[Ming-Hsiun Hsieh] Endosperm-specific expression of a yeast thiamin transporter enhances vitamin B1 content in white rice
POST:
Transgenic rice lines with high THI7 expression exhibit higher vitamin B1 levels in both brown (A) and white (B) rice. (C) Schematic of the pGT1:THI7 strategy. Endosperm-specific expression of the yeast vitamin B1 transporter gene THI7 promotes vitamin B1 transport from the embryo and bran layers into the endosperm, increasing the vitamin B1 content of polished rice.
White rice contains very low levels of vitamin B1, placing populations that rely on it as a staple food at risk of vitamin B1 deficiency. To address this problem, Dr. Ming-Hsiun Hsieh's research team at our institute developed transgenic rice expressing the yeast vitamin B1 transporter gene THI7 specifically in the endosperm under the control of the rice GT1 promoter. This increased the vitamin B1 content of rice grains by approximately 25% without affecting plant growth or grain yield under field conditions. The study provides a promising strategy for biofortifying white rice to help alleviate global vitamin B1 deficiency.