Biofuel Potential of Plants Transformed Genetically with NAC Family Genes.

Sadhana Singh,M Nasim,Atul Grover

doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.00022

Abstract

NAC genes contribute to enhance survivability of plants under conditions of environmental stress and in secondary growth of the plants, thereby building biomass. Thus, genetic transformation of plants using NAC genes provides a possibility to tailor biofuel plants. Over-expression studies have indicated that NAC family genes can provide tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses, either by physiological or biochemical changes at the cellular level, or by affecting visible morphological and anatomical changes, for example, by development of lateral roots in a number of plants. Over-expression of these genes also work as triggers for development of secondary cell walls. In our laboratory, we have observed a NAC gene from Lepidium latifolium contributing to both enhanced biomass as well as cold stress tolerance of model plants tobacco. Thus, we have reviewed all the developments of genetic engineering using NAC genes which could enhance the traits required for biofuel plants, either by enhancing the stress tolerance or by enhancing the biomass of the plants.

Highlights

NAC (NAM, ATAF, CUC) genes containing the NAC domain, constitute one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor (TF) families
We review the literature on functional characterization of NAC genes through overexpression to establish their roles in stress tolerance and biomass production, the two important parameters for biofuel plants
We have identified a cold-inducible NAC gene from a Brassicaceae family member Lepidium latifolium (LlaNAC), which was subsequently validated by over-expressing the gene in tobacco plants (Grover et al, 2014)

Summary

Biofuel Potential of Plants Transformed Genetically with NAC Family Genes

NAC genes contribute to enhance survivability of plants under conditions of environmental stress and in secondary growth of the plants, thereby building biomass. Genetic transformation of plants using NAC genes provides a possibility to tailor biofuel plants. Over-expression studies have indicated that NAC family genes can provide tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses, either by physiological or biochemical changes at the cellular level, or by affecting visible morphological and anatomical changes, for example, by development of lateral roots in a number of plants. We have observed a NAC gene from Lepidium latifolium contributing to both enhanced biomass as well as cold stress tolerance of model plants tobacco. We have reviewed all the developments of genetic engineering using NAC genes which could enhance the traits required for biofuel plants, either by enhancing the stress tolerance or by enhancing the biomass of the plants

INTRODUCTION

Stress Tolerance

Physiological and Morphological Adaptations

Oryza sativa Arabidopsis thaliana

NAC ENGINEERED PLANTS FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION

Secondary Cell Wall Synthesis