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Producing decaffeinated coffee plants

Author

Listed:
  • Shinjiro Ogita

    (Research and Education Centre for Genetic Information, Nara Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Hirotaka Uefuji

    (Research and Education Centre for Genetic Information, Nara Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Yube Yamaguchi

    (Research and Education Centre for Genetic Information, Nara Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Nozomu Koizumi

    (Research and Education Centre for Genetic Information, Nara Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Hiroshi Sano

    (Research and Education Centre for Genetic Information, Nara Institute of Science and Technology)

Abstract

The demand for decaffeinated coffee is increasing because the stimulatory effects of caffeine can adversely affect sensitive individuals by triggering palpitations, increased blood pressure and insomnia1. Three N-methyltransferase enzymes are involved in caffeine biosynthesis in coffee plants — CaXMT1, CaMXMT1 (theobromine synthase) and CaDXMT1 (caffeine synthase), which successively add methyl groups to xanthosine in converting it into caffeine2,3,4. Here we describe the construction of transgenic coffee plants in which expression of the gene encoding theobromine synthase (CaMXMT1) is repressed by RNA interference (RNAi). The caffeine content of these plants is reduced by up to 70%, indicating that it should be feasible to produce coffee beans that are intrinsically deficient in caffeine.

Suggested Citation

  • Shinjiro Ogita & Hirotaka Uefuji & Yube Yamaguchi & Nozomu Koizumi & Hiroshi Sano, 2003. "Producing decaffeinated coffee plants," Nature, Nature, vol. 423(6942), pages 823-823, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:423:y:2003:i:6942:d:10.1038_423823a
    DOI: 10.1038/423823a
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