Enhanced radical scavenging activity of genetically modified Arabidopsis seeds

The proanthocyanidin (PA) content was increased in seeds of pap1-D mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, in which the expression of endogenous PAP1 gene encoding a Myb-like transcription factor was induced by activation-tagging with enhancer sequences derived from cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. In contrast, the PA contents decreased in seeds of transgenic plants transformed with a PAP1 cDNA or with a PAP1 chimeric repressor, although the amount of soluble anthocyanins increased in seeds of transgenic plants over-expressing PAP1 cDNA. The enhanced radical scavenging activity was observed only in the seed extracts of pap1-D mutant, indicating that PAs are primarily responsible for radical scavenging activity in seeds. The present study suggests the feasibility of engineering a transcription factor of flavonoid biosynthesis for health beneficial plant seeds.