Project Number: 1275-21000-223-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Apr 06, 2006
End Date: Apr 05, 2011

Objective:
The overall aim of this research project is to evaluate the quality and safety of transgenic soybeans using proteomics technologies. We will determine whether the expression of transgenes in soybeans results in an unusual accumulation of non-target proteins in the seed. The data from these studies would be useful to measure and compare the deviation of protein variation within transgenic soybeans. To achieve this goal, we propose the following two key objectives: Objective 1. Measure the natural variation of seed proteins in a wide range of soybean germplasm using proteomics and establish a baseline for subsequent estimation of collateral effects that may be associated with transgenes. Objective 2. Determine the potential collateral effects in protein expression resulting from tissue culture, transformation protocols, and transgenic events in soybean.

Approach:
The experimental approach is to compare and characterize protein variation of a group of twenty-seven soybean genotypes that will include wild, Glycine soja and cultivated Glycine max germplasm accessions. Also, variation in seed protein levels in four different seed samples from plants derived via tissue culture and non-tissue culture methods will be compared. Proteins will be extracted from seeds using the modified TCA/acetone method and separated using 2D-PAGE, analyzed using image analysis and in those cases when unique protein spots appear in any treatment, further characterization using MALDI-TOF-MS will be undertaken.