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Bacterial Expression> | An E. coli codon-optimized version of VC1 coding for an N-terminal His-tag and lacking the predicted cTP-coding region (Supplementary Data 7) was synthesized (GenScript) | Get A Quote |
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a widely adapted and high-yielding legume cultivated for its protein-rich seeds. However, the seeds accumulate the pyrimidine glucosides vicine and convicine, which can cause haemolytic anaemia (favism) in 400 million genetically predisposed individuals. Here, we use gene-to-metabolite correlations, gene mapping and genetic complementation to identify VC1 as a key enzyme in vicine and convicine biosynthesis. We demonstrate that VC1 has GTP cyclohydrolase II activity and that the purine GTP is a precursor of both vicine and convicine. Finally, we show that cultivars with low vicine and convicine levels carry an inactivating insertion in the coding sequence of VC1. Our results reveal ... More