Register      Login
Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Starch synthesis in potato tubers transformed with the wheat genes for ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase

Kathryn A. Vardy, Michael J. Emes and Michael M. Burrell

Functional Plant Biology 29(8) 975 - 985
Published: 05 August 2002

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the role of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) in starch biosynthesis of non-photosynthetic organs. Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to transform potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desireé) with the wheat AGPase genes (AGP-S and AGP-L, coding for the small and large subunits, respectively). Neither of these genes contains a recognisable plastid targeting sequence. Southern analysis and analysis of starch content identified four lines that contained both wheat sequences. Immunoblotting indicated that, in the tubers, three lines expressed the wheat small subunit (AGP-S), but AGP-L cross-reacting protein was not apparent. The fourth transgenic line had reduced AGPase activity. AGPase activity in the AGP-transgenic tubers ranged from 15 to 165% of that found in β-glucuronidase (GUS) control lines.

Keywords: ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase, amyloplast, potato tubers, starch, transgenic, wheat.

https://doi.org/10.1071/PP01161

© CSIRO 2002

Committee on Publication Ethics


Export Citation Get Permission

View Dimensions