Evolvement of nutraceutical onion plants engineered for resveratrol biosynthetic pathway

Key message Genetically engineered onion expressing codon-optimized VvSTS1 gene accumulated stilbenes and extended life span in yeast and can serve as potential nutraceutical. Resveratrol (RV) is a natural polyphenolic compound found in certain plant species including grapes. RV is well known for its nutraceutical properties and to assuage several disease conditions. Onion is the second most consumed vegetable worldwide and contains large quantities of precursor molecules, malonyl-CoA and para -coumaroyl-CoA that are needed for RV biosynthesis. The present study reports the development of nutraceutical onion by engineering RV biosynthetic pathway. A codon-optimized grapevine synthetic stilbene synthase gene ( VvSTS1) was synthesized using native grapevine sequence. Six-week-old healthy yellowish compact nodular calli were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring pCAMBIA1300- hpt II -CaMV35S- VvSTS1 - nos . PCR analysis revealed the presence of VvSTS1 and hpt II genes in putative transgenics. Southern blot analysis confirmed the integration of VvSTS1 gene and independent nature of transformants. LC–ESI-HRMS analysis revealed the accumulation of variable quantities of RV (24.98–50.18 µg/g FW) and its glycosylated form polydatin (33.6–67.15 µg/g FW) in both leaves and bulbs, respectively, indicating the successful engineering of RV biosynthetic pathway into onion. The transgenic onion bulb extracts extended the life span in haploid yeast. The transgenic onion accumulating RV and polydatin, developed for the first of its kind, may serve as a potential nutraceutical resource.