Sunshine in a Cell: Biosynthetic Battles Against Vitamin D Deficiency

Despite various forms of vitamin supplementation being available to consumers, the number of vitamin D-deficiency cases continues to increase. This review found that there are a plethora of health risks related to vitamin D deficiency, including many neurocognitive and bodily ailments, and that one of the most effective ways of combating vitamin D deficiency is by incorporating the micronutrient into one’s diet. Furthermore, this paper explores two studies that utilize techniques such as transgenesis and mutagenesis to biosynthesize provitamin D₃ (the precursor of vitamin D₃). The first study discusses the use of horizontal gene transfer and the recombination technique—both transgenic techniques—on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s Yeast), which led to a significant improvement of 7-DHC production. Meanwhile, the second study centres on the use of CRISPR-Cas9, a mutagenesis technique, on Solanum Lycopersicum (Moneymaker Tomato) to redirect and increase the production of 7-DHC in the fruit. Both studies produce significant yields of provitamin D₃, suggesting that there is great potential for decreasing vitamin D-deficiency cases, as well as increasing market expansion through the genetic enhancement of food production and agriculture.