Hs4 Protease Gene Confers Nematode Resistance Without Yield Penalty
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current resistance genes in plants do not provide complete protection against the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii, and existing methods for identifying and introducing nematode resistance genes are inefficient, leading to yield penalties and incomplete resistance.
Innovation Solution
A novel resistance gene, Hs4, encoding a protein with high homology to specific amino acid sequences, is introduced into plants, which confers resistance against nematodes by expressing a protease active against nematodes, and a process for breeding and genetic manipulation to identify and integrate this gene into plant genomes using CRISPR-Cas methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing resistance genes are used in plants, then some level of nematode resistance is achieved, but complete protection is not provided and yield penalties occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a novel resistance gene Hs4 that encodes a protein with specific amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 17) and protease activity. This gene provides complete resistance against Heterodera schachtii without the yield penalties associated with existing resistance genes, representing a fundamental change in the resistance mechanism parameter
2Measurement precision
If traditional breeding methods are used to identify resistance genes, then plants with resistance can be found, but the process is inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical breeding and phenotypic selection methods with molecular biology techniques. Specific nucleic acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4) serve as molecular markers for the Hs4 gene, enabling direct genetic identification through PCR and other molecular methods, thereby eliminating time-consuming field trials and phenotypic screening
3Reliability
If resistance genes are introduced through genetic manipulation, then resistance can be achieved, but existing methods do not provide complete resistance and lack specificity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the specific functional elements of the Hs4 resistance gene - the coding sequences (SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 17), nucleic acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4), and associated promoter regions. These extracted genetic elements can be precisely introduced into plant genomes through transformation, providing complete resistance with controlled and documented genetic complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The Hs4 gene effectively confers high resistance to nematodes with minimal yield penalty, allowing for specific identification and integration into various plant species, reducing the need for nematode infection experiments and enhancing plant breeding efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
which upon presence in plants confers resistance against plant parasitic nematodes... The Hs4 gene expresses a protease active against nematodes
Implementation Method 2
a process for breeding and genetic manipulation to identify and integrate this gene into plant genomes using CRISPR-Cas methods
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a gene, herein termed Hs4, which encodes a protein, also referred to as Hs4, which upon presence in plants confers resistance against plant parasitic nematodes, especially against the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii Schmidt. Specifically, the invention provides the use of plants containing the Hs4 gene for cultivation in the presence of nematodes, in soil of which the presence of nematodes is unknown and in soil that is free from nematodes