A symposium on emerging biotechnologies focused on putting genomics to work. Screen transformed plants at the metabolic level by separating and identifying metabolites to detect traits that would never be seen with just RNA and protein screening. Beachy sees using the sequences of newly discovered genes to predict protein folding and active sites, then inferring protein function by consulting a library of known active sites. As an example, Beachy described plants transformed with the coat protein gene of tobacco mosaic virus. By interfering with the disassembly and replication of invading viruses, the coat protein makes plants resistant to infection.
Scientists can now use structural genomics to select more effective coat protein mutants.
While visions of fields of plant leaves making everything from insulin to enzymes danced like sugar plums in the heads of venture capitalists, roots were largely ignored in the biotech revolution. That will change if Ilya Raskin of Rutgers University has his way. With their high surface area and prodigious secretory activity, the roots of hydroponically grown plants are obvious natural product bioreactors. And treatment with salicylic acid or other agents should induce synthesis of compounds not normally seen. By adding the right signal sequence to proteins, Raskin thinks plant roots will also secrete useful enzymes.