印度國家植物基因組研究所20日在美國《國家科學(xué)院學(xué)報》上報告說,，他們培育出一種轉(zhuǎn)基因土豆，其蛋白質(zhì)和氨基酸含量均明顯高于普通土豆。
研究人員介紹說,，這種轉(zhuǎn)基因土豆可能相對容易被人體接受,，因為培育這種土豆使用的外來基因來自另一種可食用植物——莧菜。
莧菜是一種種子很小的闊葉植物,，莧菜的AMA1基因非常重要,，可以使莧菜及其種子富含蛋白質(zhì)以及幾種基本氨基酸。印度研究人員將AMA1基因植入幾種土豆的基因組中,，終于在兩年后培育出一種富含蛋白質(zhì)的轉(zhuǎn)基因土豆,。
這種轉(zhuǎn)基因土豆比普通土豆的蛋白質(zhì)含量高35％至60％，其賴氨酸,、酪氨酸以及硫的含量也有顯著提高,。研究人員用轉(zhuǎn)基因土豆喂食老鼠和野兔后，未發(fā)現(xiàn)不良后果,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦英文出處：
PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1006265107
Next-generation protein-rich potato expressing the seed protein gene AmA1 is a result of proteome rebalancing in transgenic tuber
Subhra Chakrabortya,1,2, Niranjan Chakrabortya,1, Lalit Agrawala, Sudip Ghosha, Kanika Narulaa, Shubhendu Shekhara, Prakash S. Naikb, P. C. Pandec, Swarup Kumar Chakrbortib, and Asis Dattaa,2
Protein deficiency is the most crucial factor that affects physical growth and development and that increases morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Efforts have been made to improve protein quality and quantity in crop plants but with limited success. Here, we report the development of transgenic potatoes with enhanced nutritive value by tuber-specific expression of a seed protein, AmA1 (Amaranth Albumin 1), in seven genotypic backgrounds suitable for cultivation in different agro-climatic regions. Analyses of the transgenic tubers revealed up to 60% increase in total protein content. In addition, the concentrations of several essential amino acids were increased significantly in transgenic tubers, which are otherwise limited in potato. Moreover, the transgenics also exhibited enhanced photosynthetic activity with a concomitant increase in total biomass. These results are striking because this genetic manipulation also resulted in a moderate increase in tuber yield. The comparative protein profiling suggests that the proteome rebalancing might cause increased protein content in transgenic tubers. Furthermore, the data on field performance and safety evaluation indicate that the transgenic potatoes are suitable for commercial cultivation. In vitro and in vivo studies on experimental animals demonstrate that the transgenic tubers are also safe for human consumption. Altogether, these results emphasize that the expression of AmA1 is a potential strategy for the nutritional improvement of food crops.
