Recombinant DNA Modulating Low-Nitrogen Tolerance in Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for improving nitrogen use efficiency in plants are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there is a need for more efficient ways to enhance nitrogen use in crops to reduce input costs and environmental impact, particularly in producing higher yields with lower fertilizer inputs or on poorer soils.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of recombinant DNA molecules into plant genomes to modulate low-nitrogen tolerance levels, allowing plants to grow effectively under limiting nitrogen conditions, achieved by transforming plant cells with nucleic acids encoding specific polypeptides that enhance nitrogen uptake and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional breeding methods are used to improve nitrogen use efficiency, then plant nitrogen utilization is enhanced, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of genetic modification approach by introducing recombinant DNA molecules with specific polypeptide sequences into plant genomes, transitioning from conventional slow breeding to rapid genetic transformation. This allows direct modification of nitrogen metabolism parameters through expressed polypeptides rather than multi-generational selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses recombinant DNA molecules and expression vectors as intermediaries to transfer nitrogen efficiency traits. The T-DNA backbone and selectable markers serve as mediators to facilitate stable integration and expression of foreign polypeptide genes in plant genomes, accelerating the breeding process.
2Productivity
If higher fertilizer inputs are used to increase crop yields, then productivity improves, but input costs and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables plants to self-enhance their nitrogen utilization capacity through expressed polypeptides that improve nitrogen uptake, assimilation, and metabolism. The modified plants autonomously optimize their nitrogen use efficiency without requiring external intervention or increased fertilizer application, thereby maintaining high yields with reduced inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the plant's nitrogen metabolic parameters through genetic modification, altering uptake rates, assimilation efficiency, and partitioning patterns. These parameter changes allow the plant to achieve higher productivity on existing nitrogen inputs rather than requiring increased substance input.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional breeding is used to adapt plants to poorer soils, then plant tolerance improves, but the process requires multiple generations and extensive labor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly modifies key parameters controlling nitrogen stress response through recombinant DNA introduction. By expressing polypeptides that enhance nitrogen uptake and metabolism, the plant's adaptability to low-nitrogen conditions is rapidly improved without requiring complex multi-generational breeding programs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential genetic determinants of nitrogen tolerance and concentrates them into specific recombinant DNA constructs. By isolating and expressing key polypeptide sequences in transgenic plants, the complex breeding process is replaced with targeted genetic transformation that directly confers adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased[RCL2] low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.