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#1
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Using plants as biological factories.
Hello Everyone,
I was thinking that it might be a cool if we could use certain biologically manipulable species of plants (arabidopsis for instance) to produce biologically relevant compounds. The rationale for this is that we can do many genetic manipulations with arabidopsis that we can't do elsewhere, and the sequence of the entire genome has been mapped - facilitating the directed targeting of genes and PCR amplification of relevant enhancer sequences (should the need arise). Here's my question. If Arabidopsis doesn't have the genes neccessary to produce a certain biological compound that another plant produces (say tetrahydracannabidiol, or the irritative compound in poisin ivy) would it be possible to induce expression of the desired compound through the ectopic insertion of the relevant pathway genes from the species which produces the compound. Have any experiments of this nature been undertaken (pubmed references would be great)? If we didn't use arabidopsis to produce our biologically relevant compound, are there any suggestions on what might be a better host plant (given that most plants can be readily transformed using agrobacterium these days)? Other comments, suggestions are welcomed. |
#2
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Using plants as biological factories.
In article ,
Dominic Ebacher wrote: I was thinking that it might be a cool if we could use certain biologically manipulable species of plants (arabidopsis for instance) to produce biologically relevant compounds. The rationale for this is that we can do many genetic manipulations with arabidopsis that we can't do elsewhere, and the sequence of the entire genome has been mapped - facilitating the directed targeting of genes and PCR amplification of relevant enhancer sequences (should the need arise). If you want gobs of stuff, you are further ahead putting it in a crop plant that you can grow many acres of. Maize and soybeans are already used, which I think is a terrible idea, especially for a crop like maize which spreads its pollen for miles. Another crop often used is tobacco, which has the advantage that it is already poisonous, so people are not likely to eat it. A few months ago a large repository of soybeans had to be destroyed in the US because it was contaminated with maize that had been GM'd to produce some pharmaceuticals. Here's my question. If Arabidopsis doesn't have the genes neccessary to produce a certain biological compound that another plant produces (say tetrahydracannabidiol, or the irritative compound in poisin ivy) would it be possible to induce expression of the desired compound through the ectopic insertion of the relevant pathway genes from the species which produces the compound. Yes. Have any experiments of this nature been undertaken (pubmed references would be great)? Here's somewhat boosterish web page about this whole area, with lots of links: www.molecularfarming.com If we didn't use arabidopsis to produce our biologically relevant compound, are there any suggestions on what might be a better host plant (given that most plants can be readily transformed using agrobacterium these days)? See above. Other comments, suggestions are welcomed. While the technique has great potential, the potential for disastrous effects is also present, and is not being properly addressed in the current pursuit of quick big bucks. IMNSHO |
#3
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Using plants as biological factories.
Beverly Erlebacher schreef
While the technique has great potential, the potential for disastrous effects is also present, and is not being properly addressed in the current pursuit of quick big bucks. IMNSHO + + + The potential for disastrous effects is indeed present. Worst case scenario is (way) off the scale. It is almost impossible to say anything about real risks. PvR |
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