Contribution

The essence of synthetic biology is to use modern biotechnology to creatively synthesize useful substances that are valuable or non-existent in nature, ultimately serving humanity in a friendly way and further promoting social development.

By screening CsTBH, a key gene that controls epidermal hair morphogenesis, and verifying that it can stimulate the expression of PAL, a precursor of flavonoid synthesis, the project designed a CsTBH-CsPAL co-expression module so that the metabolites are expressed only in the fruit thorns, thereby promoting the synthesis of flavonoids.

We studied the structure, classification and classical synthesis pathway of flavonoids in plants, and identified the goal of controlling the carbon flux from primary to secondary metabolism in plants by changing the first step of the PAL-catalyzed phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway to produce more flavonoids.

Based on the research direction of using plants themselves to produce useful metabolites, the chassis technology was designed, including ensuring the construction of the epidermal hair "metabolic factory" (responsible for CsTBH), ensuring the production of flavonoids (the main switch is controlled by CsPAL), and establishing a direct interaction relationship between CsTBH and CsPAL. By constructing a co-expression vector of CsTBH and CsPAL, the production of flavonoids in cucumber epidermal hairs was effectively achieved.

The overexpression vector PCY-35S-His was introduced, and the PCY-CsTBH overexpression vector and PCY-CsPAL overexpression vector were constructed. The chassis design of synthetic biology was completed, and the CsTBH-activated CsPAL promoter was constructed through the yeast single-hybrid vector PLAcZi.

The effectiveness of chassis and plasmid construction was verified through methods such as genetic transformation experiments on cucumber cotyledons, including observing color changes in fruit thorns, performing fluorescent staining and liquid chromatography, and determining the content of flavonoids.

From the perspective of scientific research, our research results provide an important theoretical basis for the utilization of plant epidermal hair metabolic factories. From the perspective of production practice, the successful implementation of the project provides a large number of synthetic possibilities for the production of flavonoids. Therefore, the project has both theoretical and important practical significance.

At the beginning of the design of our project, we paid attention to global issues facing mankind, such as human health and sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, we are also working towards this goal in project practice.

Through in-depth social research, including questionnaires, expert interviews and field visits, we have fully understood the needs and expectations of the general public. More than 1,000 social participants have provided us with valuable information feedback. These data are an important basis for the advancement of our project, which enables us to better meet the needs of the general public and provide them with more targeted and practical products. We have also developed a targeted science popularization plan to introduce the potential and application of synthetic biology in solving global problems to the public in an easy-to-understand way. Improve the public's awareness and understanding of synthetic biology so that they can better accept and apply this emerging technology.

We emphasize the important role of natural plant metabolites, flavonoids, in preventing and treating a variety of chronic diseases, so that people pay more attention to the health benefits of natural substances. We also provide people with more natural food choices rich in flavonoids to further improve people's health. At the same time, we actively carry out health science lectures and online health challenges to enhance their attention to and management of their own health, thereby promoting the improvement of overall health awareness.

Our project takes into account the impact of agricultural production on the environment and the rational use of resources. By using biotechnology to increase the content of flavonoids in cucumbers, it not only increases the nutritional value of cucumbers, but also has important ecological significance. Due to the increase in the content of flavonoids in cucumbers, their own resistance to diseases and pests is improved, thereby reducing dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This helps to reduce the pollution of agricultural production to the environment and protect the ecological balance. Achieve the organic unity of economic benefits, social benefits and ecological benefits of agriculture.