Transfer of Nitrogen Fixation (nif) Genes to Non‐diazotrophic Hosts. (2nd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Qin; Chen, Sanfeng
• Is Part Of: Chembiochem. Volume 21:Number 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1717
• Page End: 1722
• Publication Date: 2020-03-02
• Subjects: biosynthesis -- gene expression -- nitrogen fixation -- non-diazotrophic hosts -- protein engineering; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900784
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4227

Abstract

Abstract: Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth. To enhance crop productivity, chemical nitrogen fertilizer is commonly applied in agriculture. Biological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of atmospheric N2 to NH3, is an important source of nitrogen input in agriculture and represents a promising substitute for chemical nitrogen fertilizers. However, nitrogen fixation is only sporadically distributed within bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs). Thus, many biologists hope to reconstitute a nitrogenase biosynthetic pathway in a eukaryotic host, with the final aim of developing N2 ‐fixing cereal crops. With the advent of synthetic biology and a deep understanding of the fundamental genetic determinants necessary to sustain nitrogen fixation in bacteria, much progress has been made toward this goal. Transfer of native and refactored nif (nitrogen fixation) genes to non‐diazotrophs has been attempted in model bacteria, yeast, and plants. Specifically, nif genes from Klebsiella oxytoca, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Paenibacillus polymyxa have been successfully transferred and expressed in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and even in the tobacco plant. These advances have laid the groundwork to enable cereal crops to "fix" nitrogen themselves to sustain their growth and yield. Abstract : Enriched cereals : Engineering nitrogen fixation in non‐diazotrophic hosts, with the final aim of developing nitrogen‐fixing cereal crops is challenging and promising work. This minireview provides an overview of recent advances in the transfer and expression of nif genes in E. coli, yeast, and tobacco plants.