Using systems metabolic engineering strategies for high-oil maize breeding

Hui Li; Alisdair R Fernie; Xiaohong Yang

doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102847

Using systems metabolic engineering strategies for high-oil maize breeding

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2023 Feb:79:102847. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102847. Epub 2022 Nov 26.

Authors

Hui Li¹, Alisdair R Fernie², Xiaohong Yang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China. Electronic address: bio_lih@ujn.edu.cn.
² Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam-Golm 14476, Germany.
³ State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: yxiaohong@cau.edu.cn.

PMID: 36446144
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102847

Abstract

Maize oil, which is a blend of fatty acid esters generated from triacylglycerol (TAG), is an important component of maize-derived food, feed, and biofuel. The kernel oil content in commercial high-oil maize hybrids averages ∼8%, which is far lower than that in developed high-oil maize lines (as high as 20%). Advances in high-oil maize genomics and genetics and the development of systems metabolic engineering technologies provide new opportunities for high-oil maize breeding. In this review, we discuss the possibility of using kernels and vegetative tissues as factories to produce TAG, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. We further propose specific implementation strategies based on the metabolic engineering of other species to develop transgenic and gene-editing products, as well as traditional breeding strategies, for application in high-oil maize breeding programs.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Fatty Acids / metabolism
Metabolic Engineering*
Plant Breeding
Zea mays* / genetics
Zea mays* / metabolism

Substances

Fatty Acids