MAM gene silencing leads to the induction of C3 and reduction of C4 and C5 side-chain aliphatic glucosinolates in Brassica napus

Methylthioalkylmalate (MAM) synthases and their associated genes that have been extensively investigated in Arabidopsis control the side-chain elongation of methionine during the synthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates. A Brassica homolog of the Arabidopsis MAM genes was used in this study to analyze the role of MAM genes in B. napus through RNA interference (RNAi). The silencing of the MAM gene family in B. napus canola and B. napus rapeseed resulted in the reduction of aliphatic glucosinolates and total glucosinolate content. The results indicated that RNAi has potential for reducing glucosinolate content and improving meal quality in B. napus canola and rapeseed cultivars. Interestingly, MAM gene silencing in B. napus significantly induced the production of 2-propenyl glucosinolate, a 3-carbon side-chain glucosinolate commonly found in B. juncea mustard. Most transgenic plants displayed induction of 2-propenyl glucosinolate; however, the absolute content of this glucosinolate in transgenic B. napus canola was relatively low (less than 1.00 μmol g −1 seed). In the high glucosinolate content progenies derived from the crosses of B. napus rapeseed and transgenic B. napus canola, MAM gene silencing strongly induced the production of 2-propenyl glucosinolate to high levels (up to 4.45 μmol g −1 seed).