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Publications - Cell and Metabolic Biology

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Publications

Schubert, R.; Werner, S.; Cirka, H.; Rödel, P.; Tandron Moya, Y.; Mock, H.-P.; Hutter, I.; Kunze, G.; Hause, B.; Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhization on fruit quality in industrialized tomato production Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 7029, (2020) DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197029

Industrialized tomato production faces a decrease in flavors and nutritional value due to conventional breeding. Moreover, tomato production heavily relies on nitrogen and phosphate fertilization. Phosphate uptake and improvement of fruit quality by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are well-studied. We addressed the question of whether commercially used tomato cultivars grown in a hydroponic system can be mycorrhizal, leading to improved fruit quality. Tomato plants inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis were grown under different phosphate concentrations and in substrates used in industrial tomato production. Changes in fruit gene expression and metabolite levels were checked by RNAseq and metabolite determination, respectively. The tests revealed that reduction of phosphate to 80% and use of mixed substrate allow AM establishment without affecting yield. By comparing green fruits from non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to possibly be involved in processes regulating fruit maturation and nutrition. Red fruits from mycorrhizal plants showed a trend of higher BRIX values and increased levels of carotenoids in comparison to those from non-mycorrhizal plants. Free amino acids exhibited up to four times higher levels in red fruits due to AM, showing the potential of mycorrhization to increase the nutritional value of tomatoes in industrialized production.
Books and chapters

Marillonnet, S.; Werner, S.; Assembly of Multigene Constructs Using the Modular Cloning System MoClo (In: Chandran S., George K.). Methods Mol. Biol. 2205, 125-141, (2020) ISBN: 978-1-0716-0907-1 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0908-8_8

Modular cloning systems that rely on type IIS enzymes for DNA assembly have many advantages for complex pathway engineering. These systems are simple to use, efficient, and allow users to assemble multigene constructs by performing a series of one-pot assembly steps, starting from libraries of cloned and sequenced parts. The efficiency of these systems also facilitates the generation of libraries of construct variants. We describe here a protocol for assembly of multigene constructs using the Modular Cloning system MoClo. Making constructs using the MoClo system requires users to first define the structure of the final construct to identify all basic parts and vectors required for the construction strategy. The assembly strategy is then defined following a set of standard rules. Multigene constructs are then assembled using a series of one-pot assembly steps with the set of identified parts and vectors.
Books and chapters

Marillonnet, S.; Werner, S.; Assembly of Complex Pathways Using Type IIs Restriction Enzymes (Santos, C. N. S. & Ajikumar, P. K., eds.). Methods Mol. Biol. 1927, 93-109, (2019) ISBN: 978-1-4939-9142-6 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9142-6_7

Efficient DNA assembly methods are essential tools for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. Among several recently developed methods that allow assembly of multiple DNA fragments in a single step, DNA assembly using type IIS enzymes provides many advantages for complex pathway engineering. In particular, it provides the ability for the user to quickly assemble multigene constructs using a series of simple one-pot assembly steps starting from libraries of cloned and sequenced parts. We describe here a protocol for assembly of multigene constructs using the modular cloning system (MoClo). Making constructs using the MoClo system requires to first define the structure of the final construct to identify all basic parts and vectors required for the construction strategy. Basic parts that are not yet available need to be made. Multigene constructs are then assembled using a series of one-pot assembly steps with the set of identified parts and vectors.
Books and chapters

Marillonnet, S.; Werner, S.; Assembly of Multigene Constructs Using Golden Gate Cloning (Castilho, A., ed.). Methods Mol. Biol. 1321, 269-284, (2015) ISBN: 978-1-4939-2760-9 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2760-9_19

Efficient DNA assembly methods are required for synthetic biology. Standardization of DNA parts is an essential element that not only facilitates reuse of the same parts for various constructs but also allows standardization of the assembly strategy. We provide here a protocol for assembly of multigene constructs from standard biological parts using the modular cloning system MoClo. Making constructs using this system requires to first define the structure of the final construct and to identify all basic parts and vectors required for the construction strategy. The cloning strategy is in large part determined by the structure of the final construct, which is then made using a series of one-pot Golden Gate cloning reactions.
Publications

