Quinoa Epidermal Bladder Cell Control via REBC1 Gene

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Solution Overview

Problem

The lack of identified genes controlling epidermal bladder cell formation in quinoa plants, which are crucial for environmental stress tolerance, hinders the understanding and manipulation of this stress tolerance mechanism.

Innovation Solution

Identification and utilization of specific genes, such as the REBC1 gene, and their encoded proteins involved in epidermal bladder cell formation, through mutagenesis and genetic engineering to control and enhance or suppress the formation of these cells in plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If EMS mutagenesis treatment is performed to identify genes controlling epidermal bladder cell formation, then gene identification is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegene identification accuracyVSAvoidtime for mutagenesis and screening

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs EMS mutagenesis treatment on quinoa seeds in advance to generate mutant plants with suppressed epidermal bladder cell formation. This preliminary action creates a library of mutants that can be screened later, separating the time-consuming mutagenesis step from the identification step, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving precise gene identification and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If epidermal bladder cell formation is suppressed to study gene function, then gene control mechanism is identified, but environmental stress tolerance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegene function understandingVSAvoidenvironmental stress tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses RNA interference (RNAi) technology to suppress the expression of the REBC1 gene specifically in certain contexts, allowing researchers to study its function while maintaining the ability to control the suppression. This localized and controllable gene suppression enables gene function identification while minimizing the negative impact on environmental stress tolerance, as the suppression can be regulated rather than being complete and irreversible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If REBC1 gene expression is suppressed to reduce epidermal bladder cells, then cell formation control is achieved, but salt accumulation ability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell formation controlVSAvoidsalt accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an inducible expression system or conditional RNAi approach for the REBC1 gene, allowing the suppression of epidermal bladder cell formation to be dynamic and controllable. This enables researchers to adjust the level of gene suppression based on experimental needs, achieving precise cell formation control while being able to restore salt accumulation ability when required, thus resolving the contradiction between control precision and substance quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11844352B2Bladder cell formation control agent and plant body into which bladder cell formation control agent has been introduced

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 MORI MASASHI

AI summary

A gene that controls epidermal bladder cell formation is isolated and identified. Specifically, a gene involved in an epidermal bladder cell formation control action is identified by: recognizing that a plant body with remarkably reduced epidermal bladder cells appears by performing EMS mutagenesis treatment on seeds; and comparing genomic DNA of the mutant and wild-type genomic DNA.