Steering the shikimate/phenylpropanoid pathway: from gene function discovery to green factories

• Grant number: 21/06142-8
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Igor Cesarino
• Grantee: Igor Cesarino
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Aymerick Eudes ; Carla Cristina Polo ; José Carlos del Río Andrade ; Wagner Rodrigo de Souza
• Associated research grant: 15/02527-1 - Development of model systems in sorghum and a systems biology approach to unravel the molecular mechanisms controlling lignin metabolism in grasses, AP.BIOEN.JP
• Associated research grant(s): 24/01685-1 - Identification and validation of post-transcriptional regulatory modules involved in lignin metabolism in grasses, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/00956-4 - Functional characterization of SvWRKY34 and SvPRN1 in the model grass Setaria viridis (L.) P.Beauv.: analysis of lignin regulation mechanisms, BP.PD; 24/20437-9 - Genetic transformation of the model grass Setaria viridis, BP.TT; 24/10125-0 - Functional characterization of the ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE2B (ALDH2B) subfamily in the model grass Setaria viridis (L.) P.Beauv.: implications for the phenolic metabolism, BP.DR; + associated scholarships 24/07176-1 - Flavone Synthases in Setaria viridis: tricin biosynthesis and lignification, BP.DD; 24/08175-9 - Sugarcane as green biofactories: metabolic engineering of high-value aromatic compounds, BP.PD; 23/12698-4 - Genetic transformation of the model grass Setaria viridis, BP.TT; 22/09003-1 - A systemic view of phenolic and lignin metabolism in the model grass Setaria viridis, BP.DD; 22/12496-0 - Functional characterization of SvUGTs potentially involved in tricin glycosylation in Setaria viridis, BP.DR - associated scholarships

Abstract

Plant lignocellulosic biomass constitutes a sustainable alternative to replace the complex carbon chemistries of petroleum as it can be deconstructed into simple sugars and aromatics that are further converted into biofuels and bioproducts. In this context, the shikimate/phenylpropanoid pathway is a major biotechnological target, as it is the source of not only the aromatic polymer lignin (a major bottleneck to biomass processing in biorefineries) but also of metabolites eligible as important bio-replacements for commonly fossil fuel-derived aromatics. This project aims to contribute both basic (novel knowledge) and applied (novel products) research regarding the shikimate/phenylpropanoid pathway in C4 grasses. The first objective is to perform the functional characterization of five candidate genes potentially involved in lignin metabolism using the model C4 grass Setaria viridis. These candidate genes were previously selected during JP1 Fapesp (2015/02527-1), in which large-scale transcriptomics followed by co-expression analyses were applied to model tools developed to facilitate the study of lignin metabolism in C4 grasses. The genes were selected to cover broad aspects of lignin metabolism, including transcriptional regulation, monolignol biosynthesis, monolignol transport and monolignol glycosylation. The second objective is to boost the status of sugarcane plants as multipurpose crops via bioengineering of the shikimate/phenylpropanoid pathway. Three strategies were selected, based on target metabolites that represent high-value compounds and whose metabolic engineering approach would potentially affect lignin deposition and, consequently, enhance biomass processability. Considering both parts of the project, target genes will be misregulated and the corresponding transgenic lines will be characterized by multiple-level phenotyping, including anatomical/structural analyses, wet-chemistry, large-scale transcriptomics, metabolic profiling and saccharification efficiency. This project has the potential to not only generate novel basic knowledge on lignin metabolism in C4 grasses but also to explore novel strategies for steering the shikimate/phenylpropanoid pathway for industrial purposes. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE SOUZA, WAGNER RODRIGO; MITCHELL, ROWAN A. C.; CESARINO, IGOR. The plant cell wall: advances and current perspectives. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE, v. 14, p. 3-pg., 2023-06-22. (19/04878-7, 21/06142-8)

RATES, ARTHUR DE BARROS; CESARINO, IGOR. Pour some sugar on me: The diverse functions of phenylpropanoid glycosylation. Journal of Plant Physiology, v. 291, p. 19-pg., 2023-11-25. (22/12496-0, 21/06142-8)

OLIVEIRA, DYONI M.; CESARINO, IGOR. Genome editing of wood for sustainable pulping. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE, v. 29, n. 2, p. 3-pg., 2024-02-07. (21/06142-8)

OLIVEIRA, DYONI M.; CESARINO, IGOR. Finding my way: The role of dirigent proteins in lignin assembly. MOLECULAR PLANT, v. 17, n. 2, p. 3-pg., 2024-02-05. (21/06142-8)

DA CUNHA, LUCAS XAVIER; DE LIMA, LEYDSON GABRIEL ALVES; CESARINO, IGOR. Identification of lignin-related WRKY transcription factors in the grass Setaria viridis. THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, v. 37, n. 1, p. 16-pg., 2024-12-20. (21/06142-8, 22/09003-1)