Num. Contratto:
244348

Coordinatore: ROYAL ALLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE (Regno Unito)

Responsabile ENEA: GIULIANO GIOVANNI - SSPT-AGROS (CASACCIA)

Ruolo ENEA: PARTNER

Sito Web: Sito WEB non disponibile

Programma Quadro: Settimo Programma Quadro R&ST (2007-2013)

Programma UE: Biotecn, prod.alim, agric., pesca (2007-2013) - Prodotti alimentari, agricoltura e pesca, e biotecnologie

Area Tematica: Life sciences - food genetic

Tipo Progetto: STREP - Progetti Specifici Mirati

Descrizione:

In the METAPRO project we aim to optimise the production of several useful isoprenoid derived secondary metabolites to demonstrate the tools and strategies developed for the generic production of useful secondary metabolites in plants. Astaxanthin (ketocarotenoids) and the apocarotenoid crocin have been selected to demonstrate the application of the technologies adopted and developed. These compounds are of high-value and used in the industrial and health sectors. Both are classical secondary plant metabolites being formed in slow growing species that are not readily amenable to agricultural production. They are non-essential to the plant, synthesised at a defined developmental stage, in specialised tissues, cells and/or cellular compartments. In order to generate cheap renewable bio-resources of these compounds with improved economic and environmental potential, natural variation will be exploited and genetic engineering approaches implemented. Astaxanthin and crocin will be engineered into Solanaceae host platforms. Tomato fruit and potato tuber are ideal cell factories for this class of molecules, as at defined developmental stages their tissues and specialised cellular compartments are pre-disposed to high level isoprenoid formation. To optimise production in these hosts the METAPRO project aims to use modern and emerging technologies to - elucidate regulatory mechanisms involved in synthesis, - optimise storage by increasing, altering and transport from, the cellular compartment responsible for synthesis and accumulation, - improve stability of the products in the cell and during bioprocessing and implement improved transformation, transcription and translation tools for more efficient engineering and improved yields and quality. To achieve these objectives and deliver scientific excellence with impact a multidisciplinary pan-European team with complementary expertise, industrial (SME) participation and global interaction has been constructed.

Attività svolta da ENEA:

L'attività di ENEA è relativa alla caratterizzazione da un punto di vita molecolare della pathway biosintetica che porta alla sintesi dei metaboliti secondari presenti nello zafferano (crocina, pirocrocina, safranale) e di trasferire i geni relativi in una pianta modello come il pomodoro.

Note:

Posizione:
1121

Codice Atto:
07N20

Atto di approvazione ENEA:
371/2010/COMM

Unità alla stipula:
UTAGRI-ECO

Costo eleggibile del Progetto: 4.140.000,00

Contributo al Progetto: 2.980.000,00

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Costo eleggibile per ENEA: 440.000,00

Contributo ad ENEA: 332.000,00

Anno di stipula:
2010

Durata in mesi:
0

Data di inizio:
01-12-2009

Data di scadenza:
31-05-2013