Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

Soybean Hairy Root Transformation for the Analysis of Gene Function
Published on: May 5, 2023
Expression of polyhydroxybutyric acid as a model for metabolic engineering of soybean seed coats
J A Schnell1, V Treyvaud-Amiguet, J T Arnason
1Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa, PO Box 450, Station A, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
Abstract:
The feasibility of genetically engineering soybean seed coats to divert metabolism towards the production of novel biochemicals was tested. The genes phbA, phbB, phbC from Ralstonia eutropha each under the control of the seed coat peroxidase promoter were introduced into soybean and the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) was assayed. The analysis of seed coats arising from 4 independent transformation events demonstrated that PHB was produced at a mean of 0.12% seed coat dried weight with individual values up to 0.36%. These values demonstrate that it is possible to metabolically engineer soybean seed coats.
Related Concept Videos
Production of Pharmaceuticals
Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Production of Organic Acids
Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides

