BBSRC-NSF/BIO: Synthetic Biology: Engineering an algal pyrenoid into higher plants to enhance yields

该项目旨在通过提高植物的碳吸收效率，为显著提高全球作物产量奠定基础。该研究计划包括将藻类中发现的类pyrenoids的关键成分转移到拟南芥中，以改善光合作用。类Pyrenoids是在几种藻类叶绿体中发现的亚细胞微室，并参与碳固定。该项目包括三个目标，每个目标都是将拟南芥的一个关键成分工程化为拟南芥，一个计算目标是开发一个拟南芥函数的定量模型来支持其他三个目标。这四个目标协同作用，在拟南芥中产生最小的，功能性的类核苷。这项工作有助于以最小的生态影响满足2050年的全球粮食需求。该项目在两个主要参与实验室分别培养高中、本科、研究生和博士后科学家，并将他们送入职业生涯的下一个阶段。项目团队正在与工业界和慈善组织合作，以促进将先进技术转化为作物。该团队正在通过在科学咖啡馆等场所向普通观众进行外展讲座、通过Twitter等社交媒体以及改进维基百科页面，与公众分享他们的研究。作为提高作物产量的关键一步，该项目旨在通过设计模型植物拟南芥，通过从绿藻中提取类芘的成分来合成最小的二氧化碳吸收机制，从而提高拟南芥对二氧化碳的吸收。该项目由三个目标组成，每个目标都是将拟南芥的一个关键成分工程化为拟南芥。研究计划包括(a)在高等植物中重建类核苷基质，(b)将Rubisco基质放置在含有碳酸氢盐转运体的类囊体周围，(c)将类核苷碳酸酐酶放置在类囊体腔中。在整个项目中使用计算方法来开发类pyrenoid函数的定量模型，这将推动进一步的研究。为了支持植物工程的努力，研究人员在藻类和体外进行了有针对性的研究。该项目得益于一个杰出的国际团队，他们在推进类pyrenoid的基础知识和将藻类成分改造成高等植物的能力方面有着良好的合作记录。这项英美合作项目由美国国家科学基金会和UKRI生物技术和生物科学研究委员会支持。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to lay the foundations for significant increases in global crop yields by improving the efficiency of carbon uptake in a plant. The research plan involves transferring key components of pyrenoids found in algae, into a plant, Arabidopsis, in order to improve photosynthesis. Pyrenoids are sub-cellular microcompartments that are found in the chloroplast of several algae and are involved in carbon fixation. The project consists of three aims that are each targeted at engineering one of the key components of the pyrenoid into Arabidopsis, and one computational aim that develops a quantitative model of pyrenoid function to support the other three aims. These four aims synergize to produce a minimal, functional pyrenoid in Arabidopsis. The work contributes to meeting the 2050 global food demand with minimal ecological impacts. The project trains high school, undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral scientists in each of two principal participating laboratories and launches them onto the next stages of their careers. The project team is engaging industry and philanthropic organizations to facilitate translation of advances to crops. The team is sharing their research with the general public through outreach talks to general audiences at venues such as science caf's, through social media such as Twitter, and by improving Wikipedia pages. As a key step towards enhancing crop yields, this project aims to enhance CO2 uptake of the model plant Arabidopsis by engineering it with a minimal synthetic CO2 uptake mechanism derived from components of the pyrenoid from green algae. The project consists of three aims, each targeted at engineering one of the key components of the pyrenoid into Arabidopsis. The research plan involves (a) reconstituting a pyrenoid matrix in higher plants, (b) placing the Rubisco matrix around thylakoids containing bicarbonate transporters and (c) placing the pyrenoidal carbonic anhydrase into the thylakoid lumen. Computational methods are used throughout the project to develop a quantitative model of pyrenoid function that would drive further investigations. To support the plant engineering efforts, the investigators perform targeted research in algae and in vitro. The project benefits from an outstanding international team with a strong track record of collaboration in advancing both basic knowledge of the pyrenoid and the ability to engineer algal components into higher plants.This collaborative US/UK project is supported by the US National Science Foundation and the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.