Plant Transformation Susceptibility via Integrin-Like Proteins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation are limited by recalcitrant species and tissues that do not easily bind Agrobacteria, hindering the efficiency of genetic modification in crops.

Innovation Solution

Identification and manipulation of a Myb transcription factor (MTF) and an integrin domain-like protein (At14a) that regulate plant transformation susceptibility, allowing for increased bacterial attachment and transformation efficiency by over-expressing these proteins in plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is used for genetic modification, then transformation efficiency is improved in susceptible plants, but transformation fails or is highly inefficient in recalcitrant species and tissues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransformation efficiencyVSAvoidhost range

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the biological parameter of plant transformation susceptibility by over-expressing specific genes (such as At14a encoding integrin domain-like protein and other cell wall-related genes) to convert recalcitrant plants into susceptible ones, thereby expanding the host range of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation while maintaining high transformation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary molecules and proteins, including integrin domain-like proteins, cell wall loosening enzymes, and signaling molecules, that mediate the interaction between Agrobacterium and recalcitrant plant cells, facilitating bacterial attachment and transformation without compromising transformation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If Agrobacterium attachment to plant cells is increased, then transformation susceptibility is improved, but bacterial binding efficiency remains limited in recalcitrant species

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransformation susceptibilityVSAvoidbacterial binding efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical and physical parameters of the plant cell surface by over-expressing cell wall-modifying enzymes and adhesion-related proteins, changing the surface properties to enhance Agrobacterium binding efficiency and reliability in recalcitrant species

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite interface between Agrobacterium and plant cells by introducing multiple proteins and molecules that work together, including integrin-like proteins, cell wall components, and signaling molecules, to achieve both reliable binding and high transformation susceptibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10150969B2Methods and compositions to regulate plant transformation susceptibility

Publication Date: 2018.12.11 PURDUE RES FOUND

AI summary

A genetic screen for Arabidopsis mutants displaying a hyper-susceptible to Agrobacterium transformation (hat) phenotype was performed. The gene disrupted in the hat3 mutant encodes a putative myb-family transcription factor (MTF) that negatively regulates susceptibility to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Over-expression of an integrin-like protein results in plants that are hyper-susceptible to transformation. Manipulation of MTF, members of this protein family, and members of the integrin domain-like protein family for example At14a allows improved control of Agrobacterium transformation, including in crops.