Abstract

Dietary phytic acid has been identified as one of the principal risk factors in iron-deficient anaemia which the World Health Organization identified as a major burden to global health. Studies of human and animal nutrition have shown that the inclusion of low phytic acid crop genotypes in diets/feedstuffs can enhance mineral nutrition. Low phytate crop genotypes have been generated with reductions of seed phytic acid from 50 ≥95%. These significant advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of phytate accumulation are not, necessarily, matched by an understanding of the contribution of specified metabolic pathways, in crops at least. Similarly, the mobilization of phytate in plants is poorly described. A number of plant enzymes have now succumbed to the sort of structural analysis that has characterized the animal feedstuff industry’s interest in phytase enzymes added as adjuncts to animal feed. This seminar will provide structural insights to the enzymology of phytate accumulation and turnover.