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Nicotinamide synthase gene

empowers crop iron and zinc

helps solve the "Hidden hunger" crisis

About Hidden Hunger

lron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for maintaining human health. However, iron and zinc deficiencies are widespread worldwide, affecting approximately 2 billion people, particularly infants, young children, and pregnant women. The risk of iron and zinc deficiency is particularlv high in sub-Saharan Africa, where the diet relies heavily on maize, which provides at least 30% of total caloric intake. While iron and zinc supplements can improve a person's iron and zinc status, biofortification offers greater potential due to limited economic sustainability and consumer acceptance.

What is biofortification?

Biofortification is the scientific method of increasing the content of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals in crops. The main approaches include two aspects: first, viable bacterial fertilizers, which improve nutrient availability and absorption efficiency by applying beneficial microorganisms or specific fertilizers to the soil; second biotechnology, which uses genetic engineering, molecular breeding, or synthetic biology to directly modify the metabolic pathways of crops, enabling them to synthesize or enrich key nutrients more efficiently.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology uses methods such as genetic engineering and molecular breeding to directly modify the genetic characteristics of crops, enabling them to more efficiently synthesize or accumulate nutrients. It's core goal is to improve nutritional content and adaptability by altering the internal mechanisms of crops.

Viable bacterial fertilizer

Fertilization with viable bacteriais done by adding beneficial microorganisms or special fertilizers to the soil to help plants better absorb key elements. It mainly relies on improving the soil environment and nutrient supply, indirectly enhancing the nutritional level and healthy growth of crops.

Project Goals

Obtaining a point mutant protein with high enzyme catalytic activity of AtNAS1, constructing an overexpression strain of Bacillus subtilis, and increasing the iron and zinc content in tobacco roots.
Research using tobacco as a model plant provides new ideas and theoretical support for solving the "hidden hunger" problem caused by the lack of trace elements such as iron and zinc in crops.