Transgenic Soybean Seeds Modulating Aldolase for Storage Compound Levels

Solution Overview

Problem

Current understanding of plant enzymes similar to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic class II-like aldolases is limited, and there is a need to investigate their role in regulating storage compounds such as oil, protein, and soluble carbohydrates in plants, particularly in soybeans, where these compounds contribute significantly to seed weight and economic value.

Innovation Solution

Development of transgenic plants and seeds with recombinant DNA constructs encoding polypeptides with amino acid sequences showing at least 85% identity to specific sequences, which alter oil, protein, starch, and soluble carbohydrate content, and seed weight by modulating the expression of plastidic Class II aldolase-like activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If transgenic plants with recombinant DNA constructs encoding polypeptides with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic class II-like aldolase proteins are developed, then oil content and protein levels are increased, but the understanding and characterization of these plant enzymes remain limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil contentVSAvoidunderstanding of plant enzyme function

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback by using the transgenic plant system to generate experimental data that feeds back into understanding plant aldolase function. The altered storage compound levels in transgenic plants provide information about enzyme function, creating a cycle where application generates knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The transgenic plant system serves itself by using its own biochemical pathways to produce the desired effect (altered storage compounds) while simultaneously providing the means to study enzyme function through observation of these alterations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If transgenic plants with recombinant DNA constructs encoding polypeptides with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic class II-like aldolase proteins are developed, then protein levels are increased, but the characterization and functional understanding of these enzymes remain insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotein levelsVSAvoidcharacterization of plant enzymes

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback by using the transgenic plant system to generate experimental data that feeds back into understanding plant aldolase function. The altered storage compound levels in transgenic plants provide information about enzyme function, creating a cycle where application generates knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The transgenic plant system serves itself by using its own biochemical pathways to produce the desired effect (altered storage compounds) while simultaneously providing the means to study enzyme function through observation of these alterations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the expression of plastidic Class II aldolase-like activity is modulated to alter storage compound pools, then economic value of seeds is enhanced, but the knowledge base for selecting and engineering these enzymes remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeconomic value of seedsVSAvoidknowledge base for enzyme engineering

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing transgenic plant systems and observing their effects on storage compounds before fully understanding enzyme function. This preliminary data gathering creates a foundation for future enzyme engineering efforts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback by using the transgenic plant system to generate experimental data that feeds back into understanding plant aldolase function. The altered storage compound levels in transgenic plants provide information about enzyme function, creating a cycle where application generates knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach results in altered seed composition, including increased oil content and protein levels, thereby enhancing the economic value of soybean seeds by modifying the biosynthetic pathways of storage compounds.

Implementation Method 1

modulating the expression of a gene encoding plastidic Class II aldolase-like activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS9347066B2Plants and seeds with altered storage compound levels, related constructs and methods involving genes encoding proteins with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic acid class II-like aldolase proteins

Publication Date: 2016.05.24 CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE LLC

AI summary

This invention is in the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention pertains to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding proteins with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic acid class II-like aldolase proteins in plants and seeds and the use of such fragments to modulate expression of a gene encoding proteins with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic acid class II-like aldolase proteins in a transformed host cell.