Gene-edited Plant Roots with Increased Periderm via Localized WRKY47 Expression
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for plants that produce increased amounts of suberin without negatively impacting plant health, as global overexpression of suberin regulators using 35S promoters in plants can harm plant health. Additionally, there is a need for methods to utilize these plants in bioremediation efforts to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide.
Innovation Solution
The development of gene-edited plants with increased amounts of periderm and/or suberin monomers in their roots, achieved by altering the expression of native WRKY transcription factors, such as WRKY47, using methods like CRISPR. This approach allows for increased suberin production without harming plant health and enables the plants to be used in bioremediation to sequester carbon dioxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If global overexpression of suberin regulators using 35S promoters is used, then suberin production is increased, but plant health is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using tissue-specific promoters (root-specific, periderm-specific, or cell wall-specific) instead of constitutive promoters like 35S. This ensures suberin regulators are expressed only in specific tissues where they are needed for periderm formation, avoiding the harmful effects of global overexpression while maintaining increased suberin production in the target location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of gene expression by using inducible promoters that can be activated under specific conditions (such as stress responses or developmental stages) rather than continuous constitutive expression. This allows suberin production to be increased when needed while avoiding constant expression effects that harm plant health.
2Quantity of substance
If increased suberin levels are produced in roots, then carbon sequestration is enhanced, but plant health may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent localizes suberin production to specific root tissues (periderm and cell wall regions) through tissue-specific promoters rather than increasing suberin throughout the entire root system. This targeted approach enhances carbon sequestration in the periderm where it is naturally deposited, while avoiding the metabolic burden and health issues associated with system-wide overproduction.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods for increasing periderm, suberin monomers, and overall suberin production in plants. The present disclosure further provides alteration of gene expression associated with periderm and suberin production in plant roots and methods of altering the gene products by gene-editing systems. Also, provided are compositions for generating plants that possess increased amounts of periderm and/or increased amounts of suberin monomers in their roots as compared to control plants as well as the gene-edited plants possessing said traits.