PARTS

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are pressing global health issues, especially in populations relying on maize-based diets with inherently low mineral content. Conventional supplementation is often unsustainable in developing regions, making genetic biofortification a promising alternative. AtNAS1, a key enzyme in nicotianamine synthesis, directly influences Fe/Zn uptake and transport in plants. However, its C-terminal auto-inhibitory domain reduces activity, limiting the impact of AtNAS1 overexpression on micronutrient accumulation.

In this project, we designed and expressed point-mutated variants of AtNAS1, characterized their activity in E. coli, and tested their performance in tobacco as a model plant. By combining qPCR expression analysis, subcellular localization, and Fe/Zn content measurement, we identified promising mutant variants with enhanced activity compared to the wild type. Our work contributes a set of engineered AtNAS1 elements that can be used as novel synthetic biology tools for crop biofortification. This approach provides a foundation for improving nutritional quality in staple crops and addressing “hidden hunger” through sustainable plant-based solutions. The detailed component composition is shown in the table below (Table 1).

Table1.The parts Collection