Expression of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) fructosyltransferases, and high fructan accumulation in potato tubers

Fructans are polymers of fructose that are present as storage carbohydrates in various plants. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) contains a high amount of inulin. Two enzymes are involved in inulin biosynthesis. The sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST) enzyme mainly catalyzes the synthesis of 1-kestose from sucrose. In the next step, fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT) catalyzes the synthesis of inulin from 1-kestose. In this study, the Ht1-SST and Ht1-FFT genes were isolated from Jerusalem artichoke and expressed in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), either separately or together, via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic potato tubers overexpressing Ht1-SST accumulated 1-kestose to a high level (up to 3.36 mg/g), while tubers overexpressing both Ht1-SST and Ht1-FFT accumulated up to 3.14 mg/g short-chain inulin-type fructans, with the degree of polymerization (DP) ranging from 3 to 5, excluding high DP inulins. Transgenic potato plants accumulated fructo-oligosaccharides to a high level, following the fructan biosynthetic pathway of Jerusalem artichoke, and therefore present a high potential for the mass production of inulin through established potato breeding and cultivation methods.