Targeting and stabilizing proteins in sugar storage vacuoles for metabolic engineering in sugarcane

我们已经分离出一种酶的新基因，这种酶可以有效地将蔗糖转化为具有更高价值的产品。我们已经证明了这种酶在甘蔗中的作用，这是这种高产作物具有新的生物合成能力的第一个例子。因为90%的蔗糖储存在专门的液泡中，所以酶需要被引导到这些液泡中，并在那里保持稳定和活性。这是可行的，建立在最近关于植物中液泡靶向的发现上。这些成果包括支持植物代谢工程的科学理解，以及澳大利亚有利可图的高科技出口产业。

We have isolated a novel gene for an enzyme that efficiently converts sucrose into a product of much higher value. We have shown that the enzyme functions in sugarcane, a first example of the potential for new biosynthetic capacities in this highly productive crop. Because 90% of stored sucrose is in specialized vacuoles, the enzyme needs to be directed into these vacuoles, and made stable and active there. This is feasible by building on recent discoveries about vacuolar targeting in plants. The outputs include scientific understanding to underpin metabolic engineering in plants, and a profitable high-technology export industry for Australia.