Scientists Study Genes Involved in Triterpenoid Synthesis in Birch
November 29, 2017| |
Birch (Betula platyphylla) contains triterpenoids with anti-HIV and anti-tumor activities. However, the natural amount of these triterpenoids is low, and their chemical synthesis, costly. Transcription factors, such as the bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix), can regulate metabolite pathways, and improve yield. Thus, transcription factors can potentially improve production of birch triterpenoids.
The team of Jing Yin from Northeast Forestry University in China studied two genes, BpMYC4 and BpbHLH9, which encode bHLH transcription factors in birch. The expressions of BpMYC4 and BpbHLH9 were found to be increased with treatments of abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, and gibberellin while it is decreased by ethephon treatment.
The BpbHLH9 gene was then attached to an improved promoter and introduced to birch. Compared to wild types, the resulting transgenic birch exhibited upregulated expression of genes related to triterpenoid synthesis.
These findings will be the groundwork for the development of birch accessions with improved triterpenoid production.
For more information, read the article in BMC Plant Biology.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- AUC and FAO Ask African Gov'ts to Promote Agri-Biotech to Help Combat Food Insecurity
- Corn Research Exposes Mechanism Behind Gene Silencing
- Argentina Approves New Biotech Soybean
- EU Ban on GM Crops Hurting Productivity, says Retired Professor
- EFSA Releases Scientific Opinion on Four-Stack GM Maize
-
Research Highlights
- Biotech Cotton Co-expressing Vip3AcAa and Cry1Ac Confers Protection against Cry1Ac-resistant Bollworm
- Cgl2 Gene Involved in Cuticular Wax Synthesis in Cabbage
- SlJAZ2 Overexpression Accelerates Reproductive Growth in Tomato
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- DARPA Explores on Using Plants to Detect Security Threats
- Researchers Pinpoint the Regulator of Phenylalanine Synthesis in Maritime Pine
- Scientists Study Genes Involved in Triterpenoid Synthesis in Birch
-
Announcements
- 3rd Biennial National Agricultural Sciences Conference and Exhibition
-
Resources
- Biotech Country Facts and Trends
-
Plant
- Heat Stress Increases the Efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 Mutagenesis in Plants
- Study Shows CRISPR Mainly Used to Develop High-yielding, Healthier, and Stress-resistant Crops
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (March 19, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (March 12, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet