A GMO-free approach in plants to boost food production

Many biotechnological techniques changes to the genetic code in the organism (GMO). However, strict GMO regulation within EU makes it impossible to translate promising scientific results to application. Thus, there is a great demand for GMO-free techniques.

We will use an endogenous system in plants to activate user-defined genes by topical addition of RNA oligos that bind the protein AGO1. AGO1 has a dual role in plants, the most studied role is as a key player in the RNAi pathway. Here, AGO1 binds small RNA molecules that guide it to degrade specific mRNAs.

Somewhat surprising is a newly discovered role for AGO1 in activating expression of genes. The activation of genes via AGO1 depends on small RNA that guide AGO1 to the correct genomic region.

We will elucidate how this activation-mechanism occurs and use it to activate genes that would normally not be switched on.

The research will be done in the model plant Arabidopsis but translated to the more commercially important crops, barley, and wheat. We will use a genomic region important for cold acclimation in plants as a proof-of-concept. Cold acclimation is controlled by a set of transcription factors that get induced within minutes of sensing cold.

The transcription factors will be 1) over-expressed to make the plant survive even colder temperatures or 2) switched on without the presence of cold. The goal is to set up a framework of rules to activate user-defined genes in plants in a GMO-free manner.