Event-specific qualitative and quantitative detection of transgenic rice Kefeng-8 by characterization of the transgene flanking sequence

The transgenic rice line Kefeng-8 harboring insect-resistant genes Cry1Ac and CpTI showed ideal field performances characterized by high resistance to rice stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas) and leaf roller (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis). This GM rice line is likely to be approved in China in the near future. In this study, we estimated the insert number of foreign genes, analyzed the flanking sequences of T-DNA in rice genome, and presented an event-specific detection method for this line. The results show that the foreign gene inserted one copy between position 11,774 and 11,805 of chromosome 11 (AC120536.5) in Kefeng-8 genome. Based on these inserts and border sequences, the event-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR system was established for Kefeng-8. The qualitative detection limit was assessed to be 0.1%, and the limit of quantitative method was assessed to be 100 initial template copies. Two mixed rice sample with known Kengfeng-8 contents were used to verify the quantitative method, from which the expected results were observed. This study provides a reliable method and information for detection, identification, and quantification of the presence of GM rice Kefeng-8.     

An event-specific real-time PCR detection system for the transgenic rice line 114-7-2 of producing functional human serum albumin

Transgenic rice 114-7-2 is a newly developed transgenic rice line of producing human serum albumin (HSA). It has attracted much attention because of its economic potential. This paper was designated to discover the integration site of the transgenic HSA rice line 114-7-2 and to establish event-specific methods for qualitative and quantitative detection of the transgenic HSA rice based on the border junction fragment. One gene fragment of 5′ flanking region was successfully isolated using the TAIL-PCR methods. The fragment sequence showed that a 454-bp junction fragment contained 75 bp of T-DNA sequence and 379 bp of rice genome DNA, which is located in chromosome 4. Event-specific real-time PCR method for HSA rice line 114-7-2 was established with the primers (HSA-F/HSA-R) and the probe (HSA-P) targeting the 454-bp junction region. The qualitative PCR assay showed the limit of detection was 0.01 %. In the event-specific quantitative detection method, the LOQ for 114-7-2 HSA rice was estimated to be 0.025 ng or 50 copies. The method developed in this study is highly specific, sensitive, and reliable for transgenic HSA rice sample detection.     

Event-specific detection of genetically modified wheat B73-6-1 based on the 3′-flanking sequence

In this study, 3′-flanking sequence between the host plant DNA and the integrated gene construct of pHMW1Dx5 vector in transgenic wheat B73-6-1 was revealed by means of adaptor PCR; thus, the fragment with the length of 3.1?kb was obtained, including a 190-bp wheat genomic DNA, which demonstrates that this HMW-GS gene was located on the wheat chromosome 3B. And the event-specific PCR primers were designed based upon the revealed 3′-flanking sequence; the conventional qualitative PCR and quantitative SYBR real-time PCR detection methods employing these primers were successfully developed. In conventional qualitative PCR assay, the limit of detection was 0.1?% for B73-6-1 wheat genomic DNA for one reaction. In the quantitative SYBR real-time PCR assay, the limit of detection and limit of quantification were 10 and 100 haploid genome copies, respectively. In addition, three mixed blind wheat samples with known B73-6-1 contents were detected using the established real-time PCR systems, and the ideal results indicated that the established event-specific real-time PCR detection systems were reliable, sensitive and accurate.     

Event-Specific Qualitative and Quantitative Detection in Transgenic Soybean OsDREB3 Based on the 5′ Flanking Sequence

With the development of genetically modified organisms, labeling regulations have been introduced that require appropriate detection methods. Event-specific qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection methods have become the internationally agreed state-of-the art. Using adaptor PCR, we analyzed the flanking sequences of exogenous integrant in transgenic soybean OsDREB3, which has resistance genes. In this study 5′ region flanking sequences of exogenous gene were identified in the soybean OsDREB3 genome, which was integrated in chromosome 1 with an additional 394 bp insertion between soybean genomic DNA and exogenous gene. Based on these inserts and flanking sequences, the event-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR system was established for this line. In the conventional qualitative PCR assay, the event-specific primers designed were confirmed to be specific and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.1%. In the quantitative real-time PCR assay, the LOD and the limit of quantity were 10 and 100 haploid genome copies, respectively. The goodness of the linearity and high efficiency of the PCR reaction indicated the utility of the established PCR system. This study provides two reliable methods and information for detection, identification, and quantification of the presence of non-authorized transgenic soybean OsDREB3.     

