title: Degradation of Cry1Ab protein from genetically modified maize in the bovine gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: Immunoblotting assays using commercial antibodies were established to investigate the unexpected persistence of the immunoactive Cry1Ab protein in the bovine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) previously suggested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples of two different feeding experiments in cattle were analyzed with both ELISA and immunoblotting methods. Whereas results obtained by ELISA suggested that the concentration of the Cry1Ab protein increased during the GIT passage, the immunoblotting assays revealed a significant degradation of the protein in the bovine GIT. Samples showing a positive signal in the ELISA consisted of fragmented Cry1Ab protein of approximately 17 and 34 kDa size. Two independent sets of gastrointestinal samples revealed the apparent discrepancy between the results obtained by ELISA and immunoblotting, suggesting that the antibody used in the ELISA reacts with fragmented yet immunoactive epitopes of the Cry1Ab protein. It was concluded that Cry1Ab protein is degraded during digestion in cattle. To avoid misinterpretation, samples tested positive for Cry1Ab protein by ELISA should be reassessed by another technique.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, Weihenstephaner Berg 3, D-85350 Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Einspanier
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis