Sunday Evening News 401 - Week 46 - 2024
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
November 2024-11-11 - 2024-11-17
EU-Kommission – Wahl der Kommissare/innen
Die Hearings sind vorbei. Entschieden ist aber noch nichts
Die Nominierung der neuen EU-Kommission ist zum Erliegen gekommen, nachdem sich die vier „pro-europäischen“ Fraktionen über die designierten Vizepräsidenten zerstritten haben.
Vom 4. bis 12. November fanden die Anhörungen der 26 desiginierten Kommissar:innen in den zuständigen Ausschüssen des EU-Parlaments statt. Viele Kandidaten/innen gaben ein gutes Bild ab, einige glänzten geradezu mit Detailwissen oder Humor, nur wenige waren umstritten. Dazu zählten neben Olivér Várhelyi aus Ungarn und Raffaele Fitto aus Italien auch Teresa Ribera Rodríguez aus Spanien. Bisher konnten sich die Fraktionen noch nicht einigen, am Termin für die Plenarabstimmung Ende November wird aber vorerst nicht gerüttelt
https://www.akeuropa.eu/de/die-hearings-sind-vorbei-entschieden-ist-aber-noch-nichts
EU Commission - Election of Commissioners
The hearings are over. But nothing is decided ye
The nomination of the new EU Commission has come to a standstill after the four 'pro-European' groups disagreed on the vice-presidents to be nominated.
From 4 to 12 November, the hearings of the 26 Commissioners-designate took place in the relevant committees of the EU Parliament. Many candidates gave a good account of themselves, some shone with detailed knowledge or humour, only a few were controversial. These included Olivér Várhelyi from Hungary, Raffaele Fitto from Italy and Teresa Ribera Rodríguez from Spain. The political groups have not yet been able to reach an agreement, but the date for the plenary vote at the end of November will not be changed for the time being.
Ungarische Ratspräsidentschaft – Kommissionsvorschlag
Am 19.11.2024 soll über den Kommissionsvorschlag zur Regulierung von Pflanzen aus den neuen genomischen Techniken wieder beraten werden. Aber bislang steht nicht auf der Tagesordnung,
Rat „Landwirtschaft und Fischerei“, 18. November 2024
Im Bereich Landwirtschaft wird der Rat auf Grundlage von Informationen der Europäischen Kommission und der Mitgliedstaaten über die Lage auf den Agrarmärkten und bei Grundstoffen beraten– ein wiederkehrendes Thema auf der Tagesordnung des Rates. Der ukrainische Minister für Agrarpolitik und Ernährung, Witalij Kowal, wird voraussichtlich vor den Beratungen mit den Ministerinnen und Ministern zusammenkommen.
https://r.newsletter.consilium.europa.eu/mk/mr/sh/1t6AVsd2XFnIGBrqNjNmPVWfWOG5vK/sKa1Gr4FPJzr
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/agrifish/2024/11/18/
Meetings-Veranstaltungen
Repercussions associated with traceability, labeling, and coexistence requirements for plants obtained by New Genomic Techniques
Online-meeting: Do., 21. Nov., 17:00 - 18:30 MEZ
BfN: Das Webinar „Nagoya-Protokoll – Grundlagen, Entwicklungen und Erfahrungen“ findet am Donnerstag, 28. November
2024 von 13:00 bis 15:00 Uhr statt.
