Abstract: Vitamin E, a lipid-soluble vitamin, is one of the most important antioxidants in organisms. In this review, we summarize the latest research progress of vitamin E biosynthesis pathway and related genes function, and propose three ways to improve the vitamin E content in the plants by genetic engineering, e.g. to improve the level of metabolic substrates, to increase total tocopherol contents and to raised the α-tocopherol phenol proportion. Furthermore, we analyze the factors to be considered in the process of vitamin E genetic engineering. Finally, the future research directions of vitamin E quality improvement in crops are prospected.

Key words: plant, vitamin E, tocopherols, genetic engineering

摘要： 维生素E(vitamin E)是一种脂溶性维生素，是生物体内最主要的抗氧化剂之一。本文综述了植物维生素E的合成途径及所涉及的相关基因，针对提高植物中维生素E含量的基因工程改造，提出三条途径，即提高代谢底物水平、提高植物生育酚总量和提高α生育酚比例，分析了维生素E基因工程改造过程中需要考虑的因素，最后展望了未来作物维生素E的品质改良的研究方向。

关键词: 植物, 维生素E, 生育酚,基因工程