Elucidating the structure of the corn protein body: the cage of food

The seed of the maize plant (Zea mays, aka corn) contains zeins, seed storage proteins located within its cells’ Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) lumen. The maize major seed storage protein, Zea mays 27g-zein (Zm27g-zein), polymerises in the maize seed ER to form large cages – which then accumulate in their interior other maize seed storage proteins, thus providing structural scaffold to the protein body (PB) which is the major food source of the seed. The N-terminus of Zm27g-zein is necessary for the polymerisation to form the PB cage – and the C-terminus of the protein folds as a 2S-albumin fold – but no structures are available for the whole protein nor for either domain in isolation. Most importantly, the way Zm27g-zein gives rise to the molecular structure of the PB cage is completely unknown, including questions such as what intermolecular Zm27g-zein : Zm27g-zein covalent and non-covalent interactions form the PB cage; are there any pores in the PB cage and if so of what size; or the relative orientation of the N- and C-termini in the context for the fully formed PB cage (are Zm27g-zein N-/C- termini in the PB interior, or the exterior, or both?). These questions about the Zm27g-zein PB cage are very important for applications using in the fields of food science, recombinant protein expression, pharmacology and nanotechnology. We shall answer these questions using confocal microscopy, X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM.

Development of a structural biology platform as part of the IBISBA European research infrastructure network

Protein function can be understood through protein structure. The structure of a protein can inform the design of modifications resulting in increase or reduction of activity, depending on the desired goal. The service we are developing is a structure determination pipeline (from gene to protein structure). The design of synthetic proteins needs both validation by structure determination and it need to be inspired by structures of the proteins – either the ones to be modified or the products of the initial stages of design.  The user will provide either the gene encoding the protein of interest, or vector/expression system and purification protocol for producing it recombinantly, or purified protein.  The service will provide either of the following deliverables:

• Crystal structure.
• Cryo-EM structure (for targets with Molecular Weight MW greater than 200 kDa).

PlanOVac - Plant-based bio-encapsulation strategies for oral veterinary vaccines

VaTEP - Vacuolar Transport Equipment for Growth Regulation in Plant

Climate change: risk mitigation for sustainable development

The project includes:

• Climate change impact on the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems and adaptation strategies.
• Use of genetic diversity of agricultural species for adaptation to climate change.
• Production of new germplasm with enhanced drought tolerance, maintaining plant productivity and seed quality.
•  The knowledge of the mechanisms involved in plant response to climate change will allow the development of strategies aimed at contrasting adverse environmental conditions.
• Obtaining/identifying genotypes and genetic determinants for tolerance to abiotic (better water use efficiency, resistance to high temperatures) and nutritional (better nitrogen use efficiency) stresses.
• Sustainability of farming systems and identification of genomic regions with an effect on adaptation in animals.

Synthesis and accumulation, in plant cells, of chimeric proteins for biotechnological uses

PREP-IBISBA - Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator - Preparatory Phase

EU-IBISBA is a distributed research infrastructure concept that will deliver translational research and innovation services to the research community and industry alike. Its aim is to accelerate the movement of knowledge and early stage research results towards maturity and uptake for further development by industrial R&I. EU-IBISBA’s expertise is within the field of industrial biotechnology and focuses on the integrated development of bioprocesses, using a multidisciplinary approach and advanced technology such as synthetic biology.

PREP-IBISBA intervenes just after the addition of EU-IBISBA on the ESFRI roadmap and as a follow-up to an ongoing H2020 INFRAIA starting community project entitled IBISBA 1.0. The aim of PREP-IBISBA is to create the conditions to launch EU-IBISBA. It will deliver all the conceptual elements necessary to finalize the science and technology case and define the business model, establish a long range financial plan and identify alternative legal frameworks suitable to deliver EU-IBISBA. Overall, the work will lead to the creation of a legal entity, preferentially either an ERIC or another suitable legal instrument.

IBISBA 1.0 – Design Phase. Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator

IBISBA 1.0 provides a coordinated network of research facilities to promote R&D in bioprocess development and support the bioeconomy. The facilities cover a wide range of experimental and in silico operations and disciplines, and together represent an R&D continuum to build quality biomanufacturing processes for industrialisation. IBISBA 1.0 aims at establishing an interoperable network of infrastructures capable of proposing R&D services to industrial biotechnology professionals. In this respect, IBISBA 1.0 has launched a Transnational Access (TNA) programme, which is conducted in the framework of open calls for projects.

PHARMAPLANT - Recombinant Pharmaceuticals from Plants for Human Health

Identification of a rapid test for anti-nutritional factors in vegetable protein flours

The project includes the development of a rapid assay for the determination of trypsin inhibitors in different soybean matrices (extracted soybean, extruded soybean, fermented concentrated protein soybean); the development of a rapid assay for the determination of allergens in different soya matrices; the molecular characterization of 3 soya matrices (extracted soy flour, extruded soy, fermented protein soy).

sPATIALS3 - Improvement of agrifood productions and innovative technologies for a safer and more secure and sustainable nutrition

sPATIALS3 is a technological and research hub involving 12 CNR Institutes belonging to 4 different Departments and 4 companies. Main objectives will be: obtainment of innovative food products improved for their nutritional and functional properties; provision and implementation of precision technologies to guarantee products quality, safety and traceability; development of innovative and eco-sustainable smart– and active-packaging to minimize and reuse wastes, where possible, and to increase food preservability; provision to consumers and producers of tools for results exploitation.