Executive Summary:
Soybean seed contains an immuno-dominant human allergen P34 or Gly m Bd 30K. Of approximately 16,266 accessions from USDA soybean germplasm screened, Joseph et al. (Crop Science, 2006, 46:1755-1763) identified 12 P34 null lines among soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], wild annual [Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.] and wild perennial Glycine spp. Studies on G. max nulls showed no large insertions or deletions to render the gene nonfunctional. Glycine max null cDNA showed six point mutations of which four are predicted to result in an amino acid alteration, and one such alteration results in serine replacement by a cysteine residue, which might produce a mismatched disulfide bond, the other changing the N-glycosylation triplet NNS to NNL resulting in a nonglycosylated protein. Both of these changes have the potential to produce an unstable P34 protein. Introgression of soybean with low allergen levels will provide the basis for developing a low allergen line incorporated with other agronomically desirable traits in a breeding program.
Project Highlights:
Of approximately 16,266 accessions from the USDA soybean germplasm analyzed, 12 P34 null lines were identified among soybean (2) wild annual (7) and wild perennial Glycine spp. (3). The wild annual (G. soja) were low P34 expressers, while the soybean (G. max) and wild perennial species had nondetectable levels of the allergenic protein.
Investigation of the two soybean nulls by molecular approaches indicated that six single nucleotide changes were present in both accessions, suggesting a common origin. One such alteration results in a serine being replaced by a cysteine residue. The other substitution is NNS glycosylation triplet replaced by NNL which cannot be glycosylated. Both substitutions might produce a misfolded protein and possibly a mismatched disulfide bond producing an unstable P34 protein in the null soybean accessions.
The isolation and introgression of soybean lines with low allergen line, non-GMO, incorporated with agronomically desirable traits in a breeding program.
Significant Information:
Seed from the P34 null soybean lines have been distributed to 6 private companies and 7 public institutions. Apparently, there is great interest from Japanese companies to import seeds to create "low allergen" soybean products.
List of Publications, Press and Presentations:
Joseph, L. M., T. Hymowitz, M. A. Schmidt and E. M. Herman 2006, Evaluation of Glycine germplasm for nulls of the immunodominant allergen P34/Gly m Bd 30K. Crop Science, 46: 1755-1763. (This issue contains a cover page from this article).
Barlow Jim May 18, 2006, Unique soybean lines hold promise for those with allergies, Inside Illinois, 25:1 (This article was reprinted in over 90 journals, magazines and newspapers).
Des Garennes, Christine Oct 1, 2004, Study offers hope for soy allergies, News Gazette (This article was reprinted in over 90 journals, magazines and newspapers).
The data from this project has been reported in several invited seminars and lectures including;
Dr. Herman gave invited talk to an EPA/ARS conference on Biosafety of Transgenic Plants in December 2005
Dr. Herman presented Danforth Center Conversations Night, public presentation (nontechnical) on food allergies for St. Louis community. May 11, 2006
Dr. Herman was an invited speaker at the National Academy of Sciences Sackler Symposia "From Functional Genomics of model organisms to crop plants for global health" April 3-5, 2006- presentation Altering soybeans to mitigate food and feed intolerance. Presentation published on DVD and available on-line on the NAS Sackler site.
Dr Herman was an invited speaker at Texas A&M Molecular Environmental and Plant Sciences Symposia "Next Generation Biotechnology for Crop Improvement" March 8, 2006, article in The Battalion, Texas A&M newspaper "Genetically modified crops offer positive future to food industry" by Shawn Hanrahan, March 28, 2006
Dr. Herman presented a talk to Masterfoods Corp (Mars Candy) at their corporate headquarters, July 19, 2006 on the role of agriculture in mitigating food allergens
Note:
A copy of the above publication in Crop Science has been submitted for IMBA files.
