A NAC Gene regulating senescence improves grain protein, zinc, and iron content in wheat.
Enhancing the nutritional value of food crops is a means of improving human nutrition and health. We report here the positional cloning of Gpc-B1, a wheat quantitative trait locus associated with increased grain protein, zinc, and iron content. The ancestral wild wheat allele encodes a NAC transcription factor (NAM-B1) that accelerates senescence and increases nutrient remobilization from leaves to developing grains, whereas modern wheat varieties carry a nonfunctional NAM-B1 allele. Reduction in RNA levels of the multiple NAM homologs by RNA interference delayed senescence by more than 3 weeks and reduced wheat grain protein, zinc, and iron content by more than 30%.
Uauy
Cristobal
C
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Distelfeld
Assaf
A
Fahima
Tzion
T
Blechl
Ann
A
Dubcovsky
Jorge
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D017343:Genes, Plant; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D034622:RNA Interference; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc