A two-gene strategy increases iron and zinc concentrations in wheat flour, improving mineral bioaccessibility

Targeted expression of a vacuolar iron transporter and increased nicotianamine levels have combinatorial effects on iron and zinc levels and their distribution in wheat grain. Dietary deficiencies of iron and zinc cause human malnutrition that can be mitigated by biofortified staple crops. Conventional breeding approaches to increase grain mineral concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) have had only limited success, and our understanding of the genetic and physiological barriers to altering this trait is incomplete. Here we demonstrate that a transgenic approach combining endosperm-specific expression of the wheat VACUOLAR IRON TRANSPORTER gene TaVIT2-D with constitutive expression of the rice (Oryza sativa) NICOTIANAMINE SYNTHASE gene OsNAS2 significantly increases the total concentration of zinc and relocates iron to white-flour fractions. In two distinct bread wheat cultivars, we show that the so called VIT-NAS construct led to a two-fold increase in zinc in wholemeal flour, to similar to 50 mu g g(-1). Total iron was not significantly increased, but redistribution within the grain resulted in a three-fold increase in iron in highly pure, roller-milled white flour, to similar to 25 mu g g(-1). Interestingly, expression of OsNAS2 partially restored iron translocation to the aleurone, which is iron depleted in grain overexpressing TaVIT2 alone. A greater than three-fold increase in the level of the natural plant metal chelator nicotianamine in the grain of VIT-NAS lines corresponded with improved iron and zinc bioaccessibility in white flour. The growth of VIT-NAS plants in the greenhouse was indistinguishable from untransformed controls. Our results provide insights into mineral translocation and distribution in wheat grain and demonstrate that the individual and combined effects of the two transgenes can enhance the nutritional quality of wheat beyond what is possible by conventional breeding.

Automated summary

Targeted expression of transgenes in wheat enhances the nutritional quality of the grain by increasing the concentration and redistribution of iron and zinc. The transgenic approach led to a two-fold increase in zinc and a three-fold increase in iron in the grain, as well as improved bioaccessibility of these minerals in white flour.