Media

HKU researchers generate tomatoes with enhanced antioxidant properties by genetic engineering

07 Nov 2017

 

A HKU-led research group has identified a new strategy to simultaneously enhance health-promoting vitamin E by ~6-fold and double both provitamin A and lycopene contents in tomatoes, to significantly boost antioxidant properties.

The accumulation of the healthy components in food crops would provide added-value to fruits and vegetables in the human diet, as well as enrich feed for livestock and aquaculture. Extracts with enriched phytosterols, vitamin E and carotenoids can be used in the production of anti-ageing cream and sun-care lotion. These compounds show excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

The School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in collaboration with the Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes (CNRS, Strasbourg, France), increased not only phytosterols, squalene, provitamin A and lycopene, but also vitamin E (α-tocopherol) by 494% in tomatoes by genetic engineering.

This research has been reported recently in Plant Biotechnology Journal. The team is led by Chye Mee-Len from the School of Biological Sciences, with two other HKU members Dr Liao Pan and Dr Wang Mingfu, as well as Professor Thomas J Bach from the Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Strasbourg.

The research team will meet the media to elaborate how the healthy components of tomatoes are enhanced. Details of the media briefing are as follows:

Date: November 9, 2017 (this Thursday)

Time/Activity/Venue:

10:40 Gathering on G/F, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Main Campus, HKU, Pokfulam, HKU (Map)

10:45 Photo taking at Greenhouse, 9N-05, 9/F, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, HKU

11:00 Press briefing at Conference Room, Room 6N-11, 6/F, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, HKU

Spokespersons:

Professor Chye Mee-Len, Wilson and Amelia Wong Professor in Plant Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, HKU

Dr Liao Pan, Postdoctoral fellow, School of Biological Sciences, HKU

Dr Wang Mingfu, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, HKU

Media enquiry:

Communication and Public Affairs Office Ms Rhea Leung (tel: 2857 8555/ 9022 7446; email: rhea.leung@hku.hk) or Ms Julie Chu (tel: 2859 2437/ 9354 3898; email: juliechu@hku.hk) or

Faculty of Science Ms Cindy Chan (tel: 3917 5286/ 6703 0212; email: cindycst@hku.hk).