Abstract
Plant carotenoids are lipid soluble pigments that play key roles in numerous plant functions. They also play significant roles in the human diet by serving as precursors for vitamin A synthesis and by reducing the occurrence of certain diseases. The purpose of this work was to identify novel methods for enhancing betacarotene content in potato, a major staple food crop. In particular, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the beta-carotene hydroxylase gene (bch), which converts beta-carotene to zeaxanthin. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation was employed to introduce two RNAi constructs into three different potato lines (‘Yema de Huevo’, 91E22, and ‘Desiree’). One construct contained the tuber-specific granulebound starch synthase (GBSS) promoter, and the other contained the strong constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV 35S) promoter. Eighty-six percent of the silenced lines had altered carotenoid profiles, as revealed by HPLC. Beta-carotene content was increased from trace amounts in wild type tubers up to 331 μg 100 g1 fresh weight. In addition, some transformants exhibited a significant decrease in zeaxanthin content and/or an increase in lutein. In general, transformants derived from the GBSS construct contained more beta-carotene than CaMV 35S transformants. Reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) analysis of bch RNA abundance in tubers demonstrated that the extent of bch silencing varied between transformants, and was in most cases associated with the level of beta-carotene. Similarly, RT-PCR showed that bch silencing also occurred in leaves, but primarily in the CaMV 35S lines. These results demonstrate that silencing bch has the potential to increase the content of two health-promoting carotenoids, betacarotene and lutein, in potato.
Resumen
Los carotenoides vegetales son pigmentos solubles que juegan un rol importante en numerosas funciones de la planta. También juegan un rol significativo en la dieta humana, pues sirven como precursores de la síntesis de vitamina A y reducen la presencia de ciertas enfermedades. El propósito de este trabajo fue de identificar métodos nuevos para incrementar el contenido de betacaroteno en papa, un cultivo alimenticio importante de consumo diario. Particularmente hemos utilizado la RNA interferencia (RNAi) para silenciar el gen betacaroteno hidroxilasa (bch), el cual convierte el betacaroteno en zeaxantina. Se empleó la transformacion mediada por Agrobactrium tumefaciens para introducir dos construcciones de RNAi en tres diferentes líneas de papa (‘Yema de huevo’, 91E22 y ‘Desiree’). Una construcción contenía el promotor específico del tubérculo ligado a gránulo de sintasa del almidón (GBSS) y el otro contenía el promotor constitutive del mosaico de la coliflor 35S (CaMV 35S). El 85% de las líneas silenciadas tuvieron carotenoides de perfiles alterados, tal como lo revelado por HPCL. El contenido de beta-caroteno se incrementó de trazas en tubérculos tipo silvestre hasta 33.1 ¼g/100 g-1 de peso fresco. Además, algunos transformantes exhibieron una significativa disminucion en el contenido de zeaxantina y/o un aumento en luteína. En general, los transformantes derivados del GBSS, contenían más beta-caroteno que los de CaMV 35S. El análisis reverso transcriptasa PCR (RT-PCR) de abundancia de bch RNA en tubérculos demostró que la cantidad de silenciamiento bch varió entre transformantes y fue en muchos casos asociado con el nivel de beta-caroteno. Similarmente, el RT-PCR mostró que el silenciamiento bch también ocurrió en las hojas, pero principalmente en las líneas CaMV 35S. Estos resultados demuestran que el silenciar el bch tiene potencial para incrementar dos carotenoides promotores de la salud, el betacaroteno y la luteína, en papa.
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Van Eck, J., Conlin, B., Garvin, D.F. et al. Enhancing beta-carotene content in potato by rnai-mediated silencing of the beta-carotene hydroxylase gene. Amer J of Potato Res 84, 331–342 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986245
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986245