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Yao Q, Shen R, Shao Y, Tian Y, Han P, Zhang X, Zhu JK, Lu Y. Efficient and multiplex gene upregulation in plants through CRISPR-Cas-mediated knockin of enhancers. MOLECULAR PLANT 2024; 17:1472-1483. [PMID: 39049493 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.07.009] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Gene upregulation through genome editing is important for plant research and breeding. Targeted insertion of short transcriptional enhancers (STEs) into gene promoters may offer a universal solution akin to transgene-mediated overexpression while avoiding the drawbacks associated with transgenesis. Here, we introduce an "in locus activation" technique in rice that leverages well-characterized STEs for refined, heritable, and multiplexed gene upregulation. To address the scarcity of potent enhancers, we developed a large-scale mining approach and discovered a suite of STEs that are capable of enhancing gene expression in rice protoplasts. The in locus integration of these STEs into eight rice genes resulted in substantial transcriptional upregulation in the edited plants, with up to 869.1-fold increases in their transcript levels. Employing a variety of STEs, we achieved delicate control of gene expression, enabling the fine-tuning of key phenotypic traits such as plant height. Our approach also enabled efficient multiplexed gene upregulation, with up to four genes activated simultaneously, significantly enhancing the nicotinamide mononucleotide metabolic pathway. Importantly, heritability studies from the T0 to T3 generations confirmed the stable and heritable nature of STE-driven gene activation. Collectively, our work demonstrates that coupled with STE mining, leveraging genome editing for in locus activation and gene upregulation holds great promise to be widely adopted in fundamental plant research and crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yao
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, Joint Center for Single-Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rundong Shen
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Yang Shao
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yifu Tian
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Peijin Han
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Xuening Zhang
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Jian-Kang Zhu
- Institute of Advanced Biotechnology and School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Yuming Lu
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, Joint Center for Single-Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Hardy EC, Balcerowicz M. Untranslated yet indispensable-UTRs act as key regulators in the environmental control of gene expression. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:4314-4331. [PMID: 38394144 PMCID: PMC11263492 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae073] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
To survive and thrive in a dynamic environment, plants must continuously monitor their surroundings and adjust their development and physiology accordingly. Changes in gene expression underlie these developmental and physiological adjustments, and are traditionally attributed to widespread transcriptional reprogramming. Growing evidence, however, suggests that post-transcriptional mechanisms also play a vital role in tailoring gene expression to a plant's environment. Untranslated regions (UTRs) act as regulatory hubs for post-transcriptional control, harbouring cis-elements that affect an mRNA's processing, localization, translation, and stability, and thereby tune the abundance of the encoded protein. Here, we review recent advances made in understanding the critical function UTRs exert in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression in the context of a plant's abiotic environment. We summarize the molecular mechanisms at play, present examples of UTR-controlled signalling cascades, and discuss the potential that resides within UTRs to render plants more resilient to a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Hardy
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK
| | - Martin Balcerowicz
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK
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Li Y, Yang Y, Li L, Tang K, Hao X, Kai G. Advanced metabolic engineering strategies for increasing artemisinin yield in Artemisia annua L. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhad292. [PMID: 38414837 PMCID: PMC10898619 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Artemisinin, also known as 'Qinghaosu', is a chemically sesquiterpene lactone containing an endoperoxide bridge. Due to the high activity to kill Plasmodium parasites, artemisinin and its derivatives have continuously served as the foundation for antimalarial therapies. Natural artemisinin is unique to the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L., and its content in this plant is low. This has motivated the synthesis of this bioactive compound using yeast, tobacco, and Physcomitrium patens systems. However, the artemisinin production in these heterologous hosts is low and cannot fulfil its increasing clinical demand. Therefore, A. annua plants remain the major source of this bioactive component. Recently, the transcriptional regulatory networks related to artemisinin biosynthesis and glandular trichome formation have been extensively studied in A. annua. Various strategies including (i) enhancing the metabolic flux in artemisinin biosynthetic pathway; (ii) blocking competition branch pathways; (iii) using transcription factors (TFs); (iv) increasing peltate glandular secretory trichome (GST) density; (v) applying exogenous factors; and (vi) phytohormones have been used to improve artemisinin yields. Here we summarize recent scientific advances and achievements in artemisinin metabolic engineering, and discuss prospects in the development of high-artemisinin yielding A. annua varieties. This review provides new insights into revealing the transcriptional regulatory networks of other high-value plant-derived natural compounds (e.g., taxol, vinblastine, and camptothecin), as well as glandular trichome formation. It is also helpful for the researchers who intend to promote natural compounds production in other plants species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongpeng Li
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yinkai Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Ling Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kexuan Tang
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaolong Hao
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
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Li X, Tian Y. STOP1 and STOP1-like proteins, key transcription factors to cope with acid soil syndrome. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1200139. [PMID: 37416880 PMCID: PMC10321353 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1200139] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Acid soil syndrome leads to severe yield reductions in various crops worldwide. In addition to low pH and proton stress, this syndrome includes deficiencies of essential salt-based ions, enrichment of toxic metals such as manganese (Mn) and aluminum (Al), and consequent phosphorus (P) fixation. Plants have evolved mechanisms to cope with soil acidity. In particular, STOP1 (Sensitive to proton rhizotoxicity 1) and its homologs are master transcription factors that have been intensively studied in low pH and Al resistance. Recent studies have identified additional functions of STOP1 in coping with other acid soil barriers: STOP1 regulates plant growth under phosphate (Pi) or potassium (K) limitation, promotes nitrate (NO3 -) uptake, confers anoxic tolerance during flooding, and inhibits drought tolerance, suggesting that STOP1 functions as a node for multiple signaling pathways. STOP1 is evolutionarily conserved in a wide range of plant species. This review summarizes the central role of STOP1 and STOP1-like proteins in regulating coexisting stresses in acid soils, outlines the advances in the regulation of STOP1, and highlights the potential of STOP1 and STOP1-like proteins to improve crop production on acid soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbo Li
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Sanya, Hainan, China
- Center for Advanced Bioindustry Technologies, and Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yifu Tian
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Sanya, Hainan, China
- Center for Advanced Bioindustry Technologies, and Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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