In silico, in vitro, and in vivo characterization of thiamin-binding proteins from plant seeds.

Thiamin, an essential micronutrient, is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the central carbon metabolism and amino acid pathways. Despite efforts to enhance thiamin content in rice by incorporating thiamin biosynthetic genes, increasing thiamin content in the endosperm remains challenging, possibly due to a lack of thiamin stability and/or a local sink. The introduction of storage proteins has been successful in several biofortification strategies, and similar efforts targeting thiamin have been performed, leading to a 3-4-fold increase in white rice.

OsTH1 is a key player in thiamin biosynthesis in rice.

Thiamin is a vital nutrient that acts as a cofactor for several enzymes primarily localized in the mitochondria. These thiamin-dependent enzymes are involved in energy metabolism, nucleic acid biosynthesis, and antioxidant machinery. The enzyme HMP-P kinase/thiamin monophosphate synthase (TH1) holds a key position in thiamin biosynthesis, being responsible for the phosphorylation of HMP-P into HMP-PP and for the condensation of HMP-PP and HET-P to form TMP.

Mathematical kinetic modelling followed by in vitro and in vivo assays reveal the bifunctional rice GTPCHII/DHBPS enzymes and demonstrate the key roles of OsRibA proteins in the vitamin B2 pathway.

Background: Riboflavin is the precursor of several cofactors essential for normal physical and cognitive development, but only plants and some microorganisms can produce it. Humans thus rely on their dietary intake, which at a global level is mainly constituted by cereals (> 50%). Understanding the riboflavin biosynthesis players is key for advancing our knowledge on this essential pathway and can hold promise for biofortification strategies in major crop species.

A protocol for a turbidimetric assay using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae thiamin biosynthesis mutant to estimate total vitamin B content in plant tissue samples.

Background: Understanding thiamin (thiamine; vitamin B) metabolism in plants is crucial, as it impacts plant nutritional value as well as stress tolerance. Studies aimed at elucidating novel aspects of thiamin in plants rely on adequate assessment of thiamin content. Mass spectrometry-based methods provide reliable quantification of thiamin as well as closely related biomolecules.

Belgian dietitians' knowledge, perceptions and willingness-to-recommend of genetically modified food and organisms.

Background: Dietitians play a critical role in the public's relationship with food and are often overlooked as an important stakeholder group in the general debate about sustainable food. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are one type of modern food source that could contribute to a more sustainable food system. This case study is the first to examine the knowledge, perception and willingness-to-recommend (WTR) genetically modified (GM) foods by dietitians in Europe.

The role of orphan crops in the transition to nutritional quality-oriented crop improvement.

Micronutrient malnutrition is a persisting problem threatening global human health. Biofortification via metabolic engineering has been proposed as a cost-effective and short-term means to alleviate this burden. There has been a recent rise in the recognition of potential that underutilized, orphan crops can hold in decreasing malnutrition concerns.

Public acceptance and stakeholder views of gene edited foods: a global overview.

The increasing popularity of gene editing in plants has prompted research on stakeholder views. Gene edited foods are often more accepted than genetically modified foods, though differences occur within target groups, regions, and products. Nevertheless, marketing challenges related to a lack of familiarity with the technology, labeling, and risk perception remain.

Short-term positive effects of a mandibular advancement device in a selected phenotype of patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective study.

Study Objectives: To evaluate (determinants of) treatment success of mandibular advancement device application in a selected phenotype of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Ninety nonobese patients with moderate OSA (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [OAHI] ≥ 15 and < 30 events/h) without comorbidities were prospectively included. Polysomnography was performed at baseline and with a mandibular advancement device.

A novel panel of yeast assays for the assessment of thiamin and its biosynthetic intermediates in plant tissues.

Thiamin (or thiamine), known as vitamin B1, represents an indispensable component of human diets, being pivotal in energy metabolism. Thiamin research depends on adequate vitamin quantification in plant tissues. A recently developed quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method is able to assess the level of thiamin, its phosphorylated entities and its biosynthetic intermediates in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as in rice.

Metabolic engineering provides insight into the regulation of thiamin biosynthesis in plants.

Thiamin (or thiamine) is a water-soluble B-vitamin (B1), which is required, in the form of thiamin pyrophosphate, as an essential cofactor in crucial carbon metabolism reactions in all forms of life. To ensure adequate metabolic functioning, humans rely on a sufficient dietary supply of thiamin. Increasing thiamin levels in plants via metabolic engineering is a powerful strategy to alleviate vitamin B1 malnutrition and thus improve global human health.

