International Team to Build First Fully Synthetic Chloroplast Genomes
Camena Bioscience and Constructive Bio are partnering with global researchers to create the first fully synthetic chloroplast genomes.
In a bold step for synthetic biology, Camena Bioscience and Constructive Bio have joined forces with the Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP) to attempt what has never been achieved before: designing and assembling fully synthetic chloroplast genomes.
The £9.1 million project, funded by the UK’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), unites global leaders in plant science and genome engineering, including researchers from the University of Essex and UC Berkeley. Their mission is to overcome the formidable complexity of chloroplast genomes; DNA molecules 120–170 kilobases long, highly AT-rich, and riddled with repetitive regions that make them notoriously difficult to sequence, synthesise, and assemble.
Chloroplasts, the photosynthetic “powerhouses” of plant cells, play a central role in capturing energy and enabling plants to adapt to environmental change. Understanding and rewriting their genomes could transform plant biology, enabling crops to better withstand climate stress while creating sustainable platforms for producing biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials.
To tackle this challenge, Camena will deploy its enzymatic DNA synthesis platform, capable of building long, accurate DNA sequences at scale, while Constructive Bio brings its large-scale genome assembly toolkit, designed to precisely stitch together vast and complex genetic constructs. Together, these innovations will establish a robust pipeline for writing and assembling entire organelle genomes, an achievement that would mark a new era for synthetic biology.
“Chloroplast genomes are among the most intricate DNA molecules in nature,” said Dr. Steve Harvey, CEO of Camena Bioscience. “By combining our strengths, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in DNA synthesis and plant genomics.”
Dr. Ola Wlodek, CEO of Constructive Bio, added: “Synthetic chloroplasts could revolutionise both fundamental biology and sustainable innovation. This collaboration will lay the foundations for a new class of tools to study plant evolution, photosynthesis, and bioengineering at an unprecedented scale.”
The project is led by Dr. Daniel Dunkelmann at MPI-MP, with contributions from Dr. Pallavi Singh (University of Essex) and Dr. Patrick Shih (UC Berkeley). Together, the team aims to deliver a proof-of-concept that could change how scientists design and study complex genomes, moving synthetic biology beyond microbes and into the intricate genomic landscapes of plants.
By tackling one of the biggest technical hurdles in plant genomics, this ARIA-backed effort positions the UK and its partners as global leaders in synthetic biology innovation, advancing science toward a future where entire organelles, and eventually whole plants, can be written, redesigned, and optimized from the ground up.
Author
BioFocus Newsroom