2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Investigation of genetically modified (GM) crops reducing nitrate content
| Project/Area Number |
12660009
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Breeding science
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| Research Institution | JAPAN WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
OGAWA Kyoko Japan Women's Univ., Faculty of Science, Assistant, 理学部, 助手 (60130738)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MII Masahiro Chiba Univ., Faculty of Horticulture, Professor, 園芸学部, 教授 (30093074)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2000 – 2002
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| Keywords | Nitrate reductase / Nitrite reductase / Genetically modified crops / Accumulation of nitrate / Metohaemoglobinaemia |
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| Research Abstract |
Nitrate is a major source of inorganic nitrogen utilized by higher plants, and vegetables accumulate high levels of nitrate. Nitrate is not toxic, but when reduced to nitrite during digestion, the ion can oxidize haemoglobin to methaemoglobin, causing methaemoglobinemia. This is important to us.
The purpose of the investigation presented here is to introduce genes related to nitrate assimilation and to create a vegetable reducing nitrate content.
(1) Analysis of transformants of nitrate reductase(NR)-deficient mutants introducing NR gene
In biochemical and molecular biological analysis of transformants, they showed overexpression of NR mRNA and high level of NR activity. Therefore, it would be expect to reduce nitrate content and to increase protein content.
(2) Assay methods of concentration of nitrate and nitrite ions
We examined a possible to utilize capillary electrophoresis for assay of nitrate and nitrite contents. Our results indicated that nitrate ion was able to utilize capillary electrophoresis, but nitrite ion was unable to utilize it. Accordingly nitrite content was determined by previous method.
(3) Introduction of NR gene to lettuce and spinach
In lettuce, method of plant regeneration has already established. On the other hand in this study we could get regenerated plants of spinach. Transformation method employing Agrobacterium was used to transfer NR gene into lettuce and spinach. Nitrate and nitrite contents were assayed in transformants producing.
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