G01019: An examination of the pleiotropic effects that may result from multigene insertions in tomato, and the effect of outcrossing on recombination and segregation in these multigene transformants
Wednesday 16 October 2002
This research project aims to further the scientific understanding of the effects of insertion of large amounts of DNA into plants.
Background
This project is exploring the pleiotropic effects of transforming plants with large amounts of DNA and the effects on genetic stability that crossing and selection may have on such large insertions.
Research Approach
The organism to be studied is the processor tomato FM6203 as a model system in which the focus of the analytical screens will be the ripe tomato fruit. This approach has a two fold advantage:
1. It focuses on a food item at the point at which it enters the food chain for processing or fresh consumption.
2. It provides direct evidence of the influence of genetic background on the consumed product with respect to metabolic profiling.
Results and findings
Project G01019 aimed to determine if differences could be identified in red tomato fruit between non-GM plants, GM parent plants and hybrid GM progeny, using a technique called proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. From the analysis of the metabolite profiles, and in some cases transcript profiles, no unexpected changes were found. This means the products of the chemical reactions within the plant cells did not change as a result of genetic manipulation. Therefore, even when plants during their growth showed phenotypic changes, no unexpected changes in the composition of the ripe fruits were observed.
This work has brought together several techniques, including genomic mapping, to demonstrate the stability of large genomic insertions following outcrossing. Protein profiling, detection of carbohydrate metabolites and enzyme assays were used to determine the extent of any pleiotropic effects in terms of changes in total protein. The mRNA analysis (transcriptomics) was used to demonstrate changes in gene expression related to steady state/metabolic turnover. The techniques developed in this project are likely to be useful for assessing the impact of the introduction of a transgene on metabolite levels in the plant and thereby further refining the safety assessment of all plants.
Dissemination information
The final report is available from the Agency's Information Centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Information Services, Food Standards Agency (tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email: infocentre@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk)
Contact: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email: science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk