Scientists were able to create the first plant capable of storing nutrients in fats, experimenting with unique genes, found in green algae cells. American genetics first raised a plant with a high content of fat and other “energy-intensive” compounds, which allows you to use it for biofuel production or as supercaloric feed for livestock, says an article published in Plant Cell magazine.
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“If we learn to extract oil from leaves, stems and seeds, the potential energy “capacity” of a plant can double. Moreover, if we force vegetation to produce fats constantly, and not only under adverse conditions, then such plants can replace traditional agricultural culture, “said Christoph Benning of University of Michigan in East Lansing (USA). Benning and him colleagues were able to create the first plant capable of storing nutrients in fats, experimenting with unique genes, found in green algae cells. As biologists say, primitive algal genomes still contain genes characteristic of their protozoan ancestors, missing or damaged in more complex flora. Scientists analyzed the genomes of several species of algae and found in There are five genes containing instructions for the synthesis of fats. The authors of the article tried to insert these genes into the genome of the plant. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) so that its vital activity was not disturbed. After a long series Benning and his colleagues successfully integrated the experiments only one gene out of five. Biologists have grown several bushes “fat” arabidopsis and checked if its leaves and stems more energy in a very original way. So, the researchers acquired several white caterpillars, landed them on ordinary and “fat” bushes of Arabidopsis, and tracked their growth rate. The experiment showed that caterpillars on transgenic plants grew several times faster than their relatives. Scientists are planning continue experimenting with these genes, trying to develop new species storing fat plants.
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