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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #251823
Title: Maize 27 kDa gamma zein is a potential allergen for early weaned pigs

Author
item Krishnan, Hari
item KERLEY, MONTY - University Of Missouri
item ALLEE, GARY - University Of Missouri
item JANG, SUNGCHAN - University Of Missouri
item KIM, WON-SEOK - University Of Missouri
item FU, CHUNJIANG - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2010
Publication Date: 5/21/2010
Citation: Krishnan, H.B., Kerley, M.S., Allee, G.L., Jang, S., Kim, W., Fu, C.J. 2010. Maize 27 kDa gamma zein is a potential allergen for early weaned pigs. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 58(12):7323-7328.

Interpretive Summary: Soybean and maize are extensively used in animal feed, primarily in poultry, swine, and cattle diets. Livestock consumes 47% of the soy and 60% of the maize produced in the US. Livestock producers use maize and soy as a base for their animal feed, because these provide high quality protein and energy. Soybean meal can affect pig performance in the first few weeks following weaning and elicit specific antibodies in weaned piglets. Though maize is a major component of pig feed it is not known if any of the maize proteins can elicit immunological response in young pigs. In this study, we have identified a prominent 27 kDa protein from maize as an immunodominant protein in young pigs. Eliminating maize from the animal feed significantly improved young pig’s growth performance. This study provides valuable biochemical information on maize proteins that induce allergenic response in young pigs. Results from this study will aid researchers in the development of non-allergenic maize cultivars. Development of hypoallergenic soybean and maize will greatly enhance their nutritive value and expand their use in livestock industry.

Technical Abstract: Soybean and maize are extensively used in animal feed, primarily in poultry, swine, and cattle diets. Soybean meal can affect pig performance in the first few weeks following weaning and elicit specific antibodies in weaned piglets. Though maize is a major component of pig feed it is not known if any of the maize proteins can elicit immunological response in young pigs. In this study, we have identified a prominent 27 kDa protein from maize as an immunodominant protein in young pigs. This protein, like some known allergens, exhibited resistance to pepsin digestion in vitro. Several lines of evidence identify the immunodominant 27 kDa protein as a '-zein, a maize seed storage protein. First, SDS-PAGE analysis of different solubility classes of maize seed proteins revealed the presence of an abundant 27 kDa protein in prolamin (zein) fraction. Antibodies raised against the purified maize 27 kDa '-zein also reacted against the same protein recognized by the young pig serum. Additionally, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of the peptides generated by trypsin digestion of the immunodominant 27 kDa protein showed significant homology to the maize 27 kDa '-zein. Results from two experiments conducted to determine the effect of eliminating maize from the animal feed demonstrated that replacing maize with rice improved young pig’s body weight at 21 days in nursery by 8%, daily gain by 16%, and gain efficiency by 4%. Since eliminating the allergenic protein will have a great impact on the nutritive value of the maize meal and expand its use in livestock industry it will be highly desirable to develop maize cultivars completely lacking the 27 kDa allergenic protein.