A breakthrough by Chinese scientists in gene editing has led to the creation of rice that produces CoQ10, a vital compound for heart health. This development could greatly enhance nutritional fortification in plant-based foods.
A team of Chinese scientists has broken new ground in agricultural biotechnology by developing rice that produces CoQ10, a crucial compound for human health, using targeted gene editing.
The research — led by Chen Xiaoya, a professor in the the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences/Shanghai Chenshan Research Center, and Gao Caixia, an adjunct professor in the CAS Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology — could pave the way for more nutritionally fortified crops.
The scientists meticulously modified just five amino acids within the Coq1 enzyme of rice, enabling the plant to synthesize CoQ10 instead of its natural CoQ9.
CoQ10, or coenzyme Q10, is a vital component in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and functions as a fat-soluble antioxidant, playing a significant role in heart health.
Human bodies naturally produce CoQ10, which has a side chain of 10 isoprene units (C50). By contrast, rice and other cereal crops typically produce CoQ9, comprising only nine isoprene units (C45).
The researchers’ gene-editing breakthrough allows rice to generate CoQ10, thereby offering a potentially cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method for enhancing dietary intake of this essential nutrient.
Unraveling the Molecular Mystery
The study leveraged the extensive plant collections at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden to analyze the distribution patterns of CoQ across 134 plant samples from 67 families, including diverse species such as mosses, ferns and angiosperms.
This comprehensive analysis revealed that CoQ10 is an ancestral trait of flowering plants, though most modern angiosperms — particularly grasses, daisies and cucurbits — predominantly produce CoQ9.
Applying machine learning to assess the evolutionary trajectories and natural variations of Coq1 enzymes among more than 1,000 terrestrial plant species, the team pinpointed five amino acid sites responsible for CoQ side-chain length determination.
Transformational Potential
The successful gene editing led to rice plants capable of synthesizing up to 5 micrograms of CoQ10 per grain. This significant increase marks a clear demonstration of how gene editing can be a powerful and safe technology for crop breeding.
The development of CoQ10 rice will significantly expand food sources of this essential compound, the researchers note. This achievement also exemplifies the potential of integrating big data and artificial intelligence in crop breeding.
Published Findings and Future Impact
The team’s findings are detailed in a new study published in the journal Cell.
The creation of CoQ10-producing rice holds vast implications for public health, providing a new avenue to fortify plant-based diets with essential nutrients cost-effectively. As we move forward, this innovative approach could serve as a model for developing other nutritionally enhanced crops, potentially transforming global food security and nutrition.