Plant Metabolic Engineering
Plant Metabolic Engineering
Plant Metabolic Engineering
Gene Cloning
Gene cloning is a process of making large quantities of a desired piece of DNA once it has been isolated Cloning allows an unlimited number of copies of a gene to be produced for analysis or for production of a protein product Methods have been developed to insert a DNA fragment of interest (e.g. a segment of human DNA) into the DNA of a vector, resulting in a recombinant DNA molecule or molecular clone
Gene Cloning
A vector is a self-replicating DNA molecule (e.g. plasmid or viral DNA) used to transmit a gene from one organism into another All vectors must have the following properties: Be able to replicate inside their host organism Have one or more sites at which a restriction enzyme can cut Have some kind of genetic marker that allows them to be easily identified Organisms such as bacteria, viruses and yeasts have DNA which behaves in this way Large quantities of the desired gene can be obtained if the recombinant DNA is allowed to replicate in an appropriate host
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A gene of interest (DNA fragment) is isolated from any tissue cells An appropriate plasmid vector isolated from a bacterial cell DNA and plasmid are treated with the same restriction enzyme to produce identical sticky ends DNAs are mixed together and the enzyme DNA ligase used to bond the sticky ends Recombinant plasmid is introduced into a bacterial cell by simply adding the DNA to a bacterial culture where some bacteria take up the plasmid from the solution The actual gene cloning process (making multiple copies of the gene) occurs when the bacterium with the recombinant plasmid is allowed to reproduce Colonies of bacteria that carry the recombinant plasmid can be identified by a genetic marker such as ampicillin resistance
Some bacteriophages are convenient for cloning large fragments of DNA (15 to 20kbp)
Main steps in preparing a clone using viral vectors: 1. A gene is isolated from tissue cells 2. An appropriate bacteriophage vector is selected that is capable of infecting the target cell 3. Tissue and the viral DNA are cut with same restriction enzyme 4. DNAs are mixed together and the enzyme DNA ligase used to bond the sticky ends 5. The recombinant DNA is packaged into phage particles by being mixed with page proteins 6. The assembled phages are then used to infect a bacterial host cell 7. The viral genes and enzymes cause the replication of the recombinant DNA within the bacterial host cell 8. The bacterial host cell succumbs to the viral infection. The cell ruptures (lysis) and thousands of phages, each with recombinant DNA, are released to infect neighbouring bacteria.
Transgenesis
Trangenesis, using genetic engineering techniques, is concerned with the movement of genes from one species to another. An organism that develops from a cell into which foreign DNA has been introduced is called a transgenic organism Because of their immense economic importance, plants have been the subject of traditional breeding programmes aimed at developing improved varieties
Transgenesis
Recombinant DNA technology now allows direct modification of a plants genome allowing traits to be introduced that are not even present in the species naturally DNA can now be introduced from other plant species, animals or even bacteria Micropropagation techniques allow introduced genes to become par of the germ line for plants (the trait is inherited)
Metabolic Engineering of the Terpenoid and Indole Pathways in Catharanthus roseus hairy roots
Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle)
Produce a wide range of secondary metabolites Ajmalicine and Serpentine hypertension Vinblastine and Vincristine anticancer drugs used to treat lymphomas and leukemia
vinblastine
vincristine
Ajmalicine Serpentine
Catharanthine
Vinblastine Vincristine
Clone Generation
Plasmid Construction in E. coli Transgene Agrobacterium Adapt to Liquid Media (24 weeks)
Ri
Infection
Sterile Grown Plants (5 weeks) (6 weeks) Selection Media (6 weeks)
In addition, plants altered in the profile of terpenoids (and pool of precursors) make an important contribution to fundamental studies on their biosynthesis and regulation
REFERENCES Monoterpene Metabolism. Cloning, Expression,and Characterization of Menthone Reductasesfrom Peppermint Genetic Engineering on Shikonin biosynthesis: Expression of the Bacterial ubiA Gene in Lithospermum erythrorhizon Legume Natural Products: Understanding and Manipulating Complex Pathways for Human and Animal Health