title: Next-generation protein-rich potato expressing the seed protein gene AmA1 is a result of proteome rebalancing in transgenic tuber.
abstract: Protein deficiency is the most crucial factor that affects physical growth and development and that increases morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Efforts have been made to improve protein quality and quantity in crop plants but with limited success. Here, we report the development of transgenic potatoes with enhanced nutritive value by tuber-specific expression of a seed protein, AmA1 (Amaranth Albumin 1), in seven genotypic backgrounds suitable for cultivation in different agro-climatic regions. Analyses of the transgenic tubers revealed up to 60% increase in total protein content. In addition, the concentrations of several essential amino acids were increased significantly in transgenic tubers, which are otherwise limited in potato. Moreover, the transgenics also exhibited enhanced photosynthetic activity with a concomitant increase in total biomass. These results are striking because this genetic manipulation also resulted in a moderate increase in tuber yield. The comparative protein profiling suggests that the proteome rebalancing might cause increased protein content in transgenic tubers. Furthermore, the data on field performance and safety evaluation indicate that the transgenic potatoes are suitable for commercial cultivation. In vitro and in vivo studies on experimental animals demonstrate that the transgenic tubers are also safe for human consumption. Altogether, these results emphasize that the expression of AmA1 is a potential strategy for the nutritional improvement of food crops.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Subhra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Lalit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Sudip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Kanika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.forename: Shubhendu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shekhar
authors.forename: Prakash S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Pande
authors.forename: Swarup Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chakrborti
authors.forename: Asis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Datta
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D040901:Proteomics; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins