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Fructan synthesis in transgenic tobacco and chicory plants expressing barley sucrose:fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase
Author(s) -
Sprenger Norbert,
Schellenbaum Luisa,
van Dun Kees,
Boller Thomas,
Wiemken Andres
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01418-4
Subject(s) - fructan , sucrose , chemistry , transgene , botany , food science , biochemistry , biology , gene
We have recently cloned a cDNA encoding sucrose:fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT), a key enzyme of fructan synthesis forming the β‐2,6 linkages typical of the grass fructans, graminans and phleins [Sprenger et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 11652–11656]. Here we report functional expression of 6‐SFT from barley in transgenic tobacco and chicory. Transformants of tobacco, a plant naturally unable to form fructans, synthesized the trisaccharide kestose and a series of unbranched fructans of the phlein type (β‐2,6 linkages). Transformants of chicory, a plant naturally producing only unbranched fructans of the inulin type (β‐2,1 linkages), synthesized in addition branched fructans of the graminan type, particularly the tetrasaccharide bifurcose which is also a main fructan in barley leaves.