https://www.bfn.de/aktuelles/nagoya-protokoll-webinar-zu-grundlagen-entwicklungen-und-erfahrungen
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Informationsdienst Gentechnik: Urteil: Frankreich muss herbizidtolerante Pflanzen überwachen
VLOG: Das Non-GMO Project: Der amerikanische Weg Wahlfreiheit zu schaffen
We must use genetic technologies now to avert the coming food crisis
MPI: Higher survival of hybrid seeds
https://www.mpg.de/23712271/1111-mopf-maternalsmallrna-149640-x
UK ICO Publishes Report on Genomics
https://www.huntonak.com/privacy-and-information-security-law/uk-ico-publishes-report-on-genomics
CO tech futures: emerging genomics
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Rennert D.: Laborfleisch-Verbot: Forschende kritisieren Vorstoß der Landwirtschaftskammer
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: November week 46
Publications – Publikationen
Nguyen E., Poli M., Durrant M.G., Kang B. et al. (2024): Sequence modeling and design from molecular to genome scale
with Evo. Science 386, Issue 6723 | DOI: 10.1126/science.ado9336
Editor’s summary: Large language models have great potential to interpret biological sequence data. Nguyen et al. present Evo, a multimodal artificial intelligence model that can interpret and generate genomic sequences at a vast scale. The Evo architecture leverages deep learning techniques, enabling it to process long sequences efficiently. By analyzing millions of microbial genomes, Evo has developed a comprehensive understanding of life’s complex genetic code, from individual DNA bases to entire genomes. This enables the model to predict how small DNA changes affect an organism’s fitness, generate realistic genome-length sequences, and design new biological systems, including laboratory validation of synthetic CRISPR systems and IS200/IS605 transposons. Evo represents a major advancement in our capacity to comprehend and engineer biology across multiple modalities and multiple scales of complexity (see the Perspective by Theodoris). —Di Jiang
Trends in Plant Science - Nov 2024: Volume 29 Issue 11, 159-1278, e1-e2
https://www.cell.com/issue/S1360-1385(23)X0012-0
XXIIth UEAA Meeting Bucharest Romania: New research techniques and the Agricultural Progress
Regnault-Roger C., Alain Toppan A., Thibier M.(2024): DOES GENOME EDITING HAVE A FUTURE IN EU AGRICULTURE?
Genome Editing, and particularly CRISPR technology, has revolutionized plant breeding approaches. Many countries in the world have decided to use it to create new fields of research and applications in agriculture with appropriate adaptation of the existing regulations on genetic bioengineering facilitating the implementation of the New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The work in progress worldwide opens up immense prospects for the plant and animal sectors. The European Union has launched a regulatory review procedure for its use on certain plants. The present review questions the efficacy of the current EU proposals as a response to the European agricultural challenges in question and concludes that based on the precautionary principle repeated over and over again, the challenges of agriculture are only partially taken into account as the regulatory framework remains very restrictive.
https://ueaa.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Michel-Thibier_Bucarest-Engl-GE-in-EU-vMT5-18-06-24.pdf
Plants for future: Trends in European public in investment in plant breeding R&I - From framework programme 7 to Horizon
Europe (2007-2024)
Lanctot A., Shih P.M. (2024): Tomato engineering hits the sweet spot to make big sugar-rich fruit.
Nature |doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-03302-8
A genetic regulator of tomato sweetness has been identified through comparison of wild and domesticated varieties of the plant. Genetically engineering tomatoes to alter this gene increases sugar content without affecting fruit size.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03302-8
Dinkar A.K., Kumar A., Dwivedi N., Kumar S. et al.(2024): Application of Genome Editing for Crop Improvement.
Ecology Environment and Conservation 30 (October Suppl. Issue):S145-S161 | DOI:10.53550/EEC.2024.v30i06s.023
The population of world is increasing at an alarming rate which requires a high amount of food to feed them. Climatic conditions are also changing year by year which causes a lot of losses in case of quality with quantity of product and also resurgence of a lot of insect and pests. Traditional breeding methods were the primary approach until the 20th century. Now, plant genome editing technologies offer a significantopportunity to modify specific genes linked to desired traits. This makes it possible to develop crop varieties with higher yields, resilient to changing harsh environments, resistance to pests and have the potential to accelerate crop development significantly. This review delves deeply into the investigation of genome editing techniques, while also addressing the obstacles and prospects associated with utilising this cutting-edge technology for the specific enhancement of various crop traits, boosts yield and strengthensthe crop’s resistance against various pests.
