No abstract

A single, recessive mutation in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), which confers a seed phenotype of increased inorganic phosphate, decreased phytic acid, and a decrease in total raffinosaccharides, has been previously disclosed (S.A. Sebastian, P.S. Kerr, R.W. Pearlstein, W.D. Hitz [2000] Soy in Animal Nutrition, pp 56-74). The genetic lesion causing the multiple changes in seed phenotype is a single base change in the third base of the codon for what is amino acid residue 396 of the mature peptide encoding a seed-expressed myo-inositol 1-phospate synthase gene. The base change causes residue 396 to change from lysine to asparagine. That amino acid change decreases the specific activity of the seed-expressed myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase by about 90%. Radio tracer experiments indicate that the supply of myo-inositol to the reaction, which converts UDP-galactose and myo-inositol to galactinol is a controlling factor in the conversion of total carbohydrate into the raffinosaccharides in both wild-type and mutant lines. That same decrease in myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthetic capacity leads to a decreased capacity for the synthesis of myo-inositol hexaphosphate (phytic acid) and a concomitant increase in inorganic phosphate.

Tocotrienols are the primary form of vitamin E in seeds of most monocot plants, including cereals such as rice and wheat. As potent antioxidants, tocotrienols contribute to the nutritive value of cereal grains in human and livestock diets. cDNAs encoding homogentisic acid geranylgeranyl transferase (HGGT), which catalyzes the committed step of tocotrienol biosynthesis, were isolated from barley, wheat and rice seeds. Transgenic expression of the barley HGGT in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves resulted in accumulation of tocotrienols, which were absent from leaves of nontransformed plants, and a 10- to 15-fold increase in total vitamin E antioxidants (tocotrienols plus tocopherols). Overexpression of the barley HGGT in corn seeds resulted in an increase in tocotrienol and tocopherol content of as much as six-fold. These results provide insight into the genetic basis for tocotrienol biosynthesis in plants and demonstrate the ability to enhance the antioxidant content of crops by introduction of an enzyme that redirects metabolic flux.