BioMatNet Item: QLK3-2000-00103 - Optimising nutritional quality of crops

[BioMatNet Database - FP5 Quality of Life Programme]

QLK3-2000-00103
Optimising nutritional quality of crops

To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
Biotechnology : Crops for Bulk Chemicals : Quality of Life - 3. The Cell Factory

Contract No:	QLK3-2000-00103
Project Type:	RS (Research and Technological Development Project)
Start Date:	01-02-2001
Duration:	36 months
Total Cost:
EC Contribution:	2 066 223 EUR
Scientific Officer:

Abstract

The quantities of two major essential amino acids - lysine and methionine - found in crops determines the nutritional quality of a crop either as food or as raw material for feed. This project aims to improve the composition of free and protein-bound amino acids in the two major European crops of maize and potato, and the results obtained can be easily transferable to other crops. The results of this project will have a positive influence on breeding strategies targeted to improve nutritional quality, so renowned European academic and commercial research laboratories have formed a consortium to synergistically combine their research activities and devise new tools and strategies. Special consideration is being given to safety aspects and consumer acceptance.

Objectives

This R&D project has the dual goals of advancing basic knowledge and developing new commercial products. It combines innovative research with plant breeding, using the plant metabolism of major European crops as biological factories for improving their inherent nutritional quality. Particular attention is directed at satisfying consumer expectations and gaining acceptance of the product by providing high-quality, safe food and its derivatives.

The project objectives are:

Production of transgenic plants with enhanced amino acid synthesis.

Transfer of technology to produce crops with increased nutritional value.
Increased knowledge on pathways controlling plant amino acid biosynthesis.
Quality assessment of transgenic manipulation and its commercial development.

Description of the work

The improvement of the nutritional quality of crops is a problem-orientated challenge which will be solved by exploiting the most recent developments in biotechnology to balance and enhance free and bound amino acid composition and content.

To achieve this aim, relevant target genes will be regulated either on their own or in combination. The relevant enzymes of the aspartate-derived amino acid pathway and the sulphate uptake and assimilation pathway will be developed to manipulate the flux towards end-product amino acids, and the catabolism will be regulated to enhance amino acid accumulation. Co-expression of storage proteins rich in methionine or lysine will also influence the equilibrium of amino acid synthesis. A further aspect is the delivery of the relevant metabolites from source to sink tissues and the transportable form of metabolites aimed at the manipulation of phloem-localised biosynthesis. In order to enhance the delivery of sulphur-containing metabolites to sink tissues the synthesis of the transportable forms of reduced-sulphur will also be targeted. Within this proposal, new technologies will be used to gain new information about the manipulated plants to provide information about the impact of the performed manipulation on gene expression, protein composition and metabolite levels. Genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches will be used in the research to gain insight into the regulation of the pathways and to get access to new genes on an upper regulatory level. These results will be compiled to provide databases that will foster both classical breeding approaches as well as new approaches which apply genetic modifications. As well as aiding quality control, this information will help risk assessment in the development of new products for the market. Field performance evaluation and feeding studies will be included in the programme to support commercial development of the new output traits.

Deliverables

Cloning of pathway-related and novel regulatory genes, their characterisation and the subsequent manipulation of the pathway. Transgenic plants with improved amino acid content (methionine, lysine, threonine) and nutritional quality will be investigated which will result in a database of molecular, biochemical and physiological data. The targeted manipulation of crop species (first potato and maize) will include quality and safety. New traits will be established and marketed.

Contacts

Coordinator

Dr. Rainer Höfgen / MPI für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie GERMANY

Participant