GM Grapevine with Increased Resveratrol

During bacterial or fungal attack, plants produce defense compounds known as phytoalexins. These compounds may perforate the cell wall, disrupt the metabolism or prevent the reproduction of the pathogens. Production of phytoalexins is a well characterized defense reaction in grapevines. When attacked by fungal diseases, grapevine plants synthesize the phytoalexin resveratrol. Aside from its anti-pathogenic roles, resveratrol has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, neuroprotective and anticarcinogenic properties. Because of these properties, resveratrol has been the focus of numerous researches.

A group of Chinese scientists have successful obtained transgenic grapevine accumulating elevated amounts of resveratrol. The team introduced the gene STS from a Chinese wild grape variety. STS codes for stilbene synthase, an enzyme necessary for resveratrol biosynthesis. The resveratrol content of the transgenic plants was found to be almost six times higher than that of their non-transformed counterparts. The researchers are now monitoring the resistance of the transformed plants to several pathogens.

The abstract of the paper published by Plant, Tissue and Organ Culture is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/25633872871j77g7/?p=c414bb17f03144c9bc1602ba363c6ffd&pi=1 Subscribers can read the full paper at http://www.springerlink.com/content/25633872871j77g7/fulltext.pdf