Journal
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages 346-354Publisher
BLACKWELL PUBLISHING
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2008.00324.x
Keywords
nicotine demethylase; N'-nitrosonornicotine; RNA interference; tobacco carcinogens; tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)
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Technologies for reducing the levels of tobacco product constituents that may contribute to unwanted health effects are desired. Target compounds include tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), a class of compounds generated through the nitrosation of pyridine alkaloids during the curing and processing of tobacco. Studies have reported the TSNA N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals. NNN is formed via the nitrosation of nornicotine, a secondary alkaloid produced through enzymatic N-demethylation of nicotine. Strategies to lower nornicotine levels in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) could lead to a corresponding decrease in NNN accumulation in cured leaves. The major nicotine demethylase gene of tobacco has recently been isolated. In this study, a large-scale field trial was conducted to evaluate transgenic lines of burley tobacco carrying an RNA interference (RNAi) construct designed to inhibit the expression of this gene. Selected transgenic lines exhibited a six-fold decrease in nornicotine content relative to untransformed controls. Analysis of cured leaves revealed a commensurate decrease in NNN and total TSNAs. The inhibition of nicotine clemethylase activity is an effective means of decreasing significantly the level of a key defined animal carcinogen present in tobacco products.
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