[Functional Genomics Center Seminar ]
   
     
  ▶Subject: Genetic disruption of 12S globulin genes increases seed oil content and seed yield in Arabidopsis thaliana
  
  ▶Speaker: Prof. Yuki Fujiki (Saitama University)
          
  ▶Date: 3:00PM/Oct./21(Tue)/2014
         
  ▶Place: Life Science Bldg. #104

  *Abctract
        Oils and proteins represent two major carbon reserves within oil seeds. Attempts to increase seed oil production through the genetic suppression of seed proteins, however, have generally been unsuccessful. In those experiments, the total protein content remains stable because of compensation by storage proteins from different gene families. Arabidopsis thaliana may offer a solution to this problem, as only a small number of 12S-globulin and 2S-albumin proteins, which are major seed storage proteins, are found in these seeds. We obtained T-DNA?tagged mutants for the major 12S-globulin genes, CRA1, CRB, and CRC, and found elevated levels of oil in crc seeds. Interestingly, crc　plants developed substantially more branches and flowers, thereby producing more seeds than did wild-type plants. Our results suggest that the perturbation of storage-protein synthesis in developing seeds of Arabidopsis influences the capacity of whole plants for producing sink organs such as shoot branches and flowers. We have further generated cra1 crb crc triple mutant and showed that combination of deletion of 12S globulin genes and overexpression of DGAT1 encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase synergistically enhanced seed oil content. We propose that suppression of seed storage proteins is a promising strategy for engineering oilseed crop.

  ▶Inquiry: Prof. Youngsook Lee (279-2296)
        
    * This seminar will be given in English