Chicago, Illinois
February 13, 2009
Michigan State University researchers are dramatically
speeding up identification of genes that affect the structure
and function of chloroplasts, which could lead to plants
tailored specifically for biofuel production or delivering high
levels of specific nutrients.
Chloroplasts, which are specialized compartments in plant cells,
convert sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into sugars and
oxygen ("fuel" for the plant) during photosynthesis.
Chloroplasts also synthesize nutrients such as starch, amino
acids, antioxidant vitamins and lipids, which are important to
humans and other animals.
 "We're
using this advanced technology to capture information on almost
100 traits, with an emphasis on metabolism," said Rob Last, MSU
professor of biochemistry and molecular biology. "We can then
analyze that data and look for correlations that we wouldn't see
using traditional genetic screening methods. Finding these
correlations gives us a more complete understanding of the
relationships between seemingly unrelated aspects of plant
metabolism."
Last and his colleagues use high-throughput genetic screening
and advanced analysis technologies for their research. He
discussed that technology, as well as the possible
biotechnological outcomes, at the American Association for the
Advancement of Science annual meeting today.
Manipulating plant metabolism to create crops with more biomass
or improved nutrition has been hampered by limited information
on how metabolism works -- metabolic pathways are more complex
than scientists realized. High-throughput genetic screening
allows scientists to look at the effects of genetic changes with
a much broader lens than traditional screening technology. Last
said it's akin to looking at a traffic problem in a very small
town compared to a big city.
"A genetic mutation is like a traffic jam," he explained. "If
you block off Main Street in a rural area, there are a limited
number of roads and possible detours, and it's likely that
everyone will take the same detour. That's the way traditional
screening looks at genetic changes, with a focused, close-up
perspective," he explained. "But if you block off Michigan
Avenue in Chicago, there are many detours people could take.
Using high-throughput screening allows us to step back and look
at all these detours, rather than focusing in on just one. It
gives us a more complete view of the effects a genetic change
can have."
The knowledge that Last and his colleagues discover about the
genes involved with plant metabolism may be used to create
plants that have more biomass that could be used for biofuels,
or plants that contain higher levels of beneficial nutrients
such as unsaturated fats or fiber.
This research is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Last's research also is supported by the Michigan Agricultural
Experiment Station.
For more information on Michigan State University's biofuel and
bioproduct research, visit:
www.bioeconomy.msu.edu.
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transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and
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