Review Article | Open Access

Volume 2021 |Article ID 9798714 | https://doi.org/10.34133/2021/9798714

Biological Parts for Plant Biodesign to Enhance Land-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal

Xiaohan Yang iD ,^1,2 Degao Liu,³ Haiwei Lu,⁴ David J. Weston,^1,2 Jin-Gui CheniD ,^1,2 Wellington Muchero,^1,2 Stanton Martin,^1,2 Yang Liu,¹ Md Mahmudul Hassan,^1,2 Guoliang YuaniD ,^1,2 Udaya C. KalluriiD ,^1,2 Timothy J. Tschaplinski,^1,2 Julie C. Mitchell,¹ Stan D. WullschlegeriD ,⁵ Gerald A. Tuskan^1,2

¹Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
²The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
³Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, Center for Precision Plant Genomics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
⁴Department of Academic Education, Central Community College-Hastings, Hastings, NE 68902, USA
⁵Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA

Abstract

A grand challenge facing society is climate change caused mainly by rising CO2 concentration in Earth’s atmosphere. Terrestrial plants are linchpins in global carbon cycling, with a unique capability of capturing CO2 via photosynthesis and translocating captured carbon to stems, roots, and soils for long-term storage. However, many researchers postulate that existing land plants cannot meet the ambitious requirement for CO2 removal to mitigate climate change in the future due to low photosynthetic efficiency, limited carbon allocation for long-term storage, and low suitability for the bioeconomy. To address these limitations, there is an urgent need for genetic improvement of existing plants or construction of novel plant systems through biosystems design (or biodesign). Here, we summarize validated biological parts (e.g., protein-encoding genes and noncoding RNAs) for biological engineering of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) traits in terrestrial plants to accelerate land-based decarbonization in bioenergy plantations and agricultural settings and promote a vibrant bioeconomy. Specifically, we first summarize the framework of plant-based CDR (e.g., CO2 capture, translocation, storage, and conversion to value-added products). Then, we highlight some representative biological parts, with experimental evidence, in this framework. Finally, we discuss challenges and strategies for the identification and curation of biological parts for CDR engineering in plants.