DA1 LIM-Domain Mutations for Larger Seeds and Plant Organs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The molecular and genetic mechanisms controlling seed and organ size in plants are not well understood, limiting the ability to enhance crop yield and plant biomass effectively.
Innovation Solution
Disrupting the LIM domain or LIM-like domain of the DA1 protein in plants, which is a ubiquitin receptor, to confer a dominant-negative phenotype, thereby enhancing yield-related traits such as seed and organ size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the DA1 protein is expressed with a functional LIM domain, then normal seed and organ size control is maintained, but seed and organ size cannot be enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the functional LIM domain from the DA1 protein, creating a truncated version that lacks this specific domain. This extraction allows the protein to lose its normal size-control function while retaining other activities, thereby enabling enhanced seed and organ size without complete loss of regulatory control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter of the DA1 protein by creating truncations that remove the LIM domain while maintaining other functional regions. This parameter change (protein structure modification) results in altered functional properties, specifically loss of normal size control and gain of size-enhancing activity.
2Quantity of substance
If the LIM domain is completely deleted from DA1, then seed and organ size is enhanced, but protein stability and function may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial deletion of the LIM domain rather than complete removal of the entire DA1 protein. This partial action (removing only the LIM domain while retaining other functional regions) achieves the desired size enhancement while maintaining sufficient protein stability and functional activity through the retained portions of the protein.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies only the specific local region (LIM domain) of the DA1 protein while leaving other regions intact. This local modification approach allows selective loss of size-control function in the affected region while preserving stable functional activities in other regions, thereby maintaining overall protein stability.
3Quantity of substance
If mutant plants with size-regulation genes are used, then seed and organ size can be altered, but fertility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a modified version of the wild-type DA1 protein that copies the overall structure and functional regions of the normal protein while excluding only the LIM domain. This copying approach produces a protein that maintains sufficient functional similarity to wild-type DA1 (preserving fertility) while achieving the desired size enhancement effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the DA1 protein into functional regions, separating the LIM domain (responsible for normal size control) from other functional regions. By expressing only the segmented version without the LIM domain, the patent achieves size enhancement while the retained functional segments maintain fertility through preservation of essential protein activities.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to the expression a DA1 protein with a mutation that disrupts or inactivates the LIM domain or the LIM-like domain within cells of a plant. This may increase the yield or enhance a yield-related trait of the plant. Methods, plants and plant cells are provide.