Natural genetic variation in lycopene epsilon cyclase tapped for maize biofortification.
Science
; 319(5861): 330-3, 2008 Jan 18.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18202289
ABSTRACT
Dietary vitamin A deficiency causes eye disease in 40 million children each year and places 140 to 250 million at risk for health disorders. Many children in sub-Saharan Africa subsist on maize-based diets. Maize displays considerable natural variation for carotenoid composition, including vitamin A precursors alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Through association analysis, linkage mapping, expression analysis, and mutagenesis, we show that variation at the lycopene epsilon cyclase (lcyE) locus alters flux down alpha-carotene versus beta-carotene branches of the carotenoid pathway. Four natural lcyE polymorphisms explained 58% of the variation in these two branches and a threefold difference in provitamin A compounds. Selection of favorable lcyE alleles with inexpensive molecular markers will now enable developing-country breeders to more effectively produce maize grain with higher provitamin A levels.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Variação Genética
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Carotenoides
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Zea mays
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Liases Intramoleculares
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article