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Genetically stable expression of functional miraculin, a new type of alternative sweetener, in transgenic tomato plants
Article first published online: 13 AUG 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00283.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Sun, H.-J., Kataoka, H., Yano, M. and Ezura, H. (2007), Genetically stable expression of functional miraculin, a new type of alternative sweetener, in transgenic tomato plants. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 5: 768–777. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00283.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 13 AUG 2007
- Article first published online: 13 AUG 2007
- Received 27 April 2007; revised 27 June 2007; accepted 29 June 2007.
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Keywords:
- low-calorie sweetener;
- miracle fruit;
- miraculin;
- sweetness-inducing activity;
- taste-modifying protein;
- transgenic tomato
Summary
Miraculin is a taste-modifying protein isolated from the red berries of Richadella dulcifica, a shrub native to West Africa. Miraculin by itself is not sweet, but it is able to turn a sour taste into a sweet taste. This unique property has led to increasing interest in this protein. In this article, we report the high-yield production of miraculin in transgenic tomato plants. High and genetically stable expression of miraculin was confirmed by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Recombinant miraculin accumulated to high levels in leaves and fruits, up to 102.5 and 90.7 µg/g fresh weight, respectively. Purified recombinant miraculin expressed in transgenic tomato plants showed strong sweetness-inducing activity, similar to that of native miraculin. These results demonstrate that recombinant miraculin was correctly processed in transgenic tomato plants, and that this production system could be a good alternative to production from the native plant.