Research group
Patron Group
Developing and applying engineering approaches to understand biological complexity and advance plant biotechnology
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Group activities.
Plants provide us with food, textiles, building materials and numerous metabolic compounds used in health and industry. They also provide the potential for rapid production of complex molecules from water and light.
Until recently, we lacked the tools and data necessary for complex engineering of plant systems. The application of engineering principles to plant biology has enabled us to establish platforms for high-throughput, automated, experimentation at nanoscales. In our lab, we develop and apply engineering approaches to understand biological complexity and advance plant biotechnology.
Our research is focused on:
- Understanding the intrinsic and emergent properties of gene regulatory elements, the role of network motifs and, ultimately, how phenotypes emerge from network functions. We apply computational tools and use rewiring and reconstruction to investigate the relationship between sequence and function. Our long-term goals are to develop the knowledge and technologies required to manipulate plant responses through the rational engineering of gene regulatory networks.
- Exploring and utilising metabolic diversity. Plants synthesise a multitude of specialised metabolites, many of which have potential in human health and industry. We integrate genomics, metabolomics and transcriptomics to investigate the genetic basis of these molecules, enabling us to understand mechanisms of metabolic diversification and explore methods for biomanufacturing. We also develop plants as photosynthetic biomanufacturing platforms, applying engineering approaches to improve purity and yield.
Projects.
Team members.
Tools.
You can find all of our published plasmids at
https://www.addgene.org/Nicola_Patron/
Plasmids from Dudley et al (2022) Reconstitution of monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in genome engineered Nicotiana benthamiana. PMID: 36088516
177019 pEPQD0CM0065 CrDXS
177020 pEPQD0CM0818 PaGPPS
177021 pEPQD0CM0063 CrGES
177022 pEPQD0CM0058 CrG8H
177023 pEPQD0CM0059 CrGOR
177024 pEPQD0CM0060 CrISY
177025 pEPQD0CM0068 NmMLPL
177026 pEPQD0CM0061 CrIO
177027 pEPQD0CM0062 Cr7-DLGT
177028 pEPQD0CM0762 Cr7-DLH
177029 pEPQD0CM0763 CrLAMT
177030 pEPQD0CM0764 CrSLS
177031 pEPQD0CM0765 CrTDC
177032 pEPQD0CM0766 CrSTR
Plasmids from Dudley et al (2021) Biofoundry-assisted expression and characterisation of plant proteins. PMID: 34693026
162281 pEPQD0KN0024
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-AATG, adds a N-terminal expression tag. Generates plasmids for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis
162282 pEPQD0KN0244
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-CCAT, adds a N-terminal expression tag. Generates plasmids for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis
162283 pEPQD0KN0025
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-AATG. Generates plasmids for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis
162284 pEPQD0KN0245
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-CCAT. Generates plasmids for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis
162285 pEPQD0CB0026
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-AATG. Generates plasmids for SP6-driven TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System
162286 pEPQD0CB0246
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-CCAT. Generates plasmids for SP6-driven TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System
162287 pEPQD0KN0282
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-AATG. Generates plasmids for SP6-driven TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System
162288 pEPQD0KN0283
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-CCAT. Generates plasmids for SP6-driven TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System
162289 pEPQD0KN0284
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-AATG. Generates plasmids for SP6-driven TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System
162290 pEPQD0KN0285
