Composition of transgenic soybean seeds with higher γ-linolenic acid content is equivalent to that of conventional control

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Mar 7;60(9):2200-4. doi: 10.1021/jf204336a. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Abstract

γ-Linolenic acid (GLA) has been used as a general nutraceutical for pharmacologic applications, particularly in the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema. Four transgenic soybean lines that produce GLA at high yields (4.21% of total fatty acids, up to 1002-fold) were generated through the stable insertion of the Delta-6-fatty acid desaturase gene isolated from Borago officinalis into the genome of a conventional soybean cultivar. As part of the safety assessment of genetically engineered crops, the transgenic soybean seeds were compared with their parental soybean seeds (nontransgenic) by applying the principle of substantial equivalence. Compositional analyses were conducted by measuring the fatty acids, proximate analysis (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrates, TDF, and ash contents), amino acids, lectins, and trypsin inhibitor activity. The present results showed that the specific transgenic cultivar studied was similar to the conventional control.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Glycine max / chemistry*
  • Glycine max / enzymology
  • Lectins / analysis
  • Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / chemistry*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / enzymology
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Seeds / enzymology
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / analysis
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid / analysis*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Fatty Acids
  • Lectins
  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase