Quantitative Proteomics: Offering New Opportunities in Canola - Dr. Kristi Snell, Yield10 Bioscience

Summary

Christy Snell, Chief Science Officer at Yield10 Bioscience, discusses the use of genome editing in Camelina to increase oil content for biofuel production. The company is employing two strategies: editing known gene targets and using their proprietary Grain platform for discovering novel gene combinations. The edited lines, such as E3902, showed promising results with increased oil content and yield. Yield10’s research aims to make Camelina a key crop for renewable diesel, with potential to scale up production and enhance sustainability. The approach also holds promise for advancing agricultural biotechnology and supporting biofuel industry growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Genome editing is being explored by Yield10 Bioscience to increase oil content in Camelina for biofuel production.
• 😀 Camelina has high oil content (35-40%) and is being developed as a renewable diesel feedstock to meet growing market demand.
• 😀 Yield10 Bioscience uses both genome editing and traditional GMO approaches to improve Camelina's yield and oil content.
• 😀 Genome editing challenges include determining which gene combinations should be altered to enhance traits like oil content.
• 😀 Camelina is an allohexaploid, meaning it has three copies of most genes, requiring the editing of nine genes to alter certain traits.
• 😀 Yield10 developed a multiplex genome editing strategy using CRISPR-Cas9 to successfully edit genes for increased oil content in Camelina.
• 😀 Editing certain genes, like c3009, can affect traits such as oil content and seed coat color, which can be tracked to monitor edited lines.
• 😀 One edited line, E3902, showed a 9% increase in seed oil content and a 5% increase in total oil per plant in field trials.
• 😀 The company is also using a proprietary gene discovery platform called 'Grain' to identify novel gene targets for oil biosynthesis in Camelina.
• 😀 Overexpressing certain transcription factors, such as c3020, led to a 10% increase in seed oil content in Camelina.
• 😀 The focus is on optimizing multi-gene combinations and exploring stacking targets with oil composition traits, such as high oleic acid or omega oils.

Q & A

What is the focus of Yield10 Bioscience's research?

Yield10 Bioscience is focused on genome editing, particularly targeting the enhancement of oil content in Camelina to support biofuel production, as well as improving seed yield and disease resistance.

Why is genome editing considered a powerful tool for improving oil content in crops like Camelina?

Genome editing allows for precise modifications of specific genes to increase oil content in crops, making it a highly efficient approach to improve complex traits like oil biosynthesis and seed yield, which would otherwise require years of traditional breeding.

What are the two main methods Yield10 uses to increase oil content in Camelina?

Yield10 employs two main strategies: (1) combining known gene targets from literature to increase oil biosynthesis, and (2) using a novel gene discovery platform, Grain, to identify uncharacterized genes that may impact oil content.

What is the significance of the C3009 gene in Yield10’s genome editing work?

The C3009 gene is a transcription factor known to negatively regulate oil biosynthesis in Camelina. By editing this gene along with others, Yield10 aims to increase oil content by reducing oil turnover during seed maturation.

How does the gene discovery platform, Grain, contribute to Yield10’s research?

Grain is a synthetic biology platform used by Yield10 to mine public and private data sets to identify potential genes involved in oil biosynthesis. This approach helps prioritize high-value gene targets for editing, streamlining the research process.

What role does Camelina play in biofuel production, according to Yield10?

Camelina is being developed as a key crop for biofuels, particularly renewable diesel, due to its high oil content and potential for sustainable, large-scale production in North America.

What was the outcome of the field tests conducted on the e3902 line?

In field tests, the e3902 line showed a 4.7% increase in seed oil content and a 15% increase in oil production per hectare, demonstrating its potential for biofuel production.

Why is it important that Camelina does not outcross with food crops like canola?

Camelina's inability to outcross with food crops such as canola reduces the risk of genetic contamination, making it a safer option for commercial biofuel production without negatively impacting food crop genetics.

What are the challenges associated with increasing oil content in Camelina?

One major challenge is the complexity of increasing oil content, as it requires editing multiple genes simultaneously. Additionally, balancing oil increase with seed yield is crucial to maintain the overall productivity of the plant.

How does the use of genome editing and GMO approaches benefit Yield10's crop innovation platform?

The combination of genome editing and traditional GMO techniques allows Yield10 to enhance photosynthesis, direct more carbon to the seed, and increase oil production, ultimately transforming Camelina into a high-yield, low-carbon crop for biofuel and specialty product markets.