Detecting changes in the nutritional value and elemental composition of transgenic sorghum grain

We have previously demonstrated that poor digestibility in sorghum can be addressed by using RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress kafirin synthesis. The approach resulted in a twofold improvement in overall protein digestibility levels. In the present study, the effect of this targeted kafirin suppre...

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Published in:Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2015-11, Vol.363, p.183-187
Main Authors: Ndimba, R., Grootboom, A.W., Mehlo, L., Mkhonza, N.L., Kossmann, J., Barnabas, A.D., Mtshali, C., Pineda-Vargas, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Essential amino acids
Grains
Micro-PIXE
Minerals
Proteins
Sorghum
Sulfur
Transgenic
Zinc
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Summary:We have previously demonstrated that poor digestibility in sorghum can be addressed by using RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress kafirin synthesis. The approach resulted in a twofold improvement in overall protein digestibility levels. In the present study, the effect of this targeted kafirin suppression on other grain quality parameters was investigated. Several significant changes in the proximate composition, amino acid profile and the bulk mineral content were detected. Importantly, the most limiting amino acid, lysine, was significantly increased in the transgenic grains by up to 39%; whilst mineral elements in the bulk, such as sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn) were reduced by up to 15.8% and 21% respectively. Elemental mapping of the grain tissue, using micro-PIXE, demonstrated a significant decrease in Zn (>75%), which was localised to the outer endosperm region, whilst TEM revealed important changes to the protein body morphology of the transgenic grains.
ISSN:0168-583X
1872-9584
DOI:10.1016/j.nimb.2015.09.056