| abstract |
Disclosed are gene sequences encoding η-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme η-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of η-tocopherol to yield α-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. η-Tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a η-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered η-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have α-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils. |