Double-Mutated 5-Enol Pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate Synthase Protein Expressed in MZHG0JG Corn (Zea mays L.) Has No Impact on Toxicological Safety and Nutritional Composition

Bt and G10evo-EPSPS Protein Expressed in ZDAB3 Corn Has No Impact on Nutritional Composition and Toxicological Safety

Genetically modified (GM) crops expressing insecticidal and herbicide-tolerant traits provide a new approach to agriculture production, but concerns about food safety were often raised by the public. The present research shows the findings of the nutritional assessment of ZDAB3 expressing insecticidal Cry proteins (Cry1Ab and Cry2Ab) and EPSPS protein (G10evo-EPSPS). The key nutrients and anti-nutrients of ZDAB3 maize were examined and contrasted with those of its non-transgenic control maize grown at the same locations during three planting seasons. The values for proximates, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, phytic acid, and trypsin inhibitor assessed for ZDAB3 were comparable to those of its non-transgenic control maize or within the range of values reported for other commercial lines. In addition, no adverse effects related to the G10evo-EPSPS protein in mammals were observed. These data indicated that the expression of Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, and G10evo-EPSPS proteins in ZDAB3 maize does not affect the nutritional compositions, and ZDAB3 maize is equivalent to non-transgenic maize regarding those important compositions.

Variability of CP4 EPSPS expression in genetically engineered soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)

The expression of the CP4 EPSPS protein in genetically engineered (GE) soybean confers tolerance to the Roundup® family of agricultural herbicides. This study evaluated the variability of CP4 EPSPS expression using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in soybean tissues collected across diverse germplasm and 74 different environments in Argentina, Brazil and the USA. Evaluated material included single and combined (stacked) trait products with other GE traits in entries with cp4 epsps gene at one or two loci. The highest level of CP4 EPSPS was observed in leaf tissues, intermediate in forage and seed, and lowest in root tissues. Varieties with two loci had approximately twice the level of CP4 EPSPS expression compared to one locus entries. Variable and non-directional level of CP4 EPSPS was observed with other factors like genetic background, trait stacking, growing region or season. The maximum and average CP4 EPSPS expression levels in seed provided large margins of exposure (MOE of approximately 4000 and 11,000, respectively), mitigating concerns over exposure to this protein in food and feed from soybean varieties tolerant to Roundup® herbicides.