Enhanced seed phytosterol accumulation through expression of a modified HMG-CoA reductase

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Hey, S. J., Powers, S. J., Beale, M. H., Hawkins, N. D., Ward, J. L. and Halford, N. G. 2006. Enhanced seed phytosterol accumulation through expression of a modified HMG-CoA reductase. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 4 (2), pp. 219-229. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2005.00174.x

AuthorsHey, S. J., Powers, S. J., Beale, M. H., Hawkins, N. D., Ward, J. L. and Halford, N. G.
Abstract

The regulation of phytosterol biosynthesis in seeds is of interest to biotechnologists because of the efficacy of dietary phytosterols in reducing blood cholesterol in humans. Mevalonate synthesis via 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) is a key step in phytosterol biosynthesis. HMG-CoA reductase is inactivated by phosphorylation by SNF1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1). With the aim of increasing seed phytosterol levels, transgenic tobacco plants were produced expressing a full-length Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) HMG-CoA reductase gene (HMG1) coding sequence, a modified HMG1 sequence encoding a protein lacking the target serine residue for phosphorylation by SnRK1, or a chimaeric sequence encoding the N-terminal domain of the Arabidopsis HMG1 enzyme fused with the catalytic domain of yeast HMG-CoA reductase, which lacks an SnRK1 target site. All three transgenes (35S-AtHMG1, 35S-AtHMG1m and 35S-AtScHMG1) were under the control of a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter. Levels of seed phytosterols were up to 2.44-fold higher in plants transformed with the 35S-AtHMG1m gene than in the wild-type, and were significantly higher than in plants expressing 35S-AtHMG1 or 35S-AtScHMG1. In contrast, levels of phytosterols in leaves of plants transformed with the 35S-AtHMG1m gene were unchanged, suggesting that regulation of HMG-CoA reductase by SnRK1 is an important factor in seeds but not in leaves. A total of 11 independent transgenic lines expressing 35S-AtHMG1m or 35S-AtScHMG1 also showed an altered flower phenotype, comprising a compact floret, prolonged flowering, short, pale petals, a protruding style, short stamens, late anther development, little or no pollen production, premature flower abscission and poor seed set. Because of this phenotype, the modified HMG-CoA reductase gene would have to be expressed seed specifically if it were to be engineered into a crop plant for biotechnological purposes.

KeywordsBiotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Plant Sciences
Year of Publication2006
JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal
Journal citation4 (2), pp. 219-229
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2005.00174.x
PubMed ID17177798
Open accessPublished as bronze (free) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or code502
513
Project: 4150
Publication dates
Online22 Nov 2005
PublisherWiley
Grant IDBB/D525121/1
BBS/E/C/00004150
BBS/E/C/00004559
BBS/E/C/00004558
ISSN1467-7644

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