Plant synthetic biology: from knowledge to biomolecules

Area of Science:

• Plant synthetic biology
• Biotechnology
• Metabolic engineering

Background:

• Microbial systems face limitations in expressing plant enzymes and synthesizing complex molecules.
• Plant synthetic biology integrates diverse tools for enhanced plant traits.
• Applications span agriculture, human health, and biomanufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review fundamental technologies driving plant synthetic biology.
• Discuss applications in reprogramming plant metabolic pathways.
• Provide a forward-looking perspective on challenges and opportunities.

Main Methods:

• DNA synthesis
• Programmable gene circuits
• CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing

Main Results:

• Engineered plants exhibit improved yield, nutritional quality, and resilience.
• Successful synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant functional biomolecules.
• Identified key obstacles including transformation efficiency and pathway stability.

Conclusions:

• Plant synthetic biology is a robust platform for sustainable biomanufacturing.
• Advances in enabling technologies are crucial for future development.
• Overcoming regulatory and technical challenges is essential for broader adoption.