Plant Regulatory Elements for Precise Gene Expression Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack efficient regulatory elements for modulating gene expression in plants, limiting the ability to precisely control gene activity and phenotype modification through genetic engineering.

Innovation Solution

Development of recombinant DNA molecules comprising regulatory elements such as promoters, leaders, introns, and 3' untranslated regions, which are operably linked to heterologous transcribable DNA molecules, enabling precise control over gene expression in transgenic plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If existing regulatory elements are used for gene expression control in plants, then basic gene activity modulation is achieved, but precise control over gene expression patterns and phenotype modification is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precision over gene expressionVSAvoidability to modulate gene activity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The regulatory element is divided into multiple functional segments including promoter regions, enhancer elements, 5' untranslated regions, and 3' untranslated regions. Each segment can be independently optimized and combined to achieve precise control over gene expression patterns, timing, and tissue specificity, thereby improving control precision while maintaining reliable gene activity modulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the regulatory element are designed with specific functional properties - the promoter region provides basal expression control, enhancer elements add tissue-specific or inducible control, and UTR regions fine-tune translation efficiency. This local optimization of different regulatory regions enables precise control over various aspects of gene expression while ensuring reliable modulation of gene activity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If regulatory elements are operably linked to heterologous transcribable DNA molecules, then precise control over gene expression is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precision over gene expressionVSAvoidcomplexity of recombinant DNA molecule
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The regulatory element design incorporates universal functional modules that can be combined in different configurations to control various heterologous transcribable DNA molecules. The promoter, enhancer, and UTR components can be mixed and matched to create different expression patterns, allowing a single set of regulatory modules to control multiple different genes with precise control while avoiding the need to design entirely new regulatory elements for each application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The regulatory element structure is organized hierarchically with core promoter regions at the base, nested within which are additional control layers including enhancer elements and UTR regions. This nested organization allows complex control functions to be built from simpler modular components, enabling precise control over gene expression while managing the complexity of the overall recombinant DNA construct through systematic layering of regulatory functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20260028639A1Plant regulatory elements and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2026.01.29 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

The invention provides recombinant DNA molecules and constructs, as well as their nucleotide sequences, useful for modulating gene expression in plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising the recombinant DNA molecules operably linked to heterologous transcribable DNA molecules, as are methods of their use.