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GENPLAT: an Automated Platform for Biomass Enzyme Discovery and Cocktail Optimization
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Adapting enzymes to improve their functionality in plants: why and how.
Edmar R Oliveira-Filho1, Cătălin Voiniciuc1, Andrew D Hanson1
1Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.
Biochemical Society Transactions
|October 3, 2023
Summary
Synthetic biology enhances crop traits using engineered enzymes. Continuous directed evolution, particularly the yeast OrthoRep system, improves enzyme function and compatibility in plants for better crop improvement.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Enzyme engineering
- Plant biotechnology
Background:
- Engineered enzymes from synthetic biology often require adaptation for optimal function within diverse plant cellular environments.
- Enzymes may need improvement in catalytic properties (specificity, kinetics) or cellular compatibility (redox potential, proteostasis).
Approach:
- This review focuses on continuous directed evolution systems, highlighting the yeast OrthoRep system for its plant application suitability.
- It discusses theoretical and practical considerations for enzyme improvement in crops, emphasizing realistic targets for enhanced traits.
Key Points:
- Continuous directed evolution is effective for improving both catalytic and general compatibility aspects of enzymes in plants.
- Identifying enzymes and properties that are both improvable and crucial for crop enhancement is key to successful application.
- Horticultural crops are used as examples to illustrate the potential and focus of these strategies.
Conclusions:
- Adapting non-native enzymes for plant systems is crucial for synthetic biology applications in crop improvement.
- Continuous directed evolution offers a powerful approach to overcome cellular incompatibility and enhance enzyme performance in plants.
- Strategic targeting of key enzymes and properties is essential for realizing the full potential of synthetic biology in agriculture.
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