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Differences in chain length distribution of inulin from Cynara scolymus and Helianthus tuberosus are reflected in a transient plant expression system using the respective 1‐FFT cDNAs
Author(s) -
Hellwege Elke M,
Raap Maik,
Gritscher Dominique,
Willmitzer Lothar,
Heyer Arnd G
Publication year - 1998
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(98)00386-x
Subject(s) - fructan , inulin , jerusalem artichoke , levansucrase , complementary dna , biology , protoplast , biochemistry , fructose , gene , bacteria , genetics , bacillus subtilis
A newly isolated cDNA clone, Cy3 , encoding the fructan fructan 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐FFT) from artichoke was expressed using tobacco protoplasts as expression system. Analysis of the inulin molecules synthesized upon incubation of protoplast extracts with a mixture of oligofructans (DP3–5) shows the production of inulins with a degree of polymerization (DP) of up to 23, whereas parallel experiments performed using a 1‐FFT cDNA from Jerusalem artichoke led to the production of fructans with a DP of up to only 12. The results of in vitro fructan synthesis catalyzed by transiently expressed enzymes therefore reflect the difference of in vivo fructan composition of Jerusalem artichoke (M DP =8–10) and artichoke (M DP =65). These data suggest that the fructan pattern in a given species is mainly defined by the enzymatic characteristics of 1‐FFT.