Metabolic engineering of rice endosperm towards higher vitamin B1 accumulation.

Rice is a major food crop to approximately half of the human population. Unfortunately, the starchy endosperm, which is the remaining portion of the seed after polishing, contains limited amounts of micronutrients. Here, it is shown that this is particularly the case for thiamin (vitamin B1).

An optimized LC-MS/MS method as a pivotal tool to steer thiamine biofortification strategies in rice.

In developing countries, people mainly depend on rice as their primary source of calories. However, the thiamine content of rice is below minimal requirements. Biofortification, via genetic engineering, is a cost-effective strategy to increase thiamine content in rice.

Regulation of Plant Vitamin Metabolism: Backbone of Biofortification for the Alleviation of Hidden Hunger.

Micronutrient deficiencies include shortages of vitamins and minerals. They affect billions of people and are associated with long-range effects on health, learning ability, and huge economic losses. Biofortification of multiple micronutrients can play an important role in combating malnutrition.

Multiplying the efficiency and impact of biofortification through metabolic engineering.

Ending all forms of hunger by 2030, as set forward in the UN-Sustainable Development Goal 2 (UN-SDG2), is a daunting but essential task, given the limited timeline ahead and the negative global health and socio-economic impact of hunger. Malnutrition or hidden hunger due to micronutrient deficiencies affects about one third of the world population and severely jeopardizes economic development. Staple crop biofortification through gene stacking, using a rational combination of conventional breeding and metabolic engineering strategies, should enable a leap forward within the coming decade.

The First Comprehensive LC-MS/MS Method Allowing Dissection of the Thiamine Pathway in Plants.

serves as a model plant for genetic research, including vitamin research. When aiming at engineering the thiamine (vitamin B1) pathway in plants, the availability of tools that allow the quantitative determination of different intermediates in the biosynthesis pathway is of pivotal importance. This is a challenge, given the nature of the compounds and the minute quantities of genetically engineered material that may be available for analysis.

Clinical determination of folates: recent analytical strategies and challenges.

Since the introduction of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in clinical laboratories, folate analysis has shifted from microbiological or protein-binding assays to chromatographic methods. Now, it is possible to sensitively and selectively determine several folate species in clinical samples where only a total folate content could be quantified using a microbiological or a binding assay. Although several chromatographic methods have been developed, validated, and published, interlaboratory variability limits the comparability of the results.

From Function to Vitamin-Rich Food Crops: The ACE of Biofortification.

Humans are highly dependent on plants to reach their dietary requirements, as plant products contribute both to energy and essential nutrients. For many decades, plant breeders have been able to gradually increase yields of several staple crops, thereby alleviating nutritional needs with varying degrees of success. However, many staple crops such as rice, wheat and corn, although delivering sufficient calories, fail to satisfy micronutrient demands, causing the so called 'hidden hunger.

Toward Eradication of B-Vitamin Deficiencies: Considerations for Crop Biofortification.

'Hidden hunger' involves insufficient intake of micronutrients and is estimated to affect over two billion people on a global scale. Malnutrition of vitamins and minerals is known to cause an alarming number of casualties, even in the developed world. Many staple crops, although serving as the main dietary component for large population groups, deliver inadequate amounts of micronutrients.

Folate Biofortification of Potato by Tuber-Specific Expression of Four Folate Biosynthesis Genes.

Insufficient dietary intake of micronutrients, known as "hidden hunger", is a devastating global burden, affecting two billion people. Deficiency of folates (vitamin B9), which are known to play a central role in C metabolism, causes birth defects in at least a quarter million people annually. Biofortification to enhance the level of naturally occurring folates in crop plants, proves to be an efficient and cost-effective tool in fighting folate deficiency.

Folate biofortification in food crops.

Folates are essential vitamins in the human diet. Folate deficiency is still very common, provoking disorders such as birth defects and anemia. Biofortification via metabolic engineering is a proven powerful means to alleviate folate malnutrition.

Improving folate (vitamin B9) stability in biofortified rice through metabolic engineering.

Biofortification of staple crops could help to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in humans. We show that folates in stored rice grains are unstable, which reduces the potential benefits of folate biofortification. We obtain folate concentrations that are up to 150 fold higher than those of wild-type rice by complexing folate to folate-binding proteins to improve folate stability, thereby enabling long-term storage of biofortified high-folate rice grains.