https://www.envirobiotechjournals.com/EEC/Vol30OctoberSupplIssue2024/EEC-23.pdf
Reynolds, M. P. and Braun H.-J. (2022): Wheat Improvement - Food Security in a Changing Climate
This open-access textbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date guide for students and practitioners wishing to access in a single volume the key disciplines and principles of wheat breeding. Wheat is a cornerstone of food security: it is the most widely grown of any crop and provides 20% of all human calories and protein. The authorship of this book includes world class researchers and breeders whose expertise spans cutting-edge academic science all the way to impacts in farmers’ fields. The book’s themes and authors were selected to provide a didactic work that considers the background to wheat improvement, current mainstream breeding approaches, and translational research and avant garde technologies that enable new breakthroughs in science to impact productivity. While the volume provides an overview for professionals interested in wheat, many of the ideas and methods presented are equally relevant to small grain cereals and crop improvement in general. The book is affordable, and because it is open access, can be readily shared and translated -- in whole or in part -- to university classes, members of breeding teams (from directors to technicians), conference participants, extension agents and farmers. Given the challenges currently faced by academia, industry and national wheat programs to produce higher crop yields --- often with less inputs and under increasingly harsher climates -- this volume is a timely addition to their toolkit.
Tripathi J.N., Muiruri S., Tripathi L. (2024): Advancements and challenges in gene editing for improvement of vegetatively
propagated crops. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 82, 102653 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102653
Gene editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, have revolutionized agriculture by offering precise and efficient tools to enhance crop production. The vegetatively propagated crops, crucial for global food security, face challenges such as climate change, pests, and limited genetic diversity. CRISPR-Cas9 enables targeted modifications to improve traits like disease resistance, drought tolerance, and nutritional content, thereby boosting productivity and sustainability. Despite its transformative potential, the adoption of gene editing in vegetatively propagated crops is hampered by technical complexities and regulatory frameworks. This review explores recent advancements, challenges, and prospects of gene editing in vegetatively propagated crops, emphasizing strategies to overcome technical barriers and regulatory constraints. Addressing these issues is essential for realizing the full agricultural potential of gene editing and ensuring food security in a changing global climate.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369526624001444
BfN-Schriften 711 - Genome Editing. Neue Anforderungen an das Monitoring von Umweltwirkungen
BfN-Schriften 708 - Use of phenotypic plant traits to support the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified
plants
Heidari, B., Barjoyifard, D., Mazal-Mazraei, T. et al. (2024): Assessment of genetic biodiversity and association of
micronutrients and agronomic traits using microsatellites and staining methods which accelerates high-micronutrients variety selections within different wheat groups. Sci Rep 14, 27419 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78964-5
Evaluation of genetic biodiversity for micronutrients is crucial for breeding high-quality crops and addressing the negative impacts of mineral deficiencies. The objectives of this research were to assess genetic variation and the relationship between grain Fe and Zn levels and agronomic traits in a diverse collection of wheat varieties. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the correlation between microsatellite markers (SSR) and micronutrient quantities. A total of 42 genotypes (Iranian commercial cultivars, landraces, and Afghan and Swiss varieties) were evaluated over a two-year period. Fe and Zn levels were measured using two semi quantitative staining assays and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) facility. Semi-quantitative staining methods and AAS showed high correlations for micronutrient contents. Landraces exhibited higher Fe (63.79 mg/kg) and Zn (44.76 mg/kg) but lower grain yield compared with commercial cultivars. Heritability estimates ranged 53%-79.43%, suggesting that genetic variance played a higher contribution in the phenotypic variation of traits than environmental factors. Notably, Fe content displayed significant correlations with days to maturity. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) revealed that Zn content was correlated with four agronomic traits. Evaluation of genetic diversity using SSR markers demonstrated high genetic variation among the genotypes tested. The analysis of polymorphism information content (PIC) indicated that SSR primers had an average PIC of 0.75, with the Xgwm192 primer exhibiting higher PIC than others. Several SSR markers revealed association with micronutrient content that can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) programs aimed at selection of high micronutrient genotypes. In conclusion, the findings underscored the substantial genetic diversity present in micronutrient levels among global wheat genotypes, the potential of landraces for micronutrients biofortification of wheat cultivars through cross hybridization, the utility of staining methods for screening high/low micronutrient genotypes, and use of microsatellite markers for marker-assisted breeding aiming to micronutrient improvement in breeding programs.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-78964-5
