Stability of Transgene Expression in Reduced Allergen Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) across Multiple Generations and at Different Soil Sulfur Levels

Authors

Manju Chandran, University of Georgia
Ye Chu, University of Georgia
Soheila J. Maleki, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)Follow
Peggy Ozias-Akins, University of Georgia

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

J. Agric. Food Chem. 2015, 63, 1788−1797

Comments

U.S. Government Work

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, 0.3, and 3.0 mM) differentially impacted sulfur-rich (Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 6) versus sulfur-poor (Ara h 1) proteins in non-transgenic versus transgenic peanut. The 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 because these proteins already were reduced by gene silencing. These results demonstrate stability of transgene expression and the potential utility of RNAi in allergen manipulation.