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Activation of Rice nicotianamine synthase 2 (OsNAS2) enhances iron availability for biofortification

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Molecules and Cells

Abstract

Because micronutrients in human diets ultimately come from plant sources, malnutrition of essential minerals is a significant public health concern. By increasing the expression of nicotianamine synthase (NAS), we fortified the level of bioavailable iron in rice seeds. Activation of iron deficiency-inducible OsNAS2 resulted in a rise in Fe content (3.0-fold) in mature seeds. Its ectopic expression also increased that content. Enhanced expression led to higher tolerance of Fe deficiency and better growth under elevated pH. Mice fed with OsNAS2-D1 seeds recovered more rapidly from anemia, indicating that bioavailable Fe contents were improved by this increase in OsNAS2 expression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, USA

    Sichul Lee

  2. Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 790-784, Korea

    You-Sun Kim & Yoon-Keun Kim

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, 152-703, Korea

    Un Sil Jeon

  4. Plant and Soil Science Laboratory, Department of Agriculture and Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Jan K. Schjoerring

  5. Department of Plant Molecular Systems Biotechnology and Crop Biotech Center, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Korea

    Gynheung An

Authors
  1. Sichul Lee
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  2. You-Sun Kim
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  3. Un Sil Jeon
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  4. Yoon-Keun Kim
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  5. Jan K. Schjoerring
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  6. Gynheung An
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Correspondence to Gynheung An.

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Lee, S., Kim, YS., Jeon, U.S. et al. Activation of Rice nicotianamine synthase 2 (OsNAS2) enhances iron availability for biofortification. Mol Cells 33, 269–275 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-012-2231-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-012-2231-3

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