In silico assessment of the potential allergenicity of transgenes used for the development of GM food crops

Journal or Publishing Institution: Food and Chemical Toxicology

Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22361217

Author(s): Mishra, A., Gaur, S.N., Singh, B.P. and Arora, N.

Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study

Record ID: 1630

Abstract: Genetically modified (GM) crops require allergenicity and toxicity assessment of the novel protein(s) to ensure complete safety to the consumers. These assessments are performed in accordance with the guidelines proposed by Codex (2003) and ICMR (2008). The guidelines recommend sequence homology analysis as a preliminary step towards allergenicity prediction, later in vitro experiments may be performed to confirm allergenicity. In the present study, an in silico approach is employed to evaluate the allergenic potential of six transgenes routinely used for the development of GM food crops. Among the genes studied, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and osmotin shares greater than 90% identity with Hev b 10 and Cap a 1w, respectively. Chitinase shares greater than 70% identity with allergens namely Pers a 1 and Hev b 11, and fungal chitinase showed significant IgE binding with 7 of 75 patients’ sera positive to different food extracts. Glucanases (alfalfa, wheat) and glycine betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene share 50% homology with allergens like – Ole e 9, Cla h 10 and Alt a 10. The results demonstrate the allergenic potential of six genes and can serve as a guide for selection of transgenes to develop GM crops.

Keywords: Food Allergy, Genetically Modified Foods, Transgenes, Sequence Homology, Safety Assessments; Patients, Allergens, Guidelines, Superoxide Dismutase, Toxicology, Food Crops, Transgenic Plants, Fungi, Chitinase; Immunoglobulin E, Allergenicity, Betaine-Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Alfalfa, Sequence Homology, In Vitro Studies, Prediction, Guidelines, Wheat; Agricultural Crops, Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase, Genetically Modified Plants; Genetics, Immunology, Enzymology

Citation: Mishra, A., Gaur, S.N., Singh, B.P. and Arora, N., 2012. In silico assessment of the potential allergenicity of transgenes used for the development of GM food crops. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 50(5), pp.1334-1339.