Transgenic Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Tubers Synthesize the Full Spectrum of Inulin Molecules Naturally Occurring in Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) Roots

The ability to synthesize high molecular weight inulin was transferred to potato plants via constitutive expression of the 1-SST (sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase) and the 1-FFT (fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase) genes of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus). The fructan pattern of tubers f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2000-07, Vol.97 (15), p.8699-8704
Main Authors: Hellwege, Elke M., Czapla, Sylvia, Jahnke, Anuschka, Willmitzer, Lothar, Heyer, Arnd G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artichokes
Asteraceae - metabolism
Biological Sciences
Botany
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Cynara scolymus
Fructans
Fructans - metabolism
Gene Expression
Genes
Hexosyltransferases - biosynthesis
Hexosyltransferases - genetics
inulin
Inulin - biosynthesis
Leaves
Molecular chains
Molecular Weight
Molecules
Oligosaccharides - metabolism
Plant Proteins
Plant Roots - metabolism
Plants
Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism
Potatoes
Solanum tuberosum
Solanum tuberosum - metabolism
Starches
Transgenic plants
Tubers
Vegetables
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Summary:The ability to synthesize high molecular weight inulin was transferred to potato plants via constitutive expression of the 1-SST (sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase) and the 1-FFT (fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase) genes of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus). The fructan pattern of tubers from transgenic potato plants represents the full spectrum of inulin molecules present in artichoke roots as shown by high-performance anion exchange chromatography, as well as size exclusion chromatography. These results demonstrate in planta that the enzymes sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase and fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase are sufficient to synthesize inulin molecules of all chain lengths naturally occurring in a given plant species. Inulin made up 5% of the dry weight of transgenic tubers, and a low level of fructan production also was observed in fully expanded leaves. Although inulin accumulation did not influence the sucrose concentration in leaves or tubers, a reduction in starch content occurred in transgenic tubers, indicating that inulin synthesis did not increase the storage capacity of the tubers.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.150043797