Engineering tomatoes for enhanced carotenoid production
This solution involves engineering tomato plants to enhance the production of carotenoids using advanced genetic techniques. By optimizing phytoene synthase through mutagenesis and directed evolution, this approach aims to increase the yield of valuable carotenoids for use in consumer-packaged goods.
Overview
This innovative solution focuses on engineering tomato plants to significantly increase the production of carotenoids, which are pigments with substantial demand in consumer-packaged goods due to their vibrant colors and health benefits. By leveraging advanced genetic engineering techniques, this project aims to transform tomatoes into efficient bioreactors for carotenoid production. The approach not only enhances the value of processed tomatoes but also opens up new opportunities for producing natural, clean-label ingredients.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Phytoene Synthase Engineering: Utilizes semi-rationale mutagenesis and machine-learning aided directed evolution to optimize the key enzyme, phytoene synthase, enhancing its catalytic activity and thus increasing carotenoid biosynthesis.
- Prime Editing Technology: Develops a Prime Editing system for tomato transformation, enabling the production of non-GMO crops with enhanced carotenoid accumulation.
- Variety-Specific Engineering: Targets different tomato varieties to produce distinct carotenoid profiles based on their natural variation, allowing for customized carotenoid production.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 3, indicating that active research and development are ongoing to prove the concept in a laboratory setting. Future work will focus on optimizing the engineering techniques and scaling up the production for broader applications.
About East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University conducts research across health sciences, public health, clinical and translational science, addiction science, and community‑engaged social and behavioral studies, alongside strong programs in education, computing, and the arts and sciences. Notable units include the Quillen College of Medicine, the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, and the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, as well as the Addiction Science Center and ETSU Health. The ETSU Research Corporation and the Innovation Lab support technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and regional industry collaboration. Research funding commonly comes from federal agencies such as the NIH, HRSA, CDC, and NSF, in addition to state and regional partners. Applied outcomes are focused on rural and telehealth delivery models, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, population health analytics, and community and workforce development in the Appalachian region.
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