Researchers Engineer Arabidopsis In Hopes of Modifying Lignin Molecules
March 1, 2017https://biotechnologyforbiofuels.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13068-017-0725-0
|
Monolignol-like molecules can be integrated into lignin along with conventional monolignol units, resulting in hydrolyzable lignin, an easily removable form suitable for biofuel production. Disinapoyl esters (DSEs) were found to be promising lignin modifying units in this system. Researchers from Purdue University manipulated the metabolic flux in Arabidopsis thaliana to increase the amounts of DSEs by overexpressing sinapoylglucose:sinapoylglucose sinapoyltransferase (SST), which produces two main DSEs, 1,2-disinapoylglucose, and 3,4-disinapoyl-fructopyranose.
The team were successful in overproducing DSEs by introducing an SST-overexpression construct into the sinapoylglucose accumulator1 (sng1-6) mutant (SST-OE sng1-6), which lacks enzymes that would compete for the SST substrate, sinapoyglucose. Introduction of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase-c (cad-c) and cad-d mutations into the SST-OE sng1-6 line further increased DSEs. However, while the team successfully upregulated the accumulation of the DSEs, the team did not find any evidence of the integration of these DSEs into the cell wall.
The team were successful in overproducing DSEs by introducing an SST-overexpression construct into the sinapoylglucose accumulator1 (sng1-6) mutant (SST-OE sng1-6), which lacks enzymes that would compete for the SST substrate, sinapoyglucose. Introduction of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase-c (cad-c) and cad-d mutations into the SST-OE sng1-6 line further increased DSEs. However, while the team successfully upregulated the accumulation of the DSEs, the team did not find any evidence of the integration of these DSEs into the cell wall.
These results suggest that although metabolic engineering is possible, a deeper understanding of sequestration and transport mechanisms will be necessary for successful lignin engineering using this approach.
|
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- NABDA Trains Seed Council on GM Seeds Detection
- Media Houses in Uganda Call for Increased Public Sensitization on GMOs
- Mozambique Plants First GM Maize Field Trial
- Kenyan Lawmakers Ask for Homegrown GM Crops Research
- Iowa State University Researchers Identify Genetic Mechanisms that Govern Plant Growth and Drought Response
- Penn State Research Challenges Widely Accepted Vision for Agriculture, Says it may be Inaccurate, Misleading
- New Gene for Atrazine Resistance Found in Waterhemp
- US EPA Approves Three Varieties of GE Potatoes
- Australian OGTR Receives License Application for Field Trial of GM Sorghum
- Young Scientist Award Goes to Hidden Hunger Fighter
-
Research Highlights
- The Importance of NAC Gene Family in Developing Drought-Resistant Soybean
- BdPP2CA6 Gene Positively Regulates Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Gene-Edited Pigs Resist Major Viral Disease
-
Plant
- Gene Editing Could Boost Vegetable Supplies
- Development of High-Amylose Rice through CRISPR/Cas9
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet