Overexpression of Arabidopsis WRI1 Increased Seed Mass and Seed Oil Content in Camelina sativa

Arabidopsis WRINKLED1 (AtWRI1) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes that encode enzymes involved in the glycolytic pathway and fatty acid synthesis. Mi Chung Suh from the Chonnam National University in South Korea expressed AtWRI1 in Camelina sativa, an emerging oilseed crop.

The expression of AtWRI1 caused an increase of seed mass through an increase in size, but not through an increase in number of cells. The total seed oil increased by approximately 14% in the transgenic C. sativa lines compared to normal plants. The increase in storage oil was caused by the upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase E1α subunit and a biotin carboxyl carrier protein, both involved in fatty acid synthesis.

There was also an increased expression of C. sativa expansin1, which may be involved in cell wall loosening during cell expansion in transgenic C. sativa seeds. Transgenic C. sativa with enhanced seed oil contents will be useful for the production of non-petroleum-based biomaterials and biofuels.