Current understanding of the regulation of methionine biosynthesis in plants.

Plants can provide most of the nutrients for the human diet. However, the major crops are often deficient in some of the nutrients. Thus, malnutrition, with respect to micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc, but also macronutrients such as the essential amino acids lysine and methionine, affects more than 40% of the world's population.

Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a cobalamin-independent methionine synthase from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

A potato cDNA clone, StMS1, that encodes a methionine synthase was isolated. This protein was identified on the basis of both structural and functional evidence. The predicted sequence of the protein encoded by StMS1 shows a high degree of similarity to methionine synthases from other organisms and the expression of StMS1 in bacterial mutant strains restored the mutant's ability to synthesize methionine.