Manikandan A., Muthusamy S., Wang E.S., Ivarson E. et al. (2024) Breeding and biotechnology approaches to enhance the
nutritional quality of rapeseed byproducts for sustainable alternative protein sources- a critical review. Front. Plant Sci. 15:1468675 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1468675
Global protein consumption is increasing exponentially, which requires efficient identification of potential, healthy, and simple protein sources to fulfil the demands. The existing sources of animal proteins are high in fat and low in fiber composition, which might cause serious health risks when consumed regularly. Moreover, protein production from animal sources can negatively affect the environment, as it often requires more energy and natural resources and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, finding alternative plant-based protein sources becomes indispensable. Rapeseed is an important oilseed crop and the world’s third leading oil source. Rapeseed byproducts, such as seed cakes or meals, are considered the best alternative protein source after soybean owing to their promising protein profile (30%–60% crude protein) to supplement dietary requirements. After oil extraction, these rapeseed byproducts can be utilized as food for human consumption and animal feed. However, anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) like glucosinolates, phytic acid, tannins, and sinapines make them unsuitable for direct consumption. Techniques like microbial fermentation, advanced breeding, and genome editing can improve protein quality, reduce ANFs in rapeseed byproducts, and facilitate their usage in the food and feed industry. This review summarizes these approaches and offers the best bio-nutrition breakthroughs to develop nutrient-rich rapeseed byproducts as plant-based protein sources.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1468675/full
Chen, J., Bartoš, J., Boudichevskaia, A. et al. (2024): The genetic mechanism of B chromosome drive in rye illuminated by
chromosome-scale assembly. Nat Commun 15, 9686 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53799-w
The genomes of many plants, animals, and fungi frequently comprise dispensable B chromosomes that rely upon various chromosomal drive mechanisms to counteract the tendency of non-essential genetic elements to be purged over time. The B chromosome of rye – a model system for nearly a century – undergoes targeted nondisjunction during first pollen mitosis, favouring segregation into the generative nucleus, thus increasing their numbers over generations. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. Here, using a newly-assembled, ~430 Mb-long rye B chromosome pseudomolecule, we identify five candidate genes whose role as trans-acting moderators of the chromosomal drive is supported by karyotyping, chromosome drive analysis and comparative RNA-seq. Among them, we identify DCR28, coding a microtubule-associated protein related to cell division, and detect this gene also in the B chromosome of Aegilops speltoides. The DCR28 gene family is neo-functionalised and serially-duplicated with 15 B chromosome-located copies that are uniquely highly expressed in the first pollen mitosis of rye.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53799-w
Caygill S., Köcher T., Dolan L. (2024): MurA-catalyzed synthesis of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate confers glyphosate
tolerance in bryophytes. PNAS 121 (47), e2412997121 | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2412997121
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that kills most vascular plant weeds but is ineffective against many bryophytes. Glyphosate competitively inhibits the enolpyruvyl transferase enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). EPSPS catalyzes the production of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP)—an intermediate in the shikimate pathway—from shikimate-3-phosphate (S3P) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) substrates. Here, we show that Marchantia polymorpha mutants with loss-of-function mutations in a closely related enolpyruvyl transferase, MpMurA, were more sensitive to glyphosate than wild-type controls. Overexpression of MpMurA in M. polymorpha increased glyphosate tolerance, and heterologous expression of the M. polymorpha MurA enzyme in Arabidopsis thaliana conferred glyphosate resistance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MpMurA catalyzes the production of EPSP from S3P and PEP substrates. These data demonstrate that MpMurA contributes to glyphosate tolerance in M. polymorpha. We speculate that the existence of two independent mechanisms for EPSP synthesis—one canonical and EPSPS-dependent, and the other MurA-dependent—may account for glyphosate tolerance in bryophytes. Alternatively, MurA in bryophytes may bind glyphosate, thereby leaving more unbound EPSPS enzymes available, allowing aromatic amino acid biosynthesis to continue.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2412997121