Engler, C.; Youles, M.; Gruetzner, R.; Ehnert, T.-M.; Werner, S.; Jones, J. D. G.; Patron, N. J.; Marillonnet, S.; A Golden Gate Modular Cloning Toolbox for Plants ACS Synth. Biol. 3, 839-843, (2014) DOI: 10.1021/sb4001504

Plant Synthetic Biology requires robust and efficient methods for assembling multigene constructs. Golden Gate cloning provides a precision module-based cloning technique for facile assembly of multiple genes in one construct. We present here a versatile resource for plant biologists comprising a set of cloning vectors and 96 standardized parts to enable Golden Gate construction of multigene constructs for plant transformation. Parts include promoters, untranslated sequences, reporters, antigenic tags, localization signals, selectable markers, and terminators. The comparative performance of parts in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana is discussed.
Publications

Schneider, J. D.; Marillonnet, S.; Castilho, A.; Gruber, C.; Werner, S.; Mach, L.; Klimyuk, V.; Mor, T. S.; Steinkellner, H.; Oligomerization status influences subcellular deposition and glycosylation of recombinant butyrylcholinesterase in Nicotiana benthamiana Plant Biotechnol. J. 12, 832-839, (2014) DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12184

Plants have a proven track record for the expression of biopharmaceutically interesting proteins. Importantly, plants and mammals share a highly conserved secretory pathway that allows similar folding, assembly and posttranslational modifications of proteins. Human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a highly sialylated, tetrameric serum protein, investigated as a bioscavenger for organophosphorous nerve agents. Expression of recombinant BChE (rBChE) in Nicotiana benthamiana results in accumulation of both monomers as well as assembled oligomers. In particular, we show here that co‐expression of BChE with a novel gene‐stacking vector, carrying six mammalian genes necessary for in planta protein sialylation, resulted in the generation of rBChE decorated with sialylated N‐glycans. The N‐glycosylation profile of monomeric rBChE secreted to the apoplast largely resembles the plasma‐derived orthologue. In contrast, rBChE purified from total soluble protein extracts was decorated with a significant portion of ER‐typical oligomannosidic structures. Biochemical analyses and live‐cell imaging experiments indicated that impaired N‐glycan processing is due to aberrant deposition of rBChE oligomers in the endoplasmic reticulum or endoplasmic‐reticulum‐derived compartments. In summary, we show the assembly of rBChE multimers, however, also points to the need for in‐depth studies to explain the unexpected subcellular targeting of oligomeric BChE in plants.
Publications

Ischebeck, T.; Werner, S.; Krishnamoorthy, P.; Lerche, J.; Meijon, M.; Stenzel, I.; Löfke, C.; Wiessner, T.; Im, Y. J.; Perera, I. Y.; Iven, T.; Feussner, I.; Busch, W.; Boss, W. F.; Teichmann, T.; Hause, B.; Persson, S.; Heilmann, I.; Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Influences PIN Polarization by Controlling Clathrin-Mediated Membrane Trafficking in Arabidopsis Plant Cell 25, 4894-4911, (2013) DOI: 10.1105/tpc.113.116582