Integrated structure and event-specific real-time detection of transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">cry1Ac/SCK</Emphasis> rice Kefeng 6

Transgenic rice Kefeng 6 is a transformation event containing two insect-resistant genes, cry1Ac and SCK (modified CpTI gene) in China. In order to monitor the probable release of Kefeng 6 in the future and execute the labeling requirements, it is necessary to develop a rapid and reliable detection method. In this study, both the 5′ and 3′-junction sequences spanning the plant DNA and the integrated gene construct of the rice event Kefeng 6 were isolated by genome walking and long-distance PCR (LD-PCR), successively. Multiple copies of truncated SCK gene and cry1Ac gene were found to integrate into the host rice genome. The event-specific real-time detection method for Kefeng 6 event based on its 5′-junction sequence was established using one plasmid molecule pMD-KF6 containing both 5′-junction sequence and rice endogenous gene gos9 sequence as the reference material (RM) with an absolute limit of quantification (LOQa) around 10 template copies. Thereafter, three different transgenic amounts of w/w mixed samples (5, 1, and 0.5%, respectively) were quantified to assess the performance characteristics of the established real-time PCR method. The accuracy expressed as bias deviated from the 4.00–26.00%, the precision expressed as standard deviation (SD) and relative standard deviation (RSD) deviated from 0.03–0.19 and 3.42–4.76%, respectively. Based on the earlier results, we concluded that the qualitative and quantitative PCR assays were reliable and accurate for Kefeng 6 measurement, and the reference plasmid pMD-KF6 could be a good substitute for the reference material for Kefeng 6 quantification.     

A cotton‐specific gene,stearoyl‐ACP desaturase,used as a reference for qualitative and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection of genetically modified organisms

Biotechnology has permitted the modification of agricultural materials in a very precise way to improve productivity and yields. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based methods have been the first choice of most analytical laboratories for routine use in the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their derived products. These methods rely on the amplification of transgenic sequences and quantification of the transgenic DNA by comparison with an amplified reference gene. This paper describes the specific primers and probe for the cotton stearoyl‐ACP desaturase (sad1) gene, and PCR cycling conditions suitable for the use of this sequence, which acts as an endogenous reference gene in both qualitative and quantitative PCR assays. The two methods were tested with 18 cotton varieties and identical amplification products were obtained with all of them. No amplification products were detected when DNA samples from other species, including soybean, rapeseed, tobacco, maize, tomato, potato, cucumber, pea, red pepper, sunflower, sesame, rice, peach, banana, apple, pumpkin, barley and carrot, were used as templates, which demonstrates that this system is specific for cotton. In real‐time quantitative PCR analysis, the detection limit was as low as 6 pg of DNA, which indicates that this method is suitable for application to processed food samples that contain very low copies of target DNA. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the sad1 gene was a single copy in the tested cotton varieties. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Detection of genetically modified rice: a construct-specific real-time PCR method based on DNA sequences from transgenic Bt rice

Genetically modified rice varieties developed in China are close to approval for agricultural cultivation and production. However, so far no method has been reported for specific detection of transgenic varieties of this crop. In the present study, rice seeds assumed to consist of field-tested Bt rice (‘Anti-pest Shanyou 63’ and ‘Anti-pest Jinyou 63’) were used as reference material to determine transgenic DNA sequences. The transition between the cryIA(b) and cryIA(c) fusion gene and the nopaline synthase terminator (nos) sequence was used to develop a construct-specific real-time PCR based detection method. This Bt rice specific detection system was combined with a recently published quantitative real-time PCR method for the rice-specific (Oryza sativa L.) reference gene gos9. The complete PCR assay for detection of transgenic Bt rice was in-house validated and the limit of quantification was found to be below 0.1% Bt rice relative to the rice content. Application of the PCR assay should allow more precise detection of transgenic rice varieties in imported food products which are so far not approved in the EU.     

A papaya-specific gene, papain, used as an endogenous reference gene in qualitative and real-time quantitative PCR detection of transgenic papayas

Genetically modified (GM) papaya lines have been approved for commercialization and are widely cultivated in many countries. As a step towards the development of reliable qualitative and quantitative PCR methods for detecting GM papayas, one papaya (Fructus Caricae Carica papaya L.) species specific gene, papain, was selected and validated as suitable for using as an endogenous reference gene in transgenic papaya PCR detection. In this article, both qualitative and quantitative PCR assays for the papain gene were assayed with 11 different papaya varieties and identical amplification products were obtained with all of them. No amplified fragments could be detected when DNA samples from 18 kinds of other species were used as templates, which demonstrated that this system was specific for papaya. In real-time quantitative PCR analysis, the detection limit was as low as 10 pg of DNA. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the papain gene was two copies in the tested papaya varieties and no allelic variation was testified among these tested papaya varieties. In addition, the common used exogenous genes of the coat protein (CP) and the replicase (RP) were also assayed in qualitative and real-time quantitative PCR. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Wentao Xu and Weibin Bai contributed equally to this work.     

