Researchers have developed an exon orgenetic sequence that codes for protein synthesis and is derived from natural sequences found in plant genes. This exon technology allows for multi-parameter regulation of a gene of interest by any two promoters in plants. Two promoters, allowing the exon to perform what is known as “parallel promoter stacking”, can control expression of the gene of interest. One potential application of this exon technology is to study trait stacking in cell wall engineering and manipulate cell wall composition with the potential outcome of optimized cellulosic energy crop that does not affect plant development. Toward this end, the team plans to synthesize gene constructs that contain the exon technology.
Proposer’s Name: Ming C. Hammond