The functions of the minor phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] during vegetative plant growth remain obscure. Here, we targeted two related phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases (PI4P 5-kinases) PIP5K1 and PIP5K2, which are expressed ubiquitously in Arabidopsis thaliana. A pip5k1 pip5k2 double mutant with reduced PtdIns(4,5)P2 levels showed dwarf stature and phenotypes suggesting defects in auxin distribution. The roots of the pip5k1 pip5k2 double mutant had normal auxin levels but reduced auxin transport and altered distribution. Fluorescence-tagged auxin efflux carriers PIN-FORMED (PIN1)–green fluorescent protein (GFP) and PIN2-GFP displayed abnormal, partially apolar distribution. Furthermore, fewer brefeldin A–induced endosomal bodies decorated by PIN1-GFP or PIN2-GFP formed in pip5k1 pip5k2 mutants. Inducible overexpressor lines for PIP5K1 or PIP5K2 also exhibited phenotypes indicating misregulation of auxin-dependent processes, and immunolocalization showed reduced membrane association of PIN1 and PIN2. PIN cycling and polarization require clathrin-mediated endocytosis and labeled clathrin light chain also displayed altered localization patterns in the pip5k1 pip5k2 double mutant, consistent with a role for PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Further biochemical tests on subcellular fractions enriched for clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) indicated that pip5k1 and pip5k2 mutants have reduced CCV-associated PI4P 5-kinase activity. Together, the data indicate an important role for PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the control of clathrin dynamics and in auxin distribution in Arabidopsis.
Publications

Werner, S.; Engler, C.; Weber, E.; Gruetzner, R.; Marillonnet, S.; Fast track assembly of multigene constructs using Golden Gate cloning and the MoClo system Bioengineered 3, 38-43, (2012) DOI: 10.4161/bbug.3.1.18223

Recent progress in the field of synthetic biology has led to the creation of cells containing synthetic genomes. Although these first synthetic organisms contained copies of natural genomes, future work will be directed toward engineering of organisms with modified genomes and novel phenotypes. Much work, however, remains to be done to be able to routinely engineer novel biological functions. As a tool that will be useful for such purpose, we have recently developed a modular cloning system (MoClo) that allows high throughput assembly of multiple genetic elements. We present here new features of this cloning system that allow to increase the speed of assembly of multigene constructs. As an example, 68 DNA fragments encoding basic genetic elements were assembled using three one-pot cloning steps, resulting in a 50 kb construct containing 17 eukaryotic transcription units. This cloning system should be useful for generating the multiple construct variants that will be required for developing gene networks encoding novel functions, and fine-tuning the expression levels of the various genes involved.
Publications

Weber, E.; Gruetzner, R.; Werner, S.; Engler, C.; Marillonnet, S.; Assembly of Designer TAL Effectors by Golden Gate Cloning PLOS ONE 6, e19722, (2011) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019722

Generation of customized DNA binding domains targeting unique sequences in complex genomes is crucial for many biotechnological applications. The recently described DNA binding domain of the transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) from Xanthomonas consists of a series of repeats arranged in tandem, each repeat binding a nucleotide of the target sequence. We present here a strategy for engineering of TALE proteins with novel DNA binding specificities based on the 17.5 repeat-containing AvrBs3 TALE as a scaffold. For each of the 17 full repeats, four module types were generated, each with a distinct base preference. Using this set of 68 repeat modules, recognition domains for any 17 nucleotide DNA target sequence of choice can be constructed by assembling selected modules in a defined linear order. Assembly is performed in two successive one-pot cloning steps using the Golden Gate cloning method that allows seamless fusion of multiple DNA fragments. Applying this strategy, we assembled designer TALEs with new target specificities and tested their function in vivo.
Publications

Weber, E.; Engler, C.; Gruetzner, R.; Werner, S.; Marillonnet, S.; A Modular Cloning System for Standardized Assembly of Multigene Constructs PLOS ONE 6, e16765, (2011) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016765

The field of synthetic biology promises to revolutionize biotechnology through the design of organisms with novel phenotypes useful for medicine, agriculture and industry. However, a limiting factor is the ability of current methods to assemble complex DNA molecules encoding multiple genetic elements in various predefined arrangements. We present here a hierarchical modular cloning system that allows the creation at will and with high efficiency of any eukaryotic multigene construct, starting from libraries of defined and validated basic modules containing regulatory and coding sequences. This system is based on the ability of type IIS restriction enzymes to assemble multiple DNA fragments in a defined linear order. We constructed a 33 kb DNA molecule containing 11 transcription units made from 44 individual basic modules in only three successive cloning steps. This modular cloning (MoClo) system can be readily automated and will be extremely useful for applications such as gene stacking and metabolic engineering.
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