Synthetic promoters as a tool for designing gene expression in sugarcane

Synthetic promoters may become an interesting tool to aid in the control of complex traits in sugarcane such as the ability to accumulate sugars and grow while responding to stresses such as drought.

Many genes responsive to drought are altered in plants that have high brix and combining regulatory motifs associated to sucrose metabolism, for instance, with those that are found in drought responsive promoters might aid in controlling complex circuits. We are working on understanding the transcription factors biding sites and building databases that can allow to approach gene regulation using a Systems and Synthetic Biology approach. The possibilities of using synthetic promoters could change the way these transcription factors bind and how genes are expressed in transgenic plants.

These activities are being conducted in the S2B - Systems and Synthetic Biology Center at InovaUSP: http://inova.usp.br/300-2/s2b/