular compartments for genetic engineering of plants with intrinsic advantages to engineering the nucleus. The ability to perform site-specific transgene integration by homologous recombination (HR), coordination of transgene expression in operons, and high production of heterologous proteins, all make plastids an attractive target for synthetic biology. Typically, plastid engineering is performed by homologous recombination; however, episomal-replicating vectors have the potential to accelerate the design/build/test cycles for plastid engineering. By accelerating the timeline from design to validation, it will be possible to generate translational breakthroughs in fields ranging from agriculture to biopharmaceuticals. Episomal-based plastid engineering will allow precise single step metabolic engineering in plants enabling the installation of complex synthetic circuits with the ambitious goal of reaching similar efficiency and flexibility of to the state-of-the-art genetic engineering of prokaryotic systems. The prospect to design novel episomal systems for production of transplastomic marker-free plants will also improve biosafety for eventual release in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Occhialini
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 112 Plant Biotechnology Building 2505 E J Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology (CASB), University of Tennessee, 2640 Morgan Circle Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
| | - Scott C Lenaghan
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology (CASB), University of Tennessee, 2640 Morgan Circle Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, 102 Food Safety and Processing Building 2600 River Dr., Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
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39
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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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40
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Khakhar A. A roadmap for the creation of synthetic lichen. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 654:87-93. [PMID: 36898228 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Lichens represent a charismatic corner of biology that has a rich history of scientific exploration, but to which modern biological techniques have been sparsely applied. This has limited our understanding of phenomena unique to lichen, such as the emergent development of physically coupled microbial consortia or distributed metabolisms. The experimental intractability of natural lichens has prevented studies of the mechanistic underpinnings of their biology. Creating synthetic lichen from experimentally tractable, free-living microbes has the potential to overcome these challenges. They could also serve as powerful new chassis for sustainable biotechnology. In this review we will first briefly introduce what lichen are, what remains mysterious about their biology, and why. We will then articulate the scientific insights that creating a synthetic lichen will generate and lay out a roadmap for how this could be achieved using synthetic biology. Finally, we will explore the translational applications of synthetic lichen and detail what is needed to advance the pursuit of their creation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Khakhar
- Biology Department, Colorado State University, 251 West Pitkin Drive, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, USA.
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41
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Ferreira SS, Anderson CE, Antunes MS. A logical way to reprogram plants. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 654:80-86. [PMID: 36898227 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Living cells constantly monitor their external and internal environments for changing conditions, stresses or developmental cues. Networks of genetically encoded components sense and process these signals following pre-defined rules in such a way that specific combinations of the presence or absence of certain signals activate suitable responses. Many biological signal integration mechanisms approximate Boolean logic operations, whereby presence or absence of signals are computed as variables with values described as either true or false, respectively. Boolean logic gates are commonly used in algebra and in computer sciences, and have long been recognized as useful information processing devices in electronic circuits. In these circuits, logic gates integrate multiple input values and produce an output signal according to pre-defined Boolean logic operations. Recent implementation of these logic operations using genetic components to process information in living cells has allowed genetic circuits to enable novel traits with decision-making capabilities. Although several literature reports describe the design and use of these logic gates to introduce new functions in bacterial, yeast and mammalian cells, similar approaches in plants remain scarce, likely due to challenges posed by the complexity of plants and the lack of some technological advances, e.g., species-independent genetic transformation. In this mini review, we have surveyed recent reports describing synthetic genetic Boolean logic operators in plants and the different gate architectures used. We also briefly discuss the potential of deploying these genetic devices in plants to bring to fruition a new generation of resilient crops and improved biomanufacturing platforms.
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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.
