Methods and compositions for modulating tocol content
AssigneesPioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsKnut Meyer, Bo Shen, Mitchell Tarczynski
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Abstract
Compositions comprising a modulated tocol content in a plant or plant part are provided. In specific embodiments, the compositions and methods of the invention modulate tocol content by modulating the level of a polypeptide having a LEC1-type B domain in combination with modulating the level of at least one other polypeptide involved in tocol biosynthesis. Plants, plant parts, grain, seed and oil having the modulated tocol level are also provided. Methods to enhance oxidative stress tolerance of a plant or plant part, increase shelf-life, enhance the nutritional value, and improve tissue quality are also provided.
Claims21
A method of improving the tissue quality of an animal comprising feeding the animal a diet comprising a grain comprising
- a) a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising a LEC1-type B-domain having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or a biologically active variant or a fragment thereof, wherein said biologically active variant comprises at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2, said polypeptide or the biologically active variant or fragment thereof increases the tocol content of said grain;
- and,
- b) a heterologous polynucleotide which modulates the level of at least one tocol biosynthesis polypeptide;
- where said grain has an increased level of tocol and said diet comprises a sufficient amount of said grain to improve the tissue quality of said animal.
A method of improving the tissue quality of an animal comprising, feeding the animal a diet comprising
- a) a transgenic maize grain having an embryo tocotrienol content of at least 460 ppm;
- b) a transgenic maize grain having an embryo tocol content of at least 540 ppm;
- c) a transgenic maize grain having a tocotrienol to tocopherol ratio of 11:1;
- wherein said diet comprises a sufficient amount of said grain or said oil to improve the tissue quality of said animal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.