OsBCAT2 Gene Editing for Rice Drought Tolerance and Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods fail to effectively enhance drought tolerance in rice plants, leading to significant yield reductions due to drought stress, with existing technologies not fully elucidating the pathways related to the OsBCAT2 gene's function in rice.

Innovation Solution

Regulating the expression of the OsBCAT2 gene in rice plants using CRISPR-Cas9 to create mutants with enhanced drought tolerance, resulting in increased grain yield and improved stress resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional breeding or traditional genetic transformation methods are used to improve drought tolerance, then some level of stress resistance can be achieved, but the improvement is insufficient and grain yield still decreases significantly under drought conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrought toleranceVSAvoidgrain yield

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the OsBCAT2 gene to alter the biochemical parameters of BCAA metabolism, specifically changing the enzyme activity and substrate affinity to enhance drought tolerance while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses BCAA (branched-chain amino acids) as intermediary substances that mediate the plant's response to drought stress, accumulating these compounds to protect against oxidative damage and maintain cellular function during water deficit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If OsBCAT2 gene expression is not modified, then normal plant development and protein synthesis are maintained, but the plant lacks sufficient resistance to drought stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrought stress resistanceVSAvoidgene modification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and modifies the specific OsBCAT2 gene sequence from the complex rice genome, isolating the key genetic element responsible for BCAA metabolism to enable targeted drought tolerance improvement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the complex drought tolerance trait into specific genetic components, focusing on modifying the OsBCAT2 gene as a discrete segment that can be independently optimized to confer stress resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 method enhances drought tolerance and grain yield in rice plants by modifying the OsBCAT2 gene, demonstrating improved resistance to drought stress and increased BCAA content, thereby addressing the limitations of previous technologies.

Implementation Method 1

Regulating the expression of the OsBCAT2 gene in rice plants using CRISPR-Cas9 to create mutants with enhanced drought tolerance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCRISPR-Cas9 gene editing:

Implementation Method 2

The branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase (BCATs, EC 2.6.1.42) is in charge of the final step of BCAA biosynthesis in plastids. BCAT is an enzyme involved in the first step of degradation and the last step in synthesizing BCAA.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAminotransferase enzymatic reaction: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

plant amino acids play an essential role in minimizing the damage by abiotic stress. So far, proline is best characterized amino acid that accumulates in plant cells to confront a wide range of abiotic stress.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsmolyte accumulation:

Data Source

PatentEP4353077A1Osbcat2 gene controlling drought tolerance of plant and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2024.04.17 LASEMILLA CO LTD

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AI summary

The present invention relates to OsBCAT2 (BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACID AMINOTRANSFERASE 2) gene controlling drought stress of plant and uses thereof.