Methods and compositions for improving plant traits
Inventors
Temme, Karsten • Tamsir, Alvin • BLOCH, Sarah • CLARK, Rosemary • TUNG, Emily
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10384983-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in a non-leguminous plant. The methods can comprise exposing the plant to a plurality of bacteria. Each member of the plurality comprises one or more genetic variations introduced into one or more genes or non-coding polynucleotides of the bacteria's nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network, such that the bacteria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen. The bacteria are not intergeneric microorganisms. Additionally, the bacteria, in planta, produce 1% or more of the fixed nitrogen in the plant.
Core Innovation
The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for increasing an amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen in a corn plant in a field. The approach exposes the corn plant to a plurality of engineered diazotrophs comprising genetic variation in nitrogen fixation/assimilation regulatory network components, with an emphasis on glutamine synthetase adenylyltransferase/adenylyl-removing enzyme (GlnE).
The disclosed genetic variation in GlnE results in one or more decreased relevant GlnE activities, including decreased activity of bifunctional glutamine synthetase, decreased activity of adenylyl transferase activity, or decreased activity of adenylyl removing enzyme activity. By using engineered diazotrophs with these GlnE genetic variations, an increased amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen occurs within the corn plant exposed to the engineered diazotrophs relative to a corn plant exposed to the same amount of non-engineered diazotrophs of the same species.
The disclosure further frames nitrogen fixation regulation through genetic control of nitrogen fixation/assimilation pathways, linking nitrogen fixation regulation to glutamine/PII signaling and nif gene cluster control. In embodiments described, nitrogen fixation physiology is tuned using additional genetic changes within nitrogen fixation regulatory pathways, including NifA/NifL-related changes and nitrogen shutdown/assimilation genes such as draT, amtB, ntrB, ntrC, glnD, and related loci.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim focuses on increasing atmospheric derived nitrogen in a corn plant in a field using engineered diazotrophs with a GlnE genetic variation. The claim set provided contains one independent claim.
Engineered diazotrophs with GlnE genetic variation to increase atmospheric derived nitrogen in corn
A method comprising exposing a corn plant in a field to a plurality of engineered diazotrophs comprising a genetic variation in glutamine synthetase adenylyltransferase/adenylyl-removing enzyme (GlnE), wherein said genetic variation in GlnE results in one or more of decreased activity of bifunctional glutamine synthetase, decreased activity of adenylyl transferase activity, or decreased activity of adenylyl removing enzyme activity, thereby increasing an amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen within said corn plant that is exposed to said plurality of engineered diazotrophs relative to a corn plant exposed to the same amount of non-engineered diazotrophs of the same species.
The core inventive concept is exposing a corn plant in a field to engineered diazotrophs carrying a GlnE genetic variation that decreases specified GlnE-related activities, leading to an increased amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen in the corn plant compared to non-engineered diazotrophs of the same species.
Stated Advantages
Increases an amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen within the corn plant exposed to engineered diazotrophs relative to a corn plant exposed to the same amount of non-engineered diazotrophs of the same species.
Documented Applications
Increasing atmospheric derived nitrogen in a corn plant in a field by exposing the corn plant to engineered diazotrophs.
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