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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205048
Title: Enhancing Vitamin E in Oilseeds: Unraveling Tocopherol and Tocotrienol Biosynthesis

Author
item Hunter, Sarah
item Cahoon, Edgar

Submitted to: Lipids
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2007
Publication Date: 2/14/2007
Citation: Hunter, S.C., Cahoon, E.B. 2007. Enhancing Vitamin E in Oilseeds: Unraveling Tocopherol and Tocotrienol Biosynthesis. Lipids. 42(2):97-108.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Natural forms of vitamin E, comprised of four forms each of tocopherols and tocotrienols, are synthesized solely by photosynthetic organisms and function primarily as antioxidants. These different forms vary in their biological availability and in their physiological and chemical activities. Tocopherols and tocotrienols play important roles in the oxidative stability of vegetable oils and in the nutritional quality of crop plants for human and livestock diets. The isolation of genes for nearly all of the steps in tocopherol and tocotrienol biosynthesis has facilitated efforts to alter metabolic flux through these pathways in plant cells. We review the recent work done in the field, focusing on branch points and the manipulation and insertion of genes to enhance and alter vitamin E content and composition in oilseed crops.