| | - Charles E Anderson
- 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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42
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Anderson CE, Ferreira SS, Antunes MS. Integration of multiple stress signals in plants using synthetic Boolean logic gates. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023:kiad254. [PMID: 37119276 PMCID: PMC10400031 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
As photosynthetic organisms, plants have a potential role in the sustainable production of high-value products such as medicines, biofuels, and chemical feedstocks. With effective engineering using synthetic biology approaches, plant-based platforms could conceivably be designed to minimize the costs and waste of production for materials that would otherwise be uneconomical. Additionally, modern agricultural crops could be engineered to be more productive, resilient, or restorative in different or rapidly changing environments and climates. Information-processing genetic devices and circuits containing multiple interacting parts that behave predictably must be developed to achieve these complex goals. A genetic Boolean AND logic gate is a device that computes the presence or absence of two inputs (signals, stimuli) and produces an output (response) only when both inputs are present. We optimized individual genetic components and used synthetic protein heterodimerizing domains to rationally assemble genetic AND logic gates that integrate two hormonal inputs in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants. These AND gates produce an output only in the presence of both abscisic acid and auxin but not when either or neither hormone is present. The AND logic gate can also integrate signals resulting from two plant stresses, cold temperature and bacterial infection, to produce a response. The design principles used here are generalizable, and, therefore, multiple orthogonal AND gates could be assembled and rationally layered to process complex genetic information in plants. These layered logic gates may be used in genetic circuits to probe fundamental questions in plant biology, such as hormonal crosstalk, in addition to plant engineering for bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Savio S Ferreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Mauricio S Antunes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
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Zhou A, Kirkpatrick LD, Ornelas IJ, Washington LJ, Hummel NFC, Gee CW, Tang SN, Barnum CR, Scheller HV, Shih PM. A Suite of Constitutive Promoters for Tuning Gene Expression in Plants. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1533-1545. [PMID: 37083366 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
The need for convenient tools to express transgenes over a large dynamic range is pervasive throughout plant synthetic biology; however, current efforts are largely limited by the heavy reliance on a small set of strong promoters, precluding more nuanced and refined engineering endeavors in planta. To address this technical gap, we characterize a suite of constitutive promoters that span a wide range of transcriptional levels and develop a GoldenGate-based plasmid toolkit named PCONS, optimized for versatile cloning and rapid testing of transgene expression at varying strengths. We demonstrate how easy access to a stepwise gradient of expression levels can be used for optimizing synthetic transcriptional systems and the production of small molecules in planta. We also systematically investigate the potential of using PCONS as an internal standard in plant biology experimental design, establishing the best practices for signal normalization in experiments. Although our library has primarily been developed for optimizing expression in N. benthamiana, we demonstrate the translatability of our promoters across distantly related species using a multiplexed reporter assay with barcoded transcripts. Our findings showcase the advantages of the PCONS library as an invaluable toolkit for plant synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Zhou
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
| | - Liam D Kirkpatrick
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
| | - Izaiah J Ornelas
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Lorenzo J Washington
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
| | - Niklas F C Hummel
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
| | - Christopher W Gee
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
| | - Sophia N Tang
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Collin R Barnum
- Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Henrik V Scheller
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94705, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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44
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Yu K, Song Y, Lin J, Dixon RA. The complexities of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis and its regulation in plants. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100498. [PMID: 36435967 PMCID: PMC10030370 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are natural flavan-3-ol polymers that contribute protection to plants under biotic and abiotic stress, benefits to human health, and bitterness and astringency to food products. They are also potential targets for carbon sequestration for climate mitigation. In recent years, from model species to commercial crops, research has moved closer to elucidating the flux control and channeling, subunit biosynthesis and polymerization, transport mechanisms, and regulatory networks involved in plant PA metabolism. This review extends the conventional understanding with recent findings that provide new insights to address lingering questions and focus strategies for manipulating PA traits in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keji Yu
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yushuang Song
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jinxing Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Richard A Dixon
- BioDiscovery Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
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45
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Bai S, Han X, Feng D. Shoot-root signal circuit: Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1139744. [PMID: 36890896 PMCID: PMC9987563 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1139744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
High concentrations of heavy metals in the environment will cause serious harm to ecosystems and human health. It is urgent to develop effective methods to control soil heavy metal pollution. Phytoremediation has advantages and potential for soil heavy metal pollution control. However, the current hyperaccumulators have the disadvantages of poor environmental adaptability, single enrichment species and small biomass. Based on the concept of modularity, synthetic biology makes it possible to design a wide range of organisms. In this paper, a comprehensive strategy of "microbial biosensor detection - phytoremediation - heavy metal recovery" for soil heavy metal pollution control was proposed, and the required steps were modified by using synthetic biology methods. This paper summarizes the new experimental methods that promote the discovery of synthetic biological elements and the construction of circuits, and combs the methods of producing transgenic plants to facilitate the transformation of constructed synthetic biological vectors. Finally, the problems that should be paid more attention to in the remediation of soil heavy metal pollution based on synthetic biology were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyan Bai
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fujian, China
| | - Xiao Han
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fujian, China
| | - Dan Feng
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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46
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Yasmeen E, Wang J, Riaz M, Zhang L, Zuo K. Designing artificial synthetic promoters for accurate, smart, and versatile gene expression in plants. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023:100558. [PMID: 36760129 PMCID: PMC10363483 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
