Metabolic engineering in mint plants: increasing essential oil yield through genetic manipulation of biosynthetic pathways

这个奖学金是一个很好的机会，成为国际全球挑战研究基金项目的一部分，以提高薄荷（薄荷）植物中高价值精油化合物的产量，以生产elitemint品种，供乌干达农村当地农业社区种植和商业开发。不同的薄荷属植物被证明优先积累特定的油成分，其中萜类化合物薄荷醇和香芹酮在薄荷中最丰富（M。x piperita）和留兰香（M. spicata），并且这些被广泛地用于食品、饮料、化妆品和医药产品中。其他精油化合物，如荆芥内酯，猫薄荷中的活性成分，是在与荆芥属亲缘关系最近的荆芥属中产生的，研究表明荆芥内酯具有良好的驱虫效果，使其成为开发低成本驱蚊剂以降低疟疾发病率的绝佳候选物。薄荷醇，香芹酮和荆芥内酯的生物合成途径是众所周知的，该项目将利用植物代谢工程，通过基因改造来提高这些化合物在精油中的产量。利用先进的模块化DNA组装技术，如金门克隆系统，参与薄荷醇生物合成的关键酶，香芹酮或荆芥内酯将通过使用RNA干扰的过表达或下调来操纵，以优化这些化合物在转基因植物中的产生和积累。使用启动子、终止子和调节机制的不同组合的基因构建体，以鉴定遗传修饰的最佳组合，从而使油化合物产量最大化。我们将通过GC-MS分析植物油的成分，并选择能产生最佳油脂成分的植物系在乌干达进行生长试验。我们将培育转基因植物系，并将其发送给我们在乌干达的合作伙伴组织，提取出的植物油直接销售或用于当地食品、饮料和化妆品的开发。通过卡迪夫大学和马凯雷雷大学之间建立的伙伴关系，以及我们当地的商业伙伴组织CEMPOP，该项目将确保可持续的财政利益主要归于乌干达当地社区，通过建立合作团体，收获和利用新的薄荷作物。学生将加入一个充满活力的科学家团队，致力于BBSRC GCRF资助的项目，并将受到高度-经验丰富的植物分子生物学家和世界级的生物化学家。

This studentship is an excellent opportunity to become part of an international Global Challenges Research Fundproject to enhance the yield of high-value essential oil compounds in Mentha (mint) plants in order to produce elitemint varieties for cultivation and commercial exploitation by local farming communities in rural Uganda. DifferentMentha species have been shown to preferentially accumulate particular oil components, with the terpenoidcompounds menthol and carvone being most abundant in peppermint (M. x piperita) and spearmint (M. spicata)respectively, and these are used extensively in a broad range of foodstuffs, beverages, cosmetics and medicinalproducts. Other essential oil compounds such as nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip, are produced in theclosely related Nepeta genus and research has shown that nepetalactone has good insect repellence qualities, makingit an excellent candidate for the developmental of low-cost mosquito repellents in order to reduce the incidence ofmalaria.The biosynthetic pathways for menthol, carvone and nepetalactone are well-understood, and this project will employplant metabolic engineering via genetic modification to enhance the yield of these compounds in the essential oils.Using advanced modular DNA assembly techniques such as the Golden Gate cloning system, key enzymes involved inthe biosynthesis of menthol, carvone or nepetalactone will be manipulated by overexpression or down-regulationusing RNA interference in order to optimise the production and accumulation of these compounds in transgenic plants.This will involve the creation of single and multi-gene constructs using different combinations of promoters,terminators and regulation mechanisms to identify the optimum combination of genetic modifications to maximise oilcompound yield. Oil composition will be analysed by GC-MS and lines producing optimum oil profiles will be selectedfor growth trials in Uganda.Transgenic lines sent to our partner organisations in Uganda will be cultivated and the oils extracted and sold directlyor used for the development of local food, beverage and cosmetic products. Through partnerships establishedbetween Cardiff and Makerere Universities and with our local business partner organisation CEMPOP, this project willensure that sustainable financial benefits accrue principally to local communities in Uganda, via cooperative groupsset up to grow, harvest and exploit new mint crops.The student will join a dynamic team of scientists working on the BBSRC GCRF-funded project and will be supervisedby a highly-experienced plant molecular biologist and a world-class biological chemist.