The endoplasmic reticulum as a surface for engineering plant metabolism

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a key organelle present in eukaryotic cells involved in protein and lipid biosynthesis, processing and export. This organelle is structured as a complex network of sacs and tubules made up of lipid membranes whose hydrophobic nature enables the anchoring and controlled localisation of proteins within its surface. When subsequent enzymes in a metabolic pathway are found in close proximity they are said to form a "metabolon", in which the direct transfer of intermediate compounds may accelerate the rate of reactions, increase the efficiency of production and direct metabolism in a desired way, thus resulting in an advantageous system for the biotechnological production of compounds. The ER has been shown to contain metabolons for the biosynthesis of industrially relevant compounds in plants such as dhurrin, isoflavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids. This project will study the composition and physiological relevance of an ER metabolon involved in the biosynthesis of auxin, a central hormone in plant growth and development, and investigate tissue specific auxin mutants with the aim of improving drought tolerance in plants.
Additionally, the knowledge gained by studying an endogenous metabolon will be used to engineer a synthetic metabolon in the plant ER, based on the bacterial enzyme complex particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) which converts methane into carbon dioxide and methanol, with the ultimate goal of producing methane detoxifying plants.

BBSRC priority area:
Synthetic Biology
Sustainably Enhancing Agricultural Production