Constitutive overexpression of barley 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase in tobacco results in elevation of the vitamin E content in seeds but not in leaves.
With the aim to enhance the plant vitamin E content, the barley gene encoding 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase was overexpressed in tobacco plants under control of the 35S promoter. Transgenic lines have a higher capacity for homogentisate biosynthesis as evident by a more than 10-fold higher resistance towards the bleaching herbicide sulcotrione. Seeds from transgenic lines have an up to two-fold enhanced level of vitamin E without a change in the ratio of gamma-tocopherol and gamma-tocotrienol. While the vitamin E content is not affected in leaves, the level of plastoquinone is enhanced in leaves of transgenic lines during leaf senescence.
Falk
Jon
J
Institute of Botany, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D-24098 Kiel, Germany.
Andersen
Gaby
G
Kernebeck
Birgit
B
Krupinska
Karin
K
D015111:4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase / Q000235:genetics*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D001467:Hordeum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010971:Plastoquinone / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
D014810:Vitamin E; D015111:4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase; D010971:Plastoquinone; D024505:Tocopherols