Advanced plant cell biotechnology

The course begins with the lectures given by prof. Morandini (covering 3 ECTS points) deals with two fundamental questions of metabolic engineering: 1) which factors control metabolic fluxes and intermediate concentrations and 2) which strategies /targets work better to modify yields or quality of a certain product, particularly those of industrial relevance. In order to tackle the questions, we shall make use of the tools provided by the Metabolic Control Analysis theory (elasticity, flux and concentration control coefficients). We shall discuss the interplay of supply and demand of metabolic intermediates, as well as the evidence in favour of the so-called 'parallel activation' to increase fluxes and the implications for manipulation strategies. Several case studies (and the relative successes and failures) of plant biotechnology will be discussed, among which the manipulation of starches, sugars, lipids, vitamins, natural pesticides, amino acids, and the inactivation of allergens and toxins.

The part taught by Paolo Pesaresi (covering 3 ECTS points) comes next and will first focus on the technical tools and theoretical basis of plant biotechnological improvements for food and biomass production. Crop genetic improvement strategies adopted during plant domestication and the "Green Revolution" will be described. The different constructs for plant engineering together with the molecular basis of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation are discussed. The different elements of expression vectors, including constitutive and inducible promoters, enhancers, reporter genes, replication origin and marker genes are described. Then we will examine plant traits modified by transgenesis or mutagenesis which are already on the market, or which are likely to be commercially available in the near future: herbicide tolerance, pest resistance, improved nutritional content. Moreover, biotech strategies adopted to obtain novel and sustainable pesticides that meet the requirements of the European "Green deal" and the "Farm-to-Fork" pillar are taken into consideration. Finally, the organisms and the strategies used to produce biofuels of the first, second and third generation will be described.