title: Molecular composition of leaves and stems of genetically modified Bt and near-isogenic non-Bt maize--characterization of lignin patterns.
abstract: Transformation of crops, including maize (Zea mays L.), with the cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis to combat lepidopteran pests results in pleiotropic effects regarding lignin biosynthesis. Lignin patterns in stems and leaves of two genetically modified Bt-maize varieties (Novelis T and Valmont T) were studied along with their non-Bt near-isolines (Nobilis and Prelude, respectively). Molecular-level based thermochemolysis using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to quantitate the total lignin contents and to identify monomeric lignin subunits including p-hydroxyphenyl (P), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S) moieties. The results were supplemented and confirmed by cupric oxide oxidation. The stems of the transgenic lines had higher concentrations of total lignin than the respective isogenic lines: Valmont T/Prelude by 18% and Novelis T/Nobilis by 28%. In contrast, differences in the total lignin concentration of leaves between the transgenic and the respective near-isogenic lines were marginal. There were significant modifications in the ratio of p-hydroxyphenyl/guaiacyl/syringyl molecular marker units of stem lignin between transgenic and isogenic lines. The guaiacyl units (in particular the G18 marker) accounted chiefly for the higher total lignin contents in the transgenic lines. The leaf lignin patterns did not show significant differences in molecular markers between isogenic and transgenic lines. TMAH-induced thermochemolysis--conducted in both the on-line and off-line modes--provided detailed information on the molecular composition of lignin, thus proving superior to the established "wet chemistry" methods of lignin determination.
authors.affiliation: UFZ-Center for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle Ltd., D-04318 Leipzig, Germany. juergen.poerschmann@ufz.de
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poerschmann
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gathmann
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Górecki
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods; D003300:Copper; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010636:Phenols; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis; D003300:Copper; D008031:Lignin; C027917:tetramethylammonium; C030973:cupric oxide