Open AccessGenetically engineered rice containing larger amounts of nicotianamine to enhance the antihypertensive effect
Author(s) -
Usuda Kanako,
Wada Yasuaki,
Ishimaru Yasuhiro,
Kobayashi Takanori,
Takahashi Michiko,
Nakanishi Hiromi,
Nagato Yasuo,
Mori Satoshi,
Nishizawa Naoko K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2008.00374.x
Subject(s) - genetically modified rice , endosperm , biology , selectable marker , transformation (genetics) , transgene , gene , genetically modified crops , mutant , agrobacterium , botany , biochemistry
Summary Nicotianamine (NA), a metal chelator ubiquitous in higher plants, serves as an antihypertensive substance in humans. To engineer a novel antihypertensive rice that contains larger amounts of NA, the barley NA synthase gene, HvNAS1 , was introduced into rice via Agrobacterium ‐mediated transformation. The introduced HvNAS1 was driven by pGluB‐1 , which induces strong gene expression in the endosperm of rice seeds. The NA content in transgenic rice seeds was up to fourfold greater than that in non‐transgenic rice seeds. The Cre/ loxP DNA excision (CLX) system was used to remove the selectable marker gene for antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the transgenic rice was crossed with a cleistogamous mutant to prevent gene transfer via pollen dispersal. These two modifications may minimize public concern with regard to the use of this transgenic rice.