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. 2010 Apr;42(4):322-7.
doi: 10.1038/ng.551. Epub 2010 Mar 21.

Rare genetic variation at Zea mays crtRB1 increases beta-carotene in maize grain

Jianbing Yan  1 , Catherine Bermudez Kandianis, Carlos E Harjes, Ling Bai, Eun-Ha Kim, Xiaohong Yang, Debra J Skinner, Zhiyuan Fu, Sharon Mitchell, Qing Li, Maria G Salas Fernandez, Maria Zaharieva, Raman Babu, Yang Fu, Natalia Palacios, Jiansheng Li, Dean Dellapenna, Thomas Brutnell, Edward S Buckler, Marilyn L Warburton, Torbert Rocheford
Affiliations

Rare genetic variation at Zea mays crtRB1 increases beta-carotene in maize grain

Jianbing Yan et al. Nat Genet. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Breeding to increase beta-carotene levels in cereal grains, termed provitamin A biofortification, is an economical approach to address dietary vitamin A deficiency in the developing world. Experimental evidence from association and linkage populations in maize (Zea mays L.) demonstrate that the gene encoding beta-carotene hydroxylase 1 (crtRB1) underlies a principal quantitative trait locus associated with beta-carotene concentration and conversion in maize kernels. crtRB1 alleles associated with reduced transcript expression correlate with higher beta-carotene concentrations. Genetic variation at crtRB1 also affects hydroxylation efficiency among encoded allozymes, as observed by resultant carotenoid profiles in recombinant expression assays. The most favorable crtRB1 alleles, rare in frequency and unique to temperate germplasm, are being introgressed via inexpensive PCR marker-assisted selection into tropical maize germplasm adapted to developing countries, where it is most needed for human health.

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