ALS Enzyme Subunit Optimization for Herbicide Tolerant Sugar Beet
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for Beta vulgaris plants, such as sugar beet plants, with enhanced tolerance to ALS inhibitor herbicides to improve yield and performance while maintaining effective weed control, as existing herbicides can be less effective under adverse conditions and may have negative effects on the crop.
Innovation Solution
Development of Beta vulgaris plants with an ALS holoenzyme comprising a large subunit with a leucine substitution at position 569 and optimally fitted regulatory subunits, identified through specific marker sequences, to enhance herbicide tolerance and yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional herbicides are used under adverse environmental conditions, then weed control effectiveness is reduced, but crop damage and yield loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the ALS enzyme parameters by introducing specific amino acid substitutions (e.g., Proline-569, Alanine-623, Serine-626) to alter the herbicide binding site. This changes the enzyme's sensitivity parameters, allowing it to maintain catalytic function while resisting inhibition by ALS inhibitor herbicides, thereby resolving the contradiction between weed control effectiveness and crop damage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention focuses on specific localized regions of the ALS enzyme (residues 550-650) rather than modifying the entire enzyme structure. By segmenting the modification approach to target only the herbicide binding pocket, the patent maintains overall enzyme functionality while achieving resistance, preventing crop damage while ensuring weed control
2Reliability
If ALS inhibitor herbicides are applied at high concentrations to control resistant weeds, then weed control improves, but crop tolerance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces herbicide resistance modifications into the ALS enzyme before herbicide application is needed. The modified enzyme with altered binding site (Proline-569, Alanine-623, Serine-626 substitutions) is pre-established in the plant, enabling it to withstand high concentrations of ALS inhibitor herbicides without requiring adaptive responses during stress conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The modified ALS enzyme maintains its primary function of catalyzing acetolactate synthesis while simultaneously acquiring resistance to multiple ALS inhibitor herbicides. The single enzyme modification provides universal protection against various herbicide chemistries (sulfonylureas, imidazolinones, triazolopyrimidines), expanding the plant's adaptability to different herbicide applications
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are improved herbicide tolerant Beta vulgaris, particularly improved sugar beet plants, with increased yield performance, while maintaining optimal and agronomically relevant herbicide tolerance, wherein the large and small subunits of the herbicide tolerance acetolactate synthase enzyme are optimally fitted. Further provided are markers for identifying such improved herbicide tolerant Beta vulgaris plants, as well methods for obtaining and identifying such improved herbicide tolerant Beta vulgaris plants.