A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility
Dietary deficiencies of iron and zinc cause human malnutrition that can be mitigated by biofortified staple crops. Conventional breeding approaches to increase grain mineral concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) have had only limited success, and our understanding of the genetic and physiol...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175677 |
| _version_ | 1855518656856850432 |
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| author | Harrington, Sophie A. Connorton, James M. Nyangoma, Natasha I. M. McNelly, Rose Morgan, Yvie M. L. Aslam, Mohamad F. Sharp, Paul A. Johnson, Alexander A. T. Uauy, Cristobal Balk, Janneke |
| author_browse | Aslam, Mohamad F. Balk, Janneke Connorton, James M. Harrington, Sophie A. Johnson, Alexander A. T. McNelly, Rose Morgan, Yvie M. L. Nyangoma, Natasha I. M. Sharp, Paul A. Uauy, Cristobal |
| author_facet | Harrington, Sophie A. Connorton, James M. Nyangoma, Natasha I. M. McNelly, Rose Morgan, Yvie M. L. Aslam, Mohamad F. Sharp, Paul A. Johnson, Alexander A. T. Uauy, Cristobal Balk, Janneke |
| author_sort | Harrington, Sophie A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Dietary deficiencies of iron and zinc cause human malnutrition that can be mitigated by biofortified staple crops. Conventional breeding approaches to increase grain mineral concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) have had only limited success, and our understanding of the genetic and physiological barriers to altering this trait is incomplete. Here we demonstrate that a transgenic approach combining endosperm-specific expression of the wheat VACUOLAR IRON TRANSPORTER gene TaVIT2-D with constitutive expression of the rice (Oryza sativa) NICOTIANAMINE SYNTHASE gene OsNAS2 significantly increases the total concentration of zinc and relocates iron to white-flour fractions. In two distinct bread wheat cultivars, we show that the so called VIT-NAS construct led to a two-fold increase in zinc in wholemeal flour, to ∼50 µg g−1. Total iron was not significantly increased, but redistribution within the grain resulted in a three-fold increase in iron in highly pure, roller-milled white flour, to ∼25 µg g−1. Interestingly, expression of OsNAS2 partially restored iron translocation to the aleurone, which is iron depleted in grain overexpressing TaVIT2 alone. A greater than three-fold increase in the level of the natural plant metal chelator nicotianamine in the grain of VIT-NAS lines corresponded with improved iron and zinc bioaccessibility in white flour. The growth of VIT-NAS plants in the greenhouse was indistinguishable from untransformed controls. Our results provide insights into mineral translocation and distribution in wheat grain and demonstrate that the individual and combined effects of the two transgenes can enhance the nutritional quality of wheat beyond what is possible by conventional breeding. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace175677 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| publisherStr | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1756772025-12-08T09:54:28Z A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility Harrington, Sophie A. Connorton, James M. Nyangoma, Natasha I. M. McNelly, Rose Morgan, Yvie M. L. Aslam, Mohamad F. Sharp, Paul A. Johnson, Alexander A. T. Uauy, Cristobal Balk, Janneke iron zinc wheat flour diet malnutrition biofortification nutrient deficiencies Dietary deficiencies of iron and zinc cause human malnutrition that can be mitigated by biofortified staple crops. Conventional breeding approaches to increase grain mineral concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) have had only limited success, and our understanding of the genetic and physiological barriers to altering this trait is incomplete. Here we demonstrate that a transgenic approach combining endosperm-specific expression of the wheat VACUOLAR IRON TRANSPORTER gene TaVIT2-D with constitutive expression of the rice (Oryza sativa) NICOTIANAMINE SYNTHASE gene OsNAS2 significantly increases the total concentration of zinc and relocates iron to white-flour fractions. In two distinct bread wheat cultivars, we show that the so called VIT-NAS construct led to a two-fold increase in zinc in wholemeal flour, to ∼50 µg g−1. Total iron was not significantly increased, but redistribution within the grain resulted in a three-fold increase in iron in highly pure, roller-milled white flour, to ∼25 µg g−1. Interestingly, expression of OsNAS2 partially restored iron translocation to the aleurone, which is iron depleted in grain overexpressing TaVIT2 alone. A greater than three-fold increase in the level of the natural plant metal chelator nicotianamine in the grain of VIT-NAS lines corresponded with improved iron and zinc bioaccessibility in white flour. The growth of VIT-NAS plants in the greenhouse was indistinguishable from untransformed controls. Our results provide insights into mineral translocation and distribution in wheat grain and demonstrate that the individual and combined effects of the two transgenes can enhance the nutritional quality of wheat beyond what is possible by conventional breeding. 2023-01-02 2025-07-17T17:01:47Z 2025-07-17T17:01:47Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175677 en Open Access Oxford University Press Harrington, Sophie A.; Connorton, James M.; Nyangoma, Natasha I. M.; McNelly, Rose; Morgan, Yvie M. L.; Aslam, Mohamad F.; et al. 2023. A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility. Plant Physiology 191(1): 528–541. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac499 |
| spellingShingle | iron zinc wheat flour diet malnutrition biofortification nutrient deficiencies Harrington, Sophie A. Connorton, James M. Nyangoma, Natasha I. M. McNelly, Rose Morgan, Yvie M. L. Aslam, Mohamad F. Sharp, Paul A. Johnson, Alexander A. T. Uauy, Cristobal Balk, Janneke A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| title | A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| title_full | A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| title_fullStr | A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| title_short | A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| title_sort | two gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour improving mineral bioaccessibility |
| topic | iron zinc wheat flour diet malnutrition biofortification nutrient deficiencies |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175677 |
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