Systems biology of seeds: decoding the secret of biochemical seed factories for nutritional security.

Abstract

Seeds serve as biochemical factories of nutrition, processing, bio-energy and storage related important bio-molecules and act as a delivery system to transmit the genetic information to the next generation. The research pertaining towards delineating the complex system of regulation of genes and pathways related to seed biology and nutrient partitioning is still under infancy. To understand these, it is important to know the genes and pathway(s) involved in the homeostasis of bio-molecules. In recent past with the advent and advancement of modern tools of genomics and genetic engineering, multi-layered 'omics' approaches and high-throughput platforms are being used to discern the genes and proteins involved in various metabolic, and signaling pathways and their regulations for understanding the molecular genetics of biosynthesis and homeostasis of bio-molecules. This can be possible by exploring systems biology approaches via the integration of omics data for understanding the intricacy of seed development and nutrient partitioning. These information can be exploited for the improvement of biologically important chemicals for large-scale production of nutrients and nutraceuticals through pathway engineering and biotechnology. This review article thus describes different omics tools and other branches that are merged to build the most attractive area of research towards establishing the seeds as biochemical factories for human health and nutrition.