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-CCAT. Generates plasmids for SP6-driven TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System
162291 pEPYC0CM0258
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162292 pEPQD0CM0541
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162293 pEPQD0CM0542
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162294 pEPQD0CM0543
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162295 pEPQD0CM0544
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162296 pEPQD0CM0545
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162297 pEPQD0CM0546
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162298 pEPQD0CM0547
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162299 pEPQD0CM0548
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162300 pEPQD0CM0549
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162301 pEPQD0CM0550
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162302 pEPQD0CM0281
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162303 pEPQD0CM0551
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162304 pEPMY0SP0002
Level 0 N-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, CCAT-AATG
162305 pEPQD0CM0296
Level 0 CDS part for MoClo assembly, AATG-TTCG
162306 pEPQD0CM0539
Level 0 CDS part for MoClo assembly, AATG-TTCG
162307 pEPYC0CM0134
Level 0 C-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, TTCG-GCTT
162308 pEPYC0CM0257
Level 0 C-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, TTCG-GCTT
162309 pEPQD0CM0027
Level 0 C-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, TTCG-GCTT
162310 pEPQD0CM0028
Level 0 C-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, TTCG-GCTT
162311 pEPQD0CM0029
Level 0 C-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, TTCG-GCTT
162312 pEPQD0CM0030
Level 0 C-terminal tag part for MoClo assembly, TTCG-GCTT
162313 pEPQDKN0248
Reporter plasmid for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis with detection via HiBiT
162314 pEPQDKN0332
Reporter plasmid for TNT SP6 Coupled Wheat Germ Extract System with detection via HiBiT
162315 pEPQDKN0329
TEV protease plasmid for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis with detection via HiBiT
162316 pEPQDKN0729
TEV protease plasmid for T7-driven E. coli cell-free protein synthesis
162317 pEPMY1CB0001
Acceptor for golden gate assembly with BsaI overhangs GCTT-CCAT. Generates plasmids for T7-driven expression in E. coli. Contains mRFP1 reporter.
Synthetic promoters from Cai et al (2020) Rational design of minimal synthetic promoters for plants. Nucleic Acids Res. 2020 Aug 28. pii: 5897334. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa682
#154477 – #154753 Level 0 promoter parts and Level 1reporter constructs
LOOP assembly plasmids from Sauret-Gueto et al (2020) Systematic tools for reprogramming plant gene expression in a simple model, Marchantia polymorpha. ACS Synth Biol. 2020 Mar 12. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00511.
#136695 Loop acceptor plasmid (odd level position 1)
#136696 Loop acceptor plasmid (odd level position 2)
#136697 Loop acceptor plasmid (odd level position 3)
#136698 Loop acceptor plasmid (odd level position 4)
#49770 pICSL90004 Level 0 SpCas9-h (with stop codon)
#117520 pICSL90005 Level 0 SpCas9-h (no stop codon)
#117521 pEPOR0SP0013 Level 0 SpCas9-p (with stop codon)
#117522 pEPOR0SP0009 Level 0 SpCas9-p (no stop codon)
#117523 pEPOR0SP0001 Level 0 SpCas9-DE (no stop codon)
#117524 pEPOR0SP0014 Level 0 SpCas9-KA (with stop codon)
#117525 pEPOR0SP0015 Level 0 SpCas9-KA (no stop codon)
#117526 pEPOR0SP0016 Level 0 Sp-eCas9 1.0 (with stop codon)
#117527 pEPOR0SP0017 Level 0 Sp-eCas9 1.0 (no stop codon)
#117528 pEPOR0SP0018 Level 0 Sp-eCas9 1.1 (with stop codon)
#117529 pEPOR0SP0019 Level 0 Sp-eCas9 1.1 (no stop codon)
#117530 pEPOR0SP0011 Level 0 Sp-xCas9 3.7 (no stop codon)
#117531 pEPOR0SP0020 Level 0 SaCas9 (with stop codon)
#117532 pEPOR0SP0021 Level 0 SaCas9 (no stop codon)
#117533 pEPOR0SP0012 Level 0 eSaCas9 (no stop codon)
#117534 pEPOR0SP0007 Level 0 LbCas12a (with stop codon)
#117535 pEPOR0SP0008 Level 0 AsCas12a (with stop codon)
