Enhanced methionine levels and increased nutritive value of seeds of transgenic lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.) expressing a sunflower seed albumin gene

AUTOR(ES)

Molvig, Lisa

FONTE

The National Academy of Sciences of the USA

RESUMO

With the aim of improving the nutritive value of an important grain legume crop, a chimeric gene specifying seed-specific expression of a sulfur-rich, sunflower seed albumin was stably transformed into narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Sunflower seed albumin accounted for 5% of extractable seed protein in a line containing a single tandem insertion of the transferred DNA. The transgenic seeds contained less sulfate and more total amino acid sulfur than the nontransgenic parent line. This was associated with a 94% increase in methionine content and a 12% reduction in cysteine content. There was no statistically significant change in other amino acids or in total nitrogen or total sulfur contents of the seeds. In feeding trials with rats, the transgenic seeds gave statistically significant increases in live weight gain, true protein digestibility, biological value, and net protein utilization, compared with wild-type seeds. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using genetic engineering to improve the nutritive value of grain crops.

Documentos Relacionados

• Increased nutritive value of transgenic potato by expressing a nonallergenic seed albumin gene from Amaranthus hypochondriacus
• Development of two sequence-specific PCR markers linked to the le gene that reduces pod shattering in narrow-leafed Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)
• THE EFFECT OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BORON AND MANGANESE ON THE GROWTH AND CALCIUM UPTAKE OF BLUE LUPINE (LUPINUS ANGUSTIFOLIUS L.) IN SOLUTION CULTURE
• Synthesis, Storage, and Utilization of Amino Compounds in White Lupin (Lupinus albus L.) 1
• The aspartate aminotransferase-P1 gene from Lupinus angustifolius.