研究人员进行了一项全基因组关联研究，发现了一个调节玉米籽粒中铁浓度的基因ZmNAC78（NAM/ATF/CUC DOMAIN TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 78）。研究人员利用在ZmNAC78启动子中插入或缺失（indel）42个碱基对的分子标记，培育出了高产且籽粒中铁含量高的玉米品种。ZmNAC78在果仁基部胚乳转移层中富集表达，ZmNAC78蛋白直接调节铁转运体信使RNA的丰度。因此，这些研究结果为培育富含铁元素的玉米品种提供了一种方法。
研究人员表示，铁（Fe）缺乏症在发展中国家的人群中仍然普遍存在。为了解决这一问题，育种家们一直在尝试开发产量高、籽粒铁含量高的玉米品种。
附：英文原文
Title: Biofortification of iron content by regulating a NAC transcription factor in maize
Author: Pengshuai Yan, Qingguo Du, Huan Chen, Zifeng Guo, Zhonghua Wang, Jihua Tang, Wen-Xue Li
Issue&Volume: 2023-12-08
Abstract: Iron (Fe) deficiency remains widespread among people in developing countries. To help solve this problem, breeders have been attempting to develop maize cultivars with high yields and high Fe concentrations in the kernels. We conducted a genome-wide association study and identified a gene, ZmNAC78 (NAM/ATAF/CUC DOMAIN TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 78), that regulates Fe concentrations in maize kernels. We cultivated maize varieties with both high yield and high Fe concentrations in their kernels by using a molecular marker developed from a 42–base pair insertion or deletion (indel) in the promoter of ZmNAC78. ZmNAC78 expression is enriched in the basal endosperm transfer layer of kernels, and the ZmNAC78 protein directly regulates messenger RNA abundance of Fe transporters. Our results thus provide an approach to develop maize varieties with Fe-enriched kernels.
DOI: adf3256
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf3256