In planta side-chain glucosinolate modification in Arabidopsis.pdf

Theor Appl Genet (2003) 106:1116–1121 DOI 10.1007/s00122-002-1161-4 Abstract Aliphatic glucosinolates and their derived iso- thiocyanates are important secondary metabolites in crucifers. Some of these compounds have beneficial ac- tivities such as carcinogen detoxification, pesticidal and antifungal properties, but others are anti-nutritional; the differences are largely due to side chain modifications. We report the cloning and in planta functionality analysis of BoGSL-ALK, a gene whose protein product influences side-chain modifications in the glucosinolate pathway. Expression of this Brassica gene was demonstrated in Arabidopsis thaliana by assaying RNA activity and monitoring changes in the glucosinolate profiles in leaves and seeds of transformed plants. Dependent on the proposed uses of the crops under development, the ability to regulate BoGSL-ALK expression is a key step towards engineering Brassica crops with specific gluco- sinolate content. Keywords. Secondary metabolites · Glucosinolates · Transformation · Nutraceuticals Introduction It has been known for some time that glucosinolates (GSL) and their breakdown products that result from the action of the enzyme myrosinase have important biologi- cal activity. The range of activities of these compounds is wide – some being beneficial, others detrimental for human and animal consumption (Mithen et al. 2000; Rosa et al. 1997). Antinutrional GSL have been studied most extensively in rapeseed, a crop that has been sub- jected to intense breeding efforts to reduce the concen- tration of these compounds (Rosa et al. 1997). This goal has been partially achieved, resulting in the development of ‘‘Double zero’’ (zero erucic acid and zero GSL) rape- seed or Canola varieties (Rosa et al. 1997). More recent- ly however, some GSL and their derived products have been reported to have beneficial properties as potent in- ducers of phase II enzymes involved in carcinogen de- toxification in mammals (Zhang et al. 1994) an