title: A built-in strategy to mitigate transgene spreading from genetically modified corn.
abstract: Transgene spreading is a major concern in cultivating genetically modified (GM) corn. Cross-pollination may cause the spread of transgenes from GM cornfields to conventional fields. Occasionally, seed lot contamination, volunteers, mixing during sowing, harvest, and trade can also lead to transgene escape. Obviously, new biological confinement technologies are highly desired to mitigate transgene spreading in addition to physical separation and isolation methods. In this study, we report the development of a built-in containment method to mitigate transgene spreading in corn. In this method, an RNAi cassette for suppressing the expression of the nicosulfuron detoxifying enzyme CYP81A9 and an expression cassette for the glyphosate tolerant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene G10 were constructed and transformed into corn via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The GM corn plants that were generated were found to be sensitive to nicosulfuron but resistant to glyphosate, which is exactly the opposite of conventional corn. Field tests demonstrated that GM corn plants with silenced CYP81A9 could be killed by applying nicosulfuron at 40 g/ha, which is the recommended dose for weed control in cornfields. This study suggests that this built-in containment method for controlling the spread of corn transgenes is effective and easy to implement.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Insect Sciences, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Yu
authors: Fengzhen
authors: F
authors: Zhang
authors: Chaoyang
authors: C
authors: Lin
authors: Jianhua
authors: J
authors: Gao
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Fang
authors: Xiahui
authors: X
authors: Ding
authors: Zhicheng
authors: Z
authors: Shen
authors: Xiaoli
authors: X
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000187:drug effects; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D053209:Herbicide Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011725:Pyridines / Q000633:toxicity; D034622:RNA Interference; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005998:Glycine; D011725:Pyridines; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D000097797:Glyphosate; C036483:T-DNA; C416723:nicosulfuron