#117536 pICSL50005 Level 0 c-term tag YFP
#50269 pICH51288 Level 0 2x35S_(promoter + 5UTR)
#68261 pICSL90002 Level 0 At U6-26 (promoter)
#50339 pICH41421 Level 0 Nos (3UTR + terminator)
#117542 pICSL11023 Level 1 2x35S_+ SpCas9-h:YFP + Nos
#117543 pEPOR1CB0002 Level 1 2x35S_+ SpCas9-p:YFP + Nos
#117544 pEPOR1CB0008 Level 1 2x35S_+ SpCas9-DE:YFP + Nos
#117545 pEPOR1CB0009 Level 1 2x35S_+ SpCas9-K855A:YFP + Nos
#117546 pEPOR1CB0010 Level 1 2x35S_+ Sp-eCas91.0:YFP + Nos
#117547 pEPOR1CB0011 Level 1 2x35S_+ Sp-eCas91.1:YFP + Nos
#117548 pEPOR1CB0112 Level 1 2x35S_+ Sp-xCas9 3.7.1:YFP + Nos
#117549 pEPOR1CB0013 Level 1 2x35S_+ LbCas12a + Nos
#117550 pEPOR1CB0014 Level 1 2x35S_+ AsCas12a + Nos
#117551 pEPOR1CB0015 Level 1 2x35S_+ SaCas9:YFP + Nos
#117552 pEPOR1CB0113 Level 1 2x35S_+ eSaCas9:YFP + Nos
The Universal Acceptor Plasmid from Patron et al (2015) Standards for Plant Synthetic Biology: A Common Syntax for Exchange of DNA Parts:
#63674 pUAP1 (Universal Acceptor Plasmid 1)
Plasmids from Lawrenson et al (2015) Induction of targeted, heritable mutations in barley and Brassica oleracea using RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease:
#68262 pICSL90003 Level 0: PROM U6 (Triticum aestivum)
#68261 pICSL90002 Level 0: PROM U6-26 (Arabidopsis thaliana)
#68257 pICSL12009 Level 0: PROM Ubi (Zea mays)
#50270 pICSL12006 Level 0: PROM CsVMV (Cassava Vein Mosaic Virus)
#68260 pICSL80037 Level 0: CDS neomycin phosphotransferase II (Escherichia coli)
#68259 pICSL80036 Level 0: CDS hygromycin phosphotransferase II (Escherichia coli)
#68263 pICSL11059 Level 1, Position 1: CaMV35s:TMV-Omega_hptII with intron_CaMV35s
#68252 pICSL11055 Level 1: CaMV 35S_nptII_nos
#68264 pICSL11060 Level 1, Position 2: CsVMV_Cas9_CaMV35s
#68258 pICSL11056 Level 1, Position 2: ZmUbi_Cas9_CaMV35s
Publications.
Related reading.
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09 April 2018
Science
FEATURE
| 8 min READ
Spotlight on: Synthetic Biology with Nicola Patron
Synthetic biology is bridging the worlds of biotechnology and engineering, advancing the predictable modelling of novel biological systems and their products - from medicines to biosensors and more.
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24 August 2021
Science
Technology
FEATURE
| 10 min READ
N is for nitrogen: how can we make our crops sustainable?
Dr Mehmet Tufan Oz speaks to us about how he came to work at Earlham Institute with his research on plant gene regulation and bioengineering advancements which could lead to superior crop genomes.
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26 January 2021
Science
FEATURE
| 15 min READ
Gene editing: why scientists need to be part of the conversation
With the UK no longer a member of the European Union, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has opened a public consultation on the regulation of gene editing in England. We spoke to Synthetic Biology Group Leader, Dr Nicola Patron about her view of the debate and why it’s important for scientists to share their expertise with policymakers.
26 November 2019
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Discovering hidden plant medicines on your doorstep
Scientists at Earlham Institute are delving into the genetics of UK wildflowers to find the medicines that we never knew were right on our doorstep.
06 June 2018
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Pheromone power - bringing 'SexyPlant' back to defy crop pests
EI and a consortium of European scientists have received over 1.6m euros from ERACoBiotech to combat aggressive crop pests using insect pheromones.
10 April 2023
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Engineered plants produce sex perfume to trick pests and replace pesticides
Tobacco plants have been engineered to manufacture an alluring perfume of insect sex pheromones, which could be used to confuse would-be pests looking for love and reduce the need for harmful pesticides.
01 September 2020
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EI’s synthetic biology team rewrites the rules on plant gene expression
Fine control of plant genes revealed in breakthrough synthetic biology study