Development of an event-specific detection method for genetically modified rice Kefeng?6 by quantitative real-time PCR

The genetically modified (GM) rice Kefeng 6 has gained resistance against several rice pests by inserting the cpti and cry1Ac genes. As this transgenic line is not approved for import, processing and cultivation in the European Union (EU), sensitive and specific detection methods need to be available to monitor any illegal presence of Kefeng 6 in food products within the EU. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an event-specific detection method by means of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the detection of Kefeng 6 in foodstuff. A primer pair and hydrolysis probe were designed according to the right border junction sequence of the transgene. The qPCR assay was validated according to the ENGL/EURL-GMFF guidelines for GMO testing and is presented according to the MIQE guidelines. The in-house validation process resulted in a limit of detection of 5 DNA copies of the transgene with confidence intervals (95 %) between 0.07 and 0.52, a PCR efficiency of 105 % and a correlation coefficient (R ²) value of 0.9997. The specificity of the assay was tested by end-point PCR, gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequencing of the PCR products. By testing DNA of several GM and non-GM crops, cross reactivity of the assay was not observed. Further, 35 food products were analyzed for the presence of Kefeng 6 by means of the event-specific detection method. For 9 out of 35 samples, PCR products for Kefeng 6 DNA were observed.     

A construct-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR detection method of transgenic maize BVLA430101

Transgenic phytase maize (Zea mays L.) line BVLA430101 was the first transgenic maize obtained the security certification in 2009 in China. However, the construct of the phytase gene expression cassette and the specific detection method have not been reported yet. In this study, the phytase gene expression cassette was identified, which include maize legumin promoter, signal peptide, phytase gene, and maize legumin terminator. The construct-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR methods of BVLA430101 maize were established based on the transition of signal peptide and phytase gene using a maize taxon-specific gene zSSIIb as the endogenous gene. The detection limit for the conventional qualitative PCR was 200 haploid genome copies of BVLA430101. The absolute limit of quantification of the real-time PCR was about 20 haploid genome copies. In addition, two known BVLA430101 contents (5 and 1%) of mixed genomic DNA (V/V) were quantified using the developed real-time PCR detection system, which indicated that the developed quantitative method can be employed reliably for transgenic phytase maize BVLA430101 measurement.     

转基因棉花MON88913转化体特异性定性、定量PCR检测方法

本文以我国批准商业化的转基因耐草甘膦棉花MON88913为研究对象,建立并验证了其转化体特异性定性、定量PCR检测方法.建立的定性PCR方法的检测极限是20个拷贝棉花单倍体基因组DNA,定量PCR方法的检测和定量极限分别是10和20个拷贝棉花单倍体基因组DNA.同时,我们组织了实验室5位研究人员对建立的定量PCR检测方法进行了协同验证.对5个盲样的定量分析结果显示与真实值的偏差介于1.59% 和10.12%之间,完全满足国际标准25%偏差范围的要求,完全可用于转基因棉花MON88913的实际样品检测.     

转基因水稻潮霉素标记基因PCR检测方法的建立及其在基因水平转移研究中的应用

为建立用于基因水平转移研究, 尤其是DNA经加工和消化后稳定性研究的针对转基因水稻潮霉素标记基因hpt（hygromycin phosphotransferase）的定性和实时定量PCR体系,设计针对hpt的上游通用引物多个片段定性PCR扩增体系,以植物叶绿体基因rbcl为内对照,PCR扩增产物经测序验证.将定性PCR中最小片段（236 bp）连接到质粒载体pUC18-pMD T载体上,提取质粒经验证后做外标.应用TaqMan-MGB荧光探针和引物,建立定量的外标校正曲线法,并评价方法的精密度.建立的定性PCR体系能稳定扩增出236 bp～910 bp不同大小的5个hpt片段,并经测序验证.实时定量PCR的线性范围为105～10拷贝（R^2=0.998）,最低能检出10拷贝,重复性好.本研究已成功建立了用于转基因水稻标记基因hpt基因水平转移研究的定性和定量PCR系统。     

