Genome editing for low acrylamide wheat
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
Acrylamide is a Class IIa carcinogen which forms from free asparagine during high temperature food processing and cooking methods, such as the Maillard reaction. It is present in many food stuffs, including coffee, potatoes and wheat. As wheat consumption increases, the level of wheat-derived dietary acrylamide increases. Breeding commercial wheat varieties which are naturally low in free asparagine could lower the levels of acrylamide in consumer diets. This project, which represents a collaboration between Rothamsted Research and the University of Bristol, as well as industrial partners, aims to use the latest genome editing technologies to breed low-acrylamide wheat to be incorporated in wheat breeding programs.
Genome editing techniques have allowed for accelerated improvement of crop species. This is currently particularly important as the European Commission is reviewing the regulatory framework for acrylamide levels in food. Wheat plants lacking a functional asparagine synthetase-2 (ASN2) will be created using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. ASN2 expression is only detectable in the grain so a knockout mutation should not affect the ASN levels in vegetative plant tissues but reduce the acrylamide levels in wheat products.
Genome editing techniques have allowed for accelerated improvement of crop species. This is currently particularly important as the European Commission is reviewing the regulatory framework for acrylamide levels in food. Wheat plants lacking a functional asparagine synthetase-2 (ASN2) will be created using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. ASN2 expression is only detectable in the grain so a knockout mutation should not affect the ASN levels in vegetative plant tissues but reduce the acrylamide levels in wheat products.
People |
ORCID iD |
Keith Edwards (Primary Supervisor) | |
Sarah Raffan (Student) |
Publications
Curtis TY
(2019)
Contrasting gene expression patterns in grain of high and low asparagine wheat genotypes in response to sulphur supply.
in BMC genomics
Halford N
(2019)
Food-Borne Toxicants: Formation, Analysis, and Toxicology
Oddy J
(2020)
Stress, nutrients and genotype: understanding and managing asparagine accumulation in wheat grain
in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
Raffan S
(2020)
The Sulphur Response in Wheat Grain and Its Implications for Acrylamide Formation and Food Safety.
in International journal of molecular sciences
Raffan S
(2019)
Nutritional Quality Improvement in Plants
Raffan S
(2021)
Cereal asparagine synthetase genes.
in The Annals of applied biology
Raffan S
(2019)
Acrylamide in food: Progress in and prospects for genetic and agronomic solutions.
in The Annals of applied biology
Xu H
(2017)
Genomic, Biochemical, and Modeling Analyses of Asparagine Synthetases from Wheat.
in Frontiers in plant science
Zhang Z
(2019)
Development of an Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system for wheat genome editing.
in Plant biotechnology journal
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/M009122/1 | 30/09/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
1798012 | Studentship | BB/M009122/1 | 30/09/2016 | 28/02/2021 | Sarah Raffan |
Description | Wheat lines which show a low-asparagine phenoype when grown in a glasshouse have been generated. |
Exploitation Route | A field trial of the edited plants and the TILLING mutants to confirm the low-asparagine phenotype in the field. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
Description | 6th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress, Europe; Early career researcher talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended a conference on genome editing in Rotterdam and gave a talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Greenman festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The intended purpose was to increase public awareness about agricultural and environmental research. A stand was placed at Greenman festival which consisted of various games and activities designed to get the public to engage with science, research and with plants and agriculture in specific. The games and activities catered to a range of activities, with learning and activity based games for children and debates, discussions and trivia for adults. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited Speaker - Rank Prize Funds Mini-Symposium, The Shape of Wheat to Come; Early career researcher talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended the Shape of Wheat to Come - a symposium, funded by the Rank Prize Fund, focused on the future of wheat as a crop species in the UK, and globally. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Keynote presentation at 2019 Monogram |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote, plenary lecture at Monogram 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk to University of Nottingham students 'Genome-editing for Low Acrylamide Wheat' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Gave a talk outlining the research project and current outcomes to students at the University of Nottingham |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Wellcome Genome 'Plant Genomes in a Changing Environment'; Poster |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended the Wellcome Genome 'Plant Genomes in a Changing Environment' conference and presented the project research as a poster |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |