Genetic engineering of hexsosamine with L-glutamine D-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase genes in plants

In animals, yeasts, bacteria, and viruses, L-glutamine D-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) is well characterized, but not in plants. This study identified an Arabidopsis GFAT gene by detecting the enzymatic activity of the recombinant protein produced in a wheat germ in vitro translation system. The Arabidopsis gene and a chlorella virus GFAT gene under the CaMV 35S promoter were introduced into tobacco BY-2 cells. Transgenic cells with the viral gene had higher levels of hexosamines than wild type, but no such hexosamine production was observed in transgenic cells with the Arabidopsis gene. These results clarify metabolic engineering of hexosamines in plants.