Detection of eight GMO maize events by qualitative, multiplex PCR and fluorescence capillary gel electrophoresis

Specific legislation in the EU and several other countries requires that foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should be approved and labelled. This has necessitated the development of methods for detection of such materials. For screening purposes these methods should preferably enable detection of several different GMOs. Here we present a simple, robust, qualitative, nineplex PCR method for event-specific detection of maize T25, GA21, TC1507, MON863, MON810, NK603, construct specific detection of BT176, BT11 and detection of the endogenous hmga maize reference gene. PCR is carried out with primers labelled with fluorescent groups and the amplicons are detected using fluorescence capillary electrophoresis. Using mixtures of DNA from different certified reference materials, the detection limit was determined to approximately 0.1% for each GMO. Good agreement was observed in 85 of 88 determinations when eleven food and feed samples were analysed using the multiplex PCR assay and compared to results from quantitative real-time 5′-nuclease PCR. Discrepancies were only observed for one GMO at or close to the detection limit. The presented method is therefore suitable for screening purposes for food and feed containing the most common maize GMOs.     

Establishment and evaluation of event-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR method for genetically modified soybean DP-356043-5

With the increasing development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), labeling regulations have been introduced, which require appropriate detection methods. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been the mainstay for GMO detection, especially for event-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR detection methods, which have become the internationally agreed state-of-art. This paper describes the character and event-specific quantitative detection method of DP-356043-5 (356043) soybean. In this research, the flanking regions were characterized by inverse PCR (I-PCR). Furthermore, the event-specific PCR primers and TaqMan probe were designed based on the discovered right and left flanking sequences. In the qualitative PCR assay, PCR systems were established with the species-specific and event-specific primers, respectively. And event-specific primers were established on both right and left flanking sequences; the limit of detection (LOD) was both 0.05% (approximates to 42 haploid genome copies). In the quantitative TaqMan real-time PCR assay, we obtained standard curves with good linearity and relatively high efficiency of PCR. All the results indicated that the established event-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR systems for 356043 soybean in this study were reliable and suitable for 356043 soybean detection in mixed samples. Besides, based on the flanking sequence information we obtained, not only the qualitative and quantitative PCR system for detecting 356043 soybean can be established, but also some other novel event-specific detection methods using gene microarray, biosensor, etc., with target sequence on them can also be developed, which have a good value for detecting 356043 soybean.     

Detection of pea in food by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A qualitative 5′-nuclease real-time PCR-based method for the detection of pea (Pisum sativum) in food is described. The method consists of DNA isolation by chaotropic solid phase extraction and the subsequent PCR with pea-specific primers and a TaqMan fluorescent probe. The primers and the probe are oriented to the chloroplast DNA intron located between trnL and trnF exons encoding for tRNA. The analytical parameters of the method were inclusivity 100%, exclusivity 100% and the detection limit of 0.11±0.07 ng of pea DNA corresponding to 12±7 diploid pea genome copies. Using a set of model meat patés with defined pea contents, a matrix-related detection limit of 0.05% was determined and a linear calibration line was constructed. The presented analytical method was useful for qualitative detection or semiquantitative determination of pea in food products. The method was relatively fast because the analysis could be performed in one working day.     

烟草T-DNA插入位点侧翼序列扩增方法的筛选与优化

烟草T-DNA激活标签插入突变体库的创制过程中,需要进行大量的T-DNA插入位点的侧翼序列扩增,因此选择一种适用于烟草T-DNA侧翼序列扩增的高效方法尤为必要。本研究比较了TAIL-PCR、PCR-walking、FPNI-PCR三种方法对T-DNA插入位点侧翼序列的扩增效率、插入位点确定的比例和同源蛋白比对结果,并对3种方法的PCR程序、体系和引物设计等方面进行了优化,确定TAIL-PCR更适合烟草的侧翼序列扩增,通过产率、条带长度、插入位点和同源蛋白比对结果的比较,得出TAIL-PCR更适合烟草的侧翼序列扩增。这一结果为应用烟草突变体开展烟草基因功能的研究奠定了基础。     

Development and in‐house validation of the event‐specific qualitative and quantitative PCR detection methods for genetically modified cotton MON15985

