Establishing a Transient Expression System for Key Bioactive Compounds in N. benthamiana Through Virus Vectors

Moonshot Award

Product or Company Development

Abstract

The aim of this project is to provide proof of concept for production of crocin metabolites in our transient expression system using N. benthamiana plants. Additionally, we hope to successfully identify and extract these metabolites for initial evaluation by industry partners and to further optimize the expression system. Our team is focused on the production of the valuable terpenoid secondary metabolites crocin (crocins 1-5, picrocrocin), most notably found in the saffron plant. 

In scope, we are aiming to provide proof of concept, showing that the combination of our plasmid vector, gene selection, and plant growth practices are sufficient to produce the crocin metabolites we have identified for experimentation. This research project supports future opportunities, where we expect proof of concept opens the door to further funding and collaborations. 

These collaborations will be focused on optimizing the expression process of our metabolic engineering platform, optimizing controlled environmental growth conditions, gaining further insight into best practices for down-stream processing, and techno economic analysis into scaling to the greenhouse for pilot testing and commercial feasibility.