Jiang J., Gwee J., Fang J., Leichter S.M. et al. (2024): Substrate specificity and protein stability drive the divergence of
plant-specific DNA methyltransferases. Science Advances 10, Issue 45 | DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr2222
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism essential for transposon silencing and genome integrity. Across evolution, the substrates of DNA methylation have diversified between kingdoms. In plants, chromomethylase3 (CMT3) and CMT2 mediate CHG and CHH methylation, respectively. However, how these two methyltransferases diverge on substrate specificities during evolution remains unknown. Here, we reveal that CMT2 originates from a duplication of an evolutionarily ancient CMT3 in flowering plants. Lacking a key arginine residue recognizing CHG in CMT2 impairs its CHG methylation activity in most flowering plants. An engineered V1200R mutation empowers CMT2 to restore CHG and CHH methylations in Arabidopsis cmt2cmt3 mutant, testifying a loss-of-function effect for CMT2 during evolution. CMT2 has evolved a long and unstructured amino terminus critical for protein stability, especially under heat stress, and is plastic to tolerate various natural mutations. Together, this study reveals the mechanism of chromomethylase divergence for context-specific DNA methylation in plants and sheds important lights on DNA methylation evolution and function.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr2222
Payá-Tormo L., Echavarri-Erasun C., Makarovsky-Saavedra N. +4 , Rubio L.M. (2024): Iron-molybdenum cofactor synthesis by
a thermophilic nitrogenase devoid of the scaffold NifEN, PNAS 121 (46) e2406198121 | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406198121
The maturation and installation of the active site metal cluster (FeMo-co, Fe7S9CMo-R-homocitrate) in Mo-dependent nitrogenase requires the protein product of the nifB gene for production of the FeS cluster precursor (NifB-co, [Fe8S9C]) and the action of the maturase complex composed of the protein products from the nifE and nifN genes. However, some putative diazotrophic bacteria, like Roseiflexus sp. RS-1, lack the nifEN genes, suggesting an alternative pathway for maturation of FeMo-co that does not require NifEN. In this study, the Roseiflexus NifH, NifB, and apo-NifDK proteins produced in Escherichia coli are shown to be sufficient for FeMo-co maturation and insertion into the NifDK protein to achieve active nitrogenase. The E. coli expressed NifDKRS contained P-clusters but was devoid of FeMo-co (referred to as apo-NifDKRS). Apo-NifDKRS could be activated for N2 reduction by addition of preformed FeMo-co. Further, it was found that apo-NifDKRS plus E. coli produced NifBRS and NifHRS were sufficient to yield active NifDKRS when incubated with the necessary substrates (homocitrate, molybdate, and S-adenosylmethionine [SAM]), demonstrating that these proteins can replace the need for NifEN in maturation of Mo-nitrogenase. The E. coli produced NifHRS and NifBRS proteins were independently shown to be functional. The reconstituted NifDKRS demonstrated reduction of N2, protons, and acetylene in ratios observed for Azotobacter vinelandii NifDK. These findings reveal a distinct NifEN-independent pathway for nitrogenase activation involving NifHRS, NifBRS, and apo-NifDKRS.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2406198121
EFSA
GMO Panel (2024): Assessment of soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii, under
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA-GMO-NL-2019-162). EFSA Journal, 22(11), e9060. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9060
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9060
GMO Panel (2024): Assessment of genetically modified maize DP51291 (application GMFF-2021-0071). EFSA Journal, 22(11), e9059
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9059
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9059
FEZ Panel (2024): Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme α-amylase from the non-genetically modified Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens strain AE-BAA. EFSA Journal, 22(11), e9079. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9079
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9079
FEZ Panel (2024). Safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucan-1,4-α-glucosidase from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus niger
strain DP-Azh100. EFSA Journal, 22(11), e9082. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9082
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9082
FEZ Panel (2024): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme α-amylase from the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
strain AE-BAA. EFSA Journal, 22(11), e9080. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9080
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9080