BACKGROUND: To implement genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling regulations, an event‐specific analysis method based on the junction sequence between exogenous integration and host genomic DNA has become the preferential approach for GMO identification and quantification. RESULTS: In this study, specific primers and TaqMan probes based on the revealed 5′‐end junction sequence of GM cotton MON15985 were designed, and qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were established employing the designed primers and probes. In the qualitative PCR assay, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.5 g kg^?1 in 100 ng total cotton genomic DNA, corresponding to about 17 copies of haploid cotton genomic DNA, and the LOD and limit of quantification (LOQ) for quantitative PCR assay were 10 and 17 copies of haploid cotton genomic DNA, respectively. Furthermore, the developed quantitative PCR assays were validated in‐house by five different researchers. Also, five practical samples with known GM contents were quantified using the developed PCR assay in in‐house validation, and the bias between the true and quantification values ranged from 2.06% to 12.59%. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the developed qualitative and quantitative PCR methods are applicable for the identification and quantification of GM cotton MON15985 and its derivates. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Qualitative detection and quantification of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cry1A(b)</Emphasis> transgene present in rice cv. Zhejing 22

The rice cultivar Zhejing 22 has been transformed to carry the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A(b) gene in 2007. Although the cultivation of this line (referred to as Bt-ZJ22) is yet to be authorized, it is likely to be approved in China in the near future. The transgene-host 3’ integration junction was isolated using thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR, and its sequence was used to design PCR primers and an appropriate TaqMan probe for a real-time PCR quantitative assay of the transgene. The limit of detection for a standard PCR assay was estimated at ten gene copies, while that for the real-time PCR assay was 5–10 copies. The latter assay was tested on samples of rice DNA with either 5, 3, 1, or 0.5% Bt-ZJ22; this produced estimates for the relative content of Bt-ZJ22 of, respectively, 5.3, 3.2, 0.97, and 0.48%. The precision of these estimates demonstrated that this real-time PCR assay should be suitable for the detection and monitoring of this transgenic event.     

Development of an event-specific detection method for genetically modified rice Kefeng?6 by quantitative real-time PCR

The genetically modified (GM) rice Kefeng?6 has gained resistance against several rice pests by inserting the cpti and cry1Ac genes. As this transgenic line is not approved for import, processing and cultivation in the European Union (EU), sensitive and specific detection methods need to be available to monitor any illegal presence of Kefeng?6 in food products within the EU. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an event-specific detection method by means of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the detection of Kefeng?6 in foodstuff. A primer pair and hydrolysis probe were designed according to the right border junction sequence of the transgene. The qPCR assay was validated according to the ENGL/EURL-GMFF guidelines for GMO testing and is presented according to the MIQE guidelines. The in-house validation process resulted in a limit of detection of 5 DNA copies of the transgene with confidence intervals (95?%) between 0.07 and 0.52, a PCR efficiency of 105?% and a correlation coefficient (R ²) value of 0.9997. The specificity of the assay was tested by end-point PCR, gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequencing of the PCR products. By testing DNA of several GM and non-GM crops, cross reactivity of the assay was not observed. Further, 35 food products were analyzed for the presence of Kefeng?6 by means of the event-specific detection method. For 9 out of 35 samples, PCR products for Kefeng?6 DNA were observed.     

Screening and construct‐specific detection methods of transgenic Huafan No 1 tomato by conventional and real‐time PCR

Genetically modified (GM) tomatoes have been approved for commercialization in many countries since the first GM tomato FLAVR SAVR was permitted for planting in 1994. In China, GM tomato Huafan No 1 with a character of long shelf‐life was the first GM plant which was approved for commercialization in 1996. To meet the requirement of the GM tomatoes labeling policy that has been actualized in China since 2001, screening and construct‐specific PCR detection methods for detecting the universal elements transformed into tomato, such as cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV35s) promoter and the nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and the specifically inserted heterologous DNA sequence between CaMV35s promoter and anti‐sense ethylene‐forming enzyme (EFE) gene were set up. To make the detection methods normative, a novel single copy tomato gene LAT52 was also used as an endogenous reference gene in the PCR detection systems. The limit of detection of screening and construct specific detection methods for Huafan No 1 was 68 haploid genome copies in conventional PCR detection, and three copies in TaqMan real‐time PCR detection. The limit of quantitation of screening quantitative PCR assays for Huafan No 1 was three copies and was 25 copies for construct‐specific quantitative PCR. Two samples with known Huafan No 1 tomato content were detected using the established conventional and real‐time PCR systems, and these results also indicated that the established Huafan No 1 screening and construct‐specific PCR detection systems were reliable, sensitive and accurate. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry