Folate biofortification in food plants.
Folate deficiency is a global health problem affecting many people in the developing and developed world. Current interventions (industrial food fortification and supplementation by folic acid pills) are effective if they can be used but might not be possible in less developed countries. Recent advances demonstrate that folate biofortification of food crops is now a feasible complementary strategy to fight folate deficiency worldwide. The genes and enzymes of folate synthesis are sufficiently understood to enable metabolic engineering of the pathway, and results from pilot engineering studies in plants (and bacteria) are encouraging. Here, we review the current status of investigations in the field of folate enhancement on the eve of a new era in food fortification.
Bekaert
Samir
S
Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
Storozhenko
Sergei
S
Mehrshahi
Payam
P
Bennett
Malcolm J
MJ
Lambert
Willy
W
Gregory
Jesse F
JF
Schubert
Karel
K
Hugenholtz
Jeroen
J
Van Der Straeten
Dominique
D
Hanson
Andrew D
AD
D019731:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D000637:Transaminases
D005492:Folic Acid; D000637:Transaminases; C066599:aminodeoxychorismate synthase; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase; D019731:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases