title: Hierarchical metabolomics demonstrates substantial compositional similarity between genetically modified and conventional potato crops.
abstract: There is current debate whether genetically modified (GM) plants might contain unexpected, potentially undesirable changes in overall metabolite composition. However, appropriate analytical technology and acceptable metrics of compositional similarity require development. We describe a comprehensive comparison of total metabolites in field-grown GM and conventional potato tubers using a hierarchical approach initiating with rapid metabolome "fingerprinting" to guide more detailed profiling of metabolites where significant differences are suspected. Central to this strategy are data analysis procedures able to generate validated, reproducible metrics of comparison from complex metabolome data. We show that, apart from targeted changes, these GM potatoes in this study appear substantially equivalent to traditional cultivars.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, D-14424 Golm, Germany.
authors.forename: Gareth S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Catchpole
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Enot
authors.forename: Madhav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mondhe
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zywicki
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kell
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fiehn
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Draper
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005630:Fructans / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005838:Genotype; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D005630:Fructans; D014312:Trisaccharides; C072433:1-kestose