Conference proceeding
A transgenic cereal crop with enhanced folate: rice expressing wheat HPPK/DHPS
Proceedings of the 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium, Vol.II
The 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium (Brisbane, Queensland, 24/08/2008 - 29/08/2008)
2008
Metrics
13 Record Views
Abstract
Folate is a B-group vitamin critical for normal cellular function and division. It acts in one-carbon transfer systems essential in nucleotide synthesis, methylation and gene expression. Insufficient intake causes megaloblastic anaemia and there are strong linkages to cardiovascular disease, various cancers and cognitive decline. Low levels prenatally can lead to low birth weight and premature infants and catastrophic neural tube defects including spina bifida and anencephaly (1- 3).
Vertebrates are unable to synthesize folate de novo, accordingly plant foods are the primary source. Cereals, which provide over half the worlds population with 80% of their diets are unfortunately particularly poor in folate. Consequently the majority of developed nations have fortification programmes. In the developing world however, such programmes are logistically far more difficult. A practicable alternative is metabolic engineering, to create a cereal crop plant producing high levels of folate.
Folate is produced in a multi-step process from a pterin ring, p-aminobenzoate (pABA) and glutamate residues. Here we show rice plants transgenic for wheat 6- hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase/7,8-dihydropteroate synthase (HPPK/DHPS) which operates at a central point in the production pathway, gives elevated folate levels. Consequently we have a cereal crop transgenic for a single cereal gene expressing enhanced folate levels.
Details
- Title
- A transgenic cereal crop with enhanced folate: rice expressing wheat HPPK/DHPS
- Creators
- S A Gillies - Southern Cross UniversityShane Reid McIntosh - NSW Department of Primary Industries, WollongbarR J Henry - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium, Vol.II
- Conference
- The 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium (Brisbane, Queensland, 24/08/2008 - 29/08/2008)
- Publisher
- Sydney University Press; Sydney, Australia
- Number of pages
- 3
- Identifiers
- 991013020634102368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding