Dietary soy protein and soy isoflavones: histological examination of reproductive tissues in female rats

Definition of Soybean Genomic Regions That Control Seed Phytoestrogen Amounts

Soybean seeds contain large amounts of isoflavones or phytoestrogens such as genistein, daidzein, and glycitein that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals. In seeds, the total amount, and amount of each type, of isoflavone varies by 5 fold between cultivars and locations. Isoflavone content and quality are one key to the biological effects of soy foods, dietary supplements, and nutraceuticals. Previously we had identified 6 loci (QTL) controlling isoflavone content using 150 DNA markers. This study aimed to identify and delimit loci underlying heritable variation in isoflavone content with additional DNA markers. We used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population ( $n=100$ ) derived from the cross of “Essex” by “Forrest,” two cultivars that contrast for isoflavone content. Seed isoflavone content of each RIL was determined by HPLC and compared against 240 polymorphic microsatellite markers by one-way analysis of variance. Two QTL that underlie seed isoflavone content were newly discovered. The additional markers confirmed and refined the positions of the six QTL already reported. The first new region anchored by the marker BARC-Satt063 was significantly associated with genistein ( $P=0.009$, $Rcirc;2=29.5\%$ ) and daidzein ( $P=0.007$, $Rcirc;2=17.0\%$ ). The region is located on linkage group B2 and derived the beneficial allele from Essex. The second new region defined by the marker BARC-Satt129 was significantly associated with total glycitein ( $P=0.0005$, $Rcirc;2=32.0\%$ ). The region is located on linkage group D1a+Q and also derived the beneficial allele from Essex. Jointly the eight loci can explain the heritable variation in isoflavone content. The loci may be used to stabilize seed isoflavone content by selection and to isolate the underlying genes.

Genomic Regions That Underlie Soybean Seed Isoflavone Content

Soy products contain isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals, these effects are species, dose and age dependent. Therefore, the content and quality of isoflavones in soybeans is a key to their biological effect. Our objective was to identify loci that underlie isoflavone content in soybean seeds. The study involved 100 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from the cross of 'Essex' by 'Forrest,' two cultivars that contrast for isoflavone content. Isoflavone content of seeds from each RIL was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The distribution of isoflavone content was continuous and unimodal. The heritability estimates on a line mean basis were 79% for daidzein, 22% for genistein, and 88% for glycitein. Isoflavone content of soybean seeds was compared against 150 polymorphic DNA markers in a one-way analysis of variance. Four genomic regions were found to be significantly associated with the isoflavone content of soybean seeds across both locations and years. Molecular linkage group B1 contained a major QTL underlying glycitein content (P = 0.0001, R(2) = 50.2%), linkage group N contained a QTL for glycitein (P = 0.0033, R(2) = 11.1%) and a QTL for daidzein (P = 0.0023, R(2) = 10.3%) and linkage group A1 contained a QTL for daidzein (P = 0.0081, R(2) = 9.6%). Selection for these chromosomal regions in a marker assisted selection program will allow for the manipulation of amounts and profiles of isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) content of soybean seeds. In addition, tightly linked markers can be used in map based cloning of genes associated with isoflavone content.