Project Number: 3602-21000-005-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Mar 20, 2006
End Date: Mar 19, 2011

Objective:
Identify and characterize genes or gene products that control metabolic expression of protein and oil accumulation during legume seed development; Develop genomic resources to characterize the function of genes or gene products that mediate genetic variation in composition and allergenicity of seed storage proteins in soybean and comparable legumes; Develop technology to quantitatively measure immune responses by swine challenged with food and feed derived from legume seeds.

Approach:
The cDNA suppression subtraction libraries will be analyzed for differentially expressed genes that are predicted to be important in controlling the onset of seed fill, including primarily those encoding proteins with DNA binding activity, regulatory proteins, or involved in regulatory cascades. The influence of over-expression, mutation, and silencing of selected genes on seed development will be determined by transformation of soybean and Arabidopsis. The existing soybean TILLInG populations with high mutation frequencies will be screened with several genes, including those encoding allergenic storage proteins and enzymes involved in seed development and fatty acid synthesis. The populations can be screened for mutations in genes of interest to other investigators and M3 seed distributed. Monoclonal antibodies against swine IgE will be developed by (1) generating antibodies that recognize the swine heavy chain region of the epsilon chain and (2) expression in the baculovirus-insect vector system. The line of monoclonals with least cross-activity will be used to create an immunoassay to quantify IgE produced by pigs in response to legume storage proteins.