Nitrate assimilation pathway is impacted in young tobacco plants overexpressing a constitutively active nitrate reductase or displaying a defective CLCNt2.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We have previously shown that the expression of a constitutively active nitrate reductase variant and the suppression of CLCNt2 gene function (belonging to the chloride channel (CLC) gene family) in field-grown tobacco reduces tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) accumulation in cured leaves and cigarette smoke. In both cases, TSNA reductions resulted from a strong diminution of free nitrate in the leaf, as nitrate is a precursor of the TSNA-producing nitrosating agents formed during tobacco curing and smoking. These nitrosating agents modify tobacco alkaloids to produce TSNAs, the most problematic of which are NNN (N-nitrosonornicotine) and NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone). The expression of a deregulated nitrate reductase enzyme (DNR) that is no lon

SUBMITTER: Bovet L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11600588 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature