Selective Sensors for High Spatiotemporal Imaging of Small Molecule Targets in Metabolic Pathways of Plants and Cells involved in Bio-energy Processes
EMSL Project ID
51335
Abstract
As a member of the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), a DOE Bioenergy Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, we aim to develop selective sensors to image small molecule targets, including metabolites (e.g., ATP, glucose, sucrose, and coenzyme A) and metal ions (e.g., Na+, K+, Mg2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+) in metabolic pathways of plant and associated cells for bioenergy conversion or bioproduct generation. In accomplishing this aim, we will fill a major gap in our knowledge of metabolomics and metallomics in plants and cells. When combined with well-established methods in imaging nucleic acids and proteins, our endeavor will help develop efficient ways to grow bioenergy crops and transform biomass into valuable chemicals, biofuels, and other bioproducts. While we have made progress in developing these sensors for imaging in plants and cells, the spatial and temporal resolutions are poor, limiting our progress toward achieving these goals. In order to accelerate the above scientific discovery and expand new capabilities to understand biological processes across spatial and temporal scales, we submit this Large-Scale EMSL Research proposal for high spatiotemporal imaging of 1) important metabolites (e.g., ATP, glucose, sucrose, and coenzyme A) in plant cells using aptamer-based sensors, combined with super-resolution microscopy, including Structured Illumination Fluorescent Microscopy (SIM), Structured Illumination Fluorescent Microscopy (SIM) and Confocal Airyscan, as well as Single Molecule Fluorescence Microscopy and Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS), and 2) metal ions (e.g., Na+, K+, Mg2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+) in plants using DNAzyme-based sensors, combined with the above super-resolution microscopic techniques and NanoSIMS. Our proposed projects align with major missions of CABBI and EMSL. First, the high spatiotemporal imaging of the distribution, concentration, and speciation of the metabolites and metal ions that, when combined with genomics and proteomics, will provide unprecedented deeper insight into metabolic pathways that produce biochemicals, biofuels and other bioproducts, allowing an increase of the value of energy crops and reducing our nation's dependence on fossil fuels. The unique capabilities of equipment, facilities and staff expertise at EMSL will allow us to accelerate the scientific discovery to understand biological and environmental processes across temporal and spatial scales, including the Functional and Systems Biology Area, such as elucidating and harnessing the biochemical pathways that connect genomic, proteomic, metabolic, and metallomic functions to complex phenotypic responses through a deep understanding of these molecular interactions within plants and cells.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2020-10-01
End Date
2023-03-31
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members