Bioeconomy Institute

Soybeans are a major source of high quality protein and edible oil. The increasing demand for alternative sources of bio-based energy and chemicals is providing new opportunities to develop novel soybean markets. This multidisciplinary team is developing a systems view of the soybean crop for the bioeconomy that will simultaneously meet the increasing demands for biofuels and biolubricants, as well as the current needs for food and feed. To dissect the complex seed composition trait of the soybean, the team has developed near-isogenic soybean isolines, which differ markedly in their seed compositions. These isolines were derived from recombinant inbred populations, established between the parent lines, Evans, the high protein line, PI153.296, and the low protein line, PI438.472. The resulting isolines are being globally profiled for differences in gene expression at the level of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and metabolic flux. These datasets provide the basis for discovering molecular differences that ultimately express different seed composition. This understanding will provide insights into the processes that regulate seed composition, which we anticipate will reveal a rational strategy for manipulating soybean composition. In parallel, transgenic approaches are being undertaken to express novel genes that will improve the functionality of soybean oil for biolubrication and biofuel applications. Specifically, bacterial genes for the production of branched chain fatty acids are being expressed in soybean seeds which should improve the lubrication properties of the oil. In addition, genes for the biosynthesis of monoacylesters (rather than the normal triacylesters) are being expressed in soybean seeds which will make the oil more economical for biofuel applications. The oil -- a product of these genetic manipulations -- is being evaluated for its physical, chemical, tribological and economic properties. This multidisciplinary approach is setting the stage for applying functional genomics tools to the issue of improving and developing new markets for soybeans.

Principal Investigators:

Basil J. Nikolau, Iowa State University

Eve Syrkin Wurtele, Iowa State University

Dan Nettleton, Iowa State University

Jacqueline V. Shanks, Iowa State University

Mark Westgate, Iowa State University

Earl G. Hammond, Iowa State University

Tong Wang, Iowa State University

Sriram Sundararajan, Iowa State University

Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University

Participating and/or Sponsoring Organizations:

Plant Sciences Institute, Biorenewables Initiative