Metabolic engineering to enhance provitamin D3 content in tomatoes

Overview

The proposed solution focuses on using metabolic engineering to significantly boost the provitamin D3 content in tomatoes. By targeting and knocking out specific genes, namely SlDWF5A and SlDET2A, the technology seeks to enhance the nutritional value of tomatoes, making them a more viable source of vitamin D3, particularly for the processed tomato industry. The solution is particularly beneficial for individuals with genetic predispositions requiring higher vitamin D3 intake.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Utilizes CRISPR-Cas12a technology to edit the tomato genome, specifically targeting the SlDWF5A and SlDET2A genes to prevent conversion of provitamin D3 into unwanted compounds.
• Aims to increase provitamin D3 levels up to sixfold compared to previous methods targeting only SlDWF5A.
• Genetic editing is performed in popular tomato varieties such as Roma and San Marzano to ensure commercial viability and acceptance.
• Comprehensive validation process including generation of 30 independently edited plants per variety and sequencing to confirm genetic edits.

Technology readiness level

This technology is currently at a TRL of 3, indicating it is in the active research and proof-of-concept stage. The ongoing work involves detailed genetic editing and validation in multiple tomato varieties, with a focus on stabilizing traits that ensure high provitamin D3 levels for future commercial use.