With the development of high-throughput biology techniques and artificial intelligence, it has become increasingly feasible to design and construct artificial biological parts, modules, circuits, and even whole systems. To overcome the limitations of native promoters in controlling gene expression, artificial promoter design aims to synthesize short, inducible, and conditionally controlled promoters to coordinate the expression of multiple genes in diverse plant metabolic and signaling pathways. Synthetic promoters are versatile and can drive gene expression accurately with smart responses; they show potential for enhancing desirable traits in crops, thereby improving crop yield, nutritional quality, and food security. This review first illustrates the importance of synthetic promoters, then introduces promoter architecture and thoroughly summarizes advances in synthetic promoter construction. Restrictions to the development of synthetic promoters and future applications of such promoters in synthetic plant biology and crop improvement are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erum Yasmeen
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Muhammad Riaz
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lida Zhang
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kaijing Zuo
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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47
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Zhang Y, Xu T, Dong J. Asymmetric cell division in plant development. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:343-370. [PMID: 36610013 PMCID: PMC9975081 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is a fundamental process that generates new cell types during development in eukaryotic species. In plant development, post-embryonic organogenesis driven by ACD is universal and more important than in animals, in which organ pattern is preset during embryogenesis. Thus, plant development provides a powerful system to study molecular mechanisms underlying ACD. During the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of the key components and mechanisms involved in this important process in plants. Here, we present an overview of how ACD is determined and regulated in multiple biological processes in plant development and compare their conservation and specificity among different model cell systems. We also summarize the molecular roles and mechanisms of the phytohormones in the regulation of plant ACD. Finally, we conclude with the overarching paradigms and principles that govern plant ACD and consider how new technologies can be exploited to fill the knowledge gaps and make new advances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Plant Synthetic Biology Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, and College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- The Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Correspondences: Yi Zhang (); Juan Dong (). Yi Zhang and Juan Dong are fully responsible for the distribution of all materials associated with this article
| | - Tongda Xu
- Plant Synthetic Biology Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, and College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Juan Dong
- The Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08891, USA
- Correspondences: Yi Zhang (); Juan Dong (). Yi Zhang and Juan Dong are fully responsible for the distribution of all materials associated with this article
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48
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Rizzo P, Chavez BG, Leite Dias S, D'Auria JC. Plant synthetic biology: from inspiration to augmentation. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102857. [PMID: 36502769 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102857] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although it is still in its infancy, synthetic biology has the capacity to face scientific and societal problems related to modern agriculture. Innovations in cloning toolkits and genetic parts allow increased precision over gene expression in planta. We review the vast spectrum of available technologies providing a practical list of toolkits that take advantage of combinatorial power to introduce/alter metabolic pathways. We highlight that rational design is inspired by deep knowledge of natural and biochemical mechanisms. Finally, we provide several examples in which modern technologies have been applied to address these critical topics. Future applications in plants include not only pathway modifications but also prospects of augmenting plant anatomical features and developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paride Rizzo
- Metabolite Diversity Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) OT Gatersleben, Correnstr. 3, D-06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Benjamin G Chavez
- Metabolite Diversity Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) OT Gatersleben, Correnstr. 3, D-06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Sara Leite Dias
- Metabolite Diversity Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) OT Gatersleben, Correnstr. 3, D-06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - John C D'Auria
- Metabolite Diversity Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) OT Gatersleben, Correnstr. 3, D-06466 Seeland, Germany.
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49
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Zhong V, Archibald BN, Brophy JAN. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls for tuning gene expression in plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 71:102315. [PMID: 36462457 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant biotechnologists seek to modify plants through genetic reprogramming, but our ability to precisely control gene expression in plants is still limited. Here, we review transcription and translation in the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana with an eye toward control points that may be used to predictably modify gene expression. We highlight differences in gene expression requirements between these plants and other species, and discuss the ways in which our understanding of gene expression has been used to engineer plants. This review is intended to serve as a resource for plant scientists looking to achieve precise control over gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Zhong
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bella N Archibald
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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50
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Vandepoele K, Kaufmann K. Characterization of Gene Regulatory Networks in Plants Using New Methods and Data Types. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2698:1-11. [PMID: 37682465 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3354-0_1] [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: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
A major question in plant biology is to understand how plant growth, development, and environmental responses are controlled and coordinated by the activities of regulatory factors. Gene regulatory network (GRN) analyses require integrated approaches that combine experimental approaches with computational analyses. A wide range of experimental approaches and tools are now available, such as targeted perturbation of gene activities, quantitative and cell-type specific measurements of dynamic gene activities, and systematic analysis of the molecular 'hard-wiring' of the systems. At the computational level, different tools and databases are available to study regulatory sequences, including intuitive visualizations to explore data-driven gene regulatory networks in different plant species. Furthermore, advanced data integration approaches have recently been developed to efficiently leverage complementary regulatory data types and learn context-specific networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaas Vandepoele
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium.
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium.
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Kerstin Kaufmann
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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