Multi-Omics Analyses Reveal the Red and Far-Red Light Combination Enhancing Heterologous Protein and Metabolite Production in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Abstract

Transient expression of exogenous protein in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves via agroinfiltration offers a rapid and efficient platform for functional gene discovery and heterologous production of valuable eukaryotic proteins and metabolites. Though light quality is an important factor for plant photomorphogenesis, its impact on the efficiency of transient expression remains unexplored. In this study, we examined the influence of five representative light qualities with varying wavelength mix on the N. benthamiana growth and recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) production. Plants with red and far-red light treatment (LED-red) showed the highest GFP expression, 57.4% higher than white light. Further study showed that a higher dosage of post-infiltration Agrobacterium and the resulting increase in the number of transcripts contribute to the expression rate enhancement. Moreover, as for exogenous metabolites, a 76.5% increase of accumulated taxadiene was also observed in LED-red group. Integrated transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic revealed that LED-red plants reduced the resistance pathways before infiltration, inducing a higher dosage of post-agroinfiltration Agrobacterium. Our results suggest that N. benthamiana grown under LED-red creates a more favorable environment for Agrobacterium growth, enhancing heterologous protein and metabolite production. This study highlights the potential utilization of light quality as an implementable tool in plant synthetic biology.