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Transgenic maize endosperm containing a milk protein has improved amino acid balance

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Abstract

In order to meet the protein nutrition needs of the world population, greater reliance on plant protein sources will become necessary. The amino acid balance of most plant protein sources does not match the nutritional requirements of monogastric animals, limiting their nutritional value. In cereals, the essential amino acid lysine is deficient. Maize is a major component of human and animal diets worldwide and especially where sources of plant protein are in critical need such as sub-Saharan Africa. To improve the amino acid balance of maize, we developed transgenic maize lines that produce the milk protein α-lactalbumin in the endosperm. Lines in which the transgene was inherited as a single dominant genetic locus were identified. Sibling kernels with or without the transgene were compared to determine the effect of the transgene on kernel traits in lines selected for their high content of α-lactalbumin. Total protein content in endosperm from transgene positive kernels was not significantly different from total protein content in endosperm from transgene negative kernels in three out of four comparisons, whereas the lysine content of the lines examined was 29–47% greater in endosperm from transgene positive kernels. The content of some other amino acids was changed to a lesser extent. Taken together, these changes resulted in the transgenic endosperms having an improved amino acid balance relative to non-transgenic endosperms produced on the same ear. Kernel appearance, weight, density and zein content did not exhibit substantial differences in kernels expressing the transgene when compared to non-expressing siblings. Assessment of the antigenicity and impacts on animal health will be required in order to determine the overall value of this technology.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Erik Mottl and Merinda Struthers for technical assistance. Names are necessary to report factually on the available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by the USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. This work was funded in part by an Iowa Corn Promotion Board grant to MPS and ML and by the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding. EHB was supported by a fellowship from Pioneer Hibred International awarded to EHB and ML.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agronomy Department, The Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Earl H. Bicar, Wendy Woodman-Clikeman, Varaporn Sangtong & Michael Lee

  2. Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Joan M. Peterson

  3. Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    S. Samuel Yang

  4. USDA-ARS, Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    M. Paul Scott

  5. Iowa State University, 1407 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    M. Paul Scott

Authors
  1. Earl H. Bicar
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  2. Wendy Woodman-Clikeman
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  3. Varaporn Sangtong
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  4. Joan M. Peterson
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  5. S. Samuel Yang
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  6. Michael Lee
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  7. M. Paul Scott
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Paul Scott.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 1 Endosperm amino acid composition and total protein content of α-lactalbumin protein positive and negative sibling kernels in event 14 as measured in a complete amino acid analysis assay
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Table 2 Endosperm amino acid composition and total protein content of α-lactalbumin protein positive and negative sibling kernels in event 18 as measured in a complete amino acid analysis assay
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Bicar, E.H., Woodman-Clikeman, W., Sangtong, V. et al. Transgenic maize endosperm containing a milk protein has improved amino acid balance. Transgenic Res 17, 59–71 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-007-9081-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-007-9081-3

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