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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
Organoselenides from Nicotiana tabacum genetically modified to accumulate selenium
Adam J Matich1, Marian J McKenzie1, David A Brummell1
1The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Plant and Food Research), Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Nicotiana tabacum L. (tobacco) plants were transformed to overexpress a selenocysteine methyltransferase gene from the selenium hyperaccumulator Astragalus bisulcatus (Hook.) A. Gray (two-grooved milkvetch), and an ATP-sulfurylase gene from Brassica oleracea L. var. italica (broccoli). Solvent extraction of leaves harvested from plants treated with selenate revealed five selenium-containing compounds, of which four were identified by chemical synthesis as 2-(methylseleno)acetaldehyde, 2,2-bis(methylseleno)acetaldehyde, 4-(methylseleno)-(2E)-nonenal, and 4-(methylseleno)-(2E,6Z)-nonadienal. These four compounds have not previously been reported in nature.
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