title: Comparative study of transgenic and non-transgenic maize (Zea mays) flours commercialized in Brazil, focussing on proteomic analyses.
abstract: Genetically modified foods are a major concern around the world due to the lack of information concerning their safety and health effects. This work evaluates differences, at the proteomic level, between two types of crop samples: transgenic (MON810 event with the Cry1Ab gene, which confers resistance to insects) and non-transgenic maize flour commercialized in Brazil. The 2-D DIGE technique revealed 99 differentially expressed spots, which were collected in 2-D PAGE gels and identified via mass spectrometry (nESI-QTOF MS/MS). The abundance of protein differences between the transgenic and non-transgenic samples could arise from genetic modification or as a result of an environmental influence pertaining to the commercial sample. The major functional category of proteins identified was related to disease/defense and, although differences were observed between samples, no toxins or allergenic proteins were found.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22045-900, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Bioanalytics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Chemistry - Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil. Electronic address: nadiacvidal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nádia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanisation Group, Institute of Chemistry, University of Chemistry - Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Bioanalytics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Chemistry - Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22045-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanisation Group, Institute of Chemistry, University of Chemistry - Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Bioanalytics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Chemistry - Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arruda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
keywords: 2-D DIGE; Comparative proteomics; Genetically modified organisms; Maize flour; Mass spectrometry; Zea mays