Production of tailor-made fructans in sugar beet by expression of onion fructosyltransferase genes.
The consumption of fructans as a low caloric food ingredient or dietary fibre is rapidly increasing due to health benefits. Presently, the most important fructan source is chicory, but these fructans have a simple linear structure and are prone to degradation. Additional sources of high-quality tailor-made fructans would provide novel opportunities for their use as food ingredients. Sugar beet is a highly productive crop that does not normally synthesize fructans. We have introduced specific onion fructosyltransferases into sugar beet. This resulted in an efficient conversion of sucrose into complex, onion-type fructans, without the loss of storage carbohydrate content.
Weyens
Guy
G
Advanta Biotechnology Department, SES Europe N.V./S.A., Industriepark, Soldatenplein Z2 no. 15, B-3300 Tienen, Belgium. guy.weyens@ses-europe.be
Ritsema
Tita
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Van Dun
Kees
K
Meyer
Diederick
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Lommel
Murielle
M
Lathouwers
Jean
J
Rosquin
Inge
I
Denys
Pascale
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Tossens
Alain
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Nijs
Marleen
M
Turk
Stefan
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Gerrits
Nathalie
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Bink
Sjak
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Walraven
Bas
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Lefèbvre
Marc
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Smeekens
Sjef
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