Variant AHAS Polypeptides for Herbicide-Resistant Camelina
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camelina sativa is highly sensitive to soil residual levels of many acetolactate synthesis (ALS) inhibitor herbicides, limiting its commercial cultivation due to prolonged herbicide residue persistence in soil.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel camelina plants with variant acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) genes and proteins that confer resistance to Group 2 herbicides, specifically through mutations such as P194S in the CsAHAS polypeptide, allowing for increased tolerance to herbicides like thifensulfuron-methyl and flucarbazone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If camelina is grown in areas with residual herbicide levels, then crop damage occurs and yield is reduced, but avoiding these areas limits the crop's geographic adoption and productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the AHAS enzyme's molecular structure through specific amino acid substitutions (such as Proline to Serine at position 194, and Proline to Alanine at position 653). These parameter changes in the enzyme's chemical composition alter its binding affinity to herbicides, enabling the camelina plant to tolerate residual herbicide levels that would otherwise be harmful, thereby expanding geographic adoption and yield potential
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional camelina varieties are used, then herbicide sensitivity limits cultivation options, but developing herbicide-resistant varieties requires genetic modification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the AHAS gene's nucleotide sequence and the resulting protein's amino acid sequence through targeted substitutions. These parameter changes in the genetic code create herbicide-resistant camelina varieties with enhanced adaptability to cultivated areas, accepting that genetic modification is the necessary means to achieve this versatility
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 herbicide-resistant camelina varieties exhibit significantly enhanced tolerance to Group 2 herbicides, reducing crop damage and enabling commercial cultivation even in areas with residual herbicide levels, thus expanding the crop's adoption and yield potential.
Implementation Method 1
Camelina sativa is highly sensitive to soil residual levels of many acetolactate synthesis (ALS) inhibitor herbicides... Development of novel camelina plants with variant acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) genes and proteins that confer resistance to Group 2 herbicides
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are variants of the Camelina sativa acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) enzyme that provide camelina plants with increased tolerance to Group 2 herbicides, such as for example thifensulfuron-methyl. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the variant AHAS enzymes, and plants, plant parts, seeds and cells containing the variant polynucleotides and polypeptides. Uses of the plants and seeds are also disclosed, such as for producing progeny, for growing plants in a field, or for introgression of the herbicide resistance trait into another camelina variety.