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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food Processing and Sensory Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311203
Title: Stability of transgene expression in reduced allergen peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) across multiple generations, and at different soil sulfur levels

Author
item CHANDRAN, MANJU - University Of Georgia
item CHU, YE - University Of Georgia
item Maleki, Soheila
item OZIAS-AKINS, PEGGY - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2015
Publication Date: 1/23/2015
Citation: Chandran, M., Chu, Y., Maleki, S.J., Ozias-Akins, P. 2015. Stability of transgene expression in reduced allergen peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) across multiple generations, and at different soil sulfur levels. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 63:1788-1797.

Interpretive Summary: Transgenic peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in which the Ara h 2 gene was not expressed (or silenced), showed stable complete silencing of Ara h 2 and partial silencing of Ara h 6, two potent peanut allergens/proteins, along with minimal collateral changes to other allergens, Ara h 1 and Ara h 3, across three generations under field conditions. Different soil sulfur levels (0.012 mM, 0.3 mM, and 3.0 mM) differentially impacted sulfur-rich (Ara h 2, 3, 6) vs. sulfur-poor (Ara h 1) proteins in non-transgenic versus transgenic peanut. Sulfur level had no effect on Ara h 1, whereas, low sulfur led to a significant reduction of Ara h 3 in transgenic and non-transgenic seeds and Ara h 2 and Ara h 6 in non-transgenic, but not in transgenic peanuts since these proteins already were reduced by gene silencing. These results demonstrate stability of transgene expression and the potential utility of gene silencing in allergen manipulation.

Technical Abstract: Transgenic peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) containing a gene designed for RNA interference (RNAi), showed stable complete silencing of Ara h 2 and partial silencing of Ara h 6, two potent peanut allergens/proteins, along with minimal collateral changes to other allergens, Ara h 1 and Ara h 3, across three generations (T3, T4 and T5) under field conditions. Different soil sulfur levels (0.012 mM, 0.3 mM, and 3.0 mM) differentially impacted sulfur-rich (Ara h 2, 3, 6) vs. sulfur-poor (Ara h 1) proteins in non-transgenic versus transgenic peanut. Sulfur level had no effect on Ara h 1, whereas, low sulfur led to a significant reduction of Ara h 3 in transgenic and non-transgenic seeds, and Ara h 2 and Ara h 6 in non-transgenic but not in transgenic peanuts since these proteins already were reduced by gene silencing. These results demonstrate stability of transgene expression and the potential utility of RNAi in allergen manipulation.