Using Genomic Approaches to Characterise the Lupin Grain
Seed storage proteins (SSP) are very likely to be the major constituents of the lupin grain responsible for satiety and related dietary benefits, as well as potentially contributing to problems associated with allergenicity. To determine which groups of genes are important for the dietary benefits of lupins and which are contributing to allergenicity problems, we need to identify and characterise the SSP complement in lupins.
In a complementary approach, we will raise antibodies against the major lupin SSPs and also initiate metabolite profiling of alkaloids in lupin grains which are likely to contribute to undesirable dietary aspects of lupin grains. In the long term, the work conducted here will lay the platform for conventional and molecular breeding efforts to select for desirable and reduce undesirable end products in grains and in fractions used for food ingredients.
Outcomes:
- Characterisation of lupin SSP gene families, including expression analysis at the RNA and protein level in seeds.
- Genomic tools for further characterisation of the lupin seed, including BAC library, expression profiling and antibodies for localisation, proteomic and allergenicity research.
- Metabolite profiling of N-containing metabolites in lupin seeds with a focus on alkaloids.
Principal Investigators:
- Dr Karam Singh - CSIRO
- Prof Craig Atkins - University of Western Australia
