High-Lysine Corn Generated by RNAi

**Lysine** is one of the most limiting **amino acids** in plants consumed by humans and livestock. In corn, among other crops, synthetic supplements are being added to increase its lysine content. A group of scientists from **Monsanto** reported that they were able to obtain transgenic maize with increased lysine concentration in its kernels using **RNA mediated interference** (RNAi). In RNAi, **gene expression**, in this case a gene coding for the enzyme responsible for lysine degradation, is inhibited by introducing double stranded RNA with base sequences complementary to the gene of interest. The team proved that lysine catabolism and not its **biosynthesis** impacts **lysine** accumulation in corn grains. ... Whole article on "checkbiotech":[ http://www.checkbiotech.org/green_News_Genetics.aspx?infoId=15313]

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