Expression of fungal diacylglycerol acyltransferase2 genes to increase kernel oil in maize.
Maize (Zea mays) oil has high value but is only about 4% of the grain by weight. To increase kernel oil content, fungal diacylglycerol acyltransferase2 (DGAT2) genes from Umbelopsis (formerly Mortierella) ramanniana and Neurospora crassa were introduced into maize using an embryo-enhanced promoter. The protein encoded by the N. crassa gene was longer than that of U. ramanniana. It included 353 amino acids that aligned to the U. ramanniana DGAT2A protein and a 243-amino acid sequence at the amino terminus that was unique to the N. crassa DGAT2 protein. Two forms of N. crassa DGAT2 were tested: the predicted full-length protein (L-NcDGAT2) and a shorter form (S-NcDGAT2) that encoded just the sequences that share homology with the U. ramanniana protein. Expression of all three transgenes in maize resulted in small but statistically significant increases in kernel oil. S-NcDGAT2 had the biggest impact on kernel oil, with a 26% (relative) increase in oil in kernels of the best events (inbred). Increases in kernel oil were also obtained in both conventional and high-oil hybrids, and grain yield was not affected by expression of these fungal DGAT2 transgenes.
Monsanto Company, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Janette
J
Oakes
Doug
D
Brackenridge
Ron
R
Colletti
Maureen
M
Daley
Deborah J
DJ
Hawkins
Hui
H
Xiong
Jennifer
J
Mai
Steve E
SE
Screen
Dale
D
Val
Kathryn
K
Lardizabal
Ken
K
Gruys
Jill
J
Deikman
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020094:Mortierella / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D036226:Seedlings / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010938:Plant Oils
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