Standard PCR assay for MON810
To characterize each segment of MON810 GM gene cassette, different single standard PCR assays were designed (Fig. 1a). Two different types of event specific and three types of construct specific PCR assays are feasible. The construct specific cry1Ab- T-nos junction amplification is not possible since T-nos has moved from 3’ region of cry1Ab gene to elsewhere in genome 5. Hence, only two types of construct specific (P-e35S - hsp70 & hsp-cry1Ab) assays were possible. However, only construct hsp-cry1Ab assay was carried out due to suitability of assay. Amplification of event (from 5’ region) maize genome - P-e35S border sequences was successfully carried out. The amplification from 3’ region is not feasible due to absence of T-nos.
The standard PCR assays were performed in an array format, where all gene segments corresponding to primer sets were clearly and individually amplified using a common PCR programme and assay conditions \(Fig. 1a & b). The amplicon 170bp represents MON810 event \(maize genome - P-e35S); amplicon 113bp - represents cry1Ab construct specific \(hsp-cry1Ab), amplicon 599bp represents - gene specific \(cry1Ab), amplicons 215, 195 & 180bp represent amplification of GMO specific elements - nptII, P-e35S & T-nos respectively, amplicon 175bp represents high mobility group \(hmgA) gene, which is the characteristic specific feature of maize and amplicon 550 represents the amplification of trnl intron of chloroplast t-RNA which is used in this study as a positive control. Four different controls were used for the specificity and validation of the assay – \(a) environment control \(no DNA) \(b) negative control - DNA isolated from 0.0% CRM MON810; \(c) internal control- Housekeeping gene hmgA & \(d) positive control - trnl intron of chloroplast t-RNA. The amplification of house keeping gene hmgA and cry1Ab gene reflects the presence of maize origin and presence of cry1Ab gene respectively.
Multiplex PCR assay
The compatibility of primer sets is the key factor for success of a multiplex PCR assay. Multiple combinations of primer sets were considered, based on compatibility and amplicon size, for the distinct amplification. Finally, two batches of triplex PCR assays were designed, optimized and amplified (Fig. 2). The batch one; MON810 specific triplex PCR assay could easily demonstrate the amplification and characterization of cry1Ab transgene (gene specific), junction sequences of maize genome - P-e35S (event-specific) and hsp-cry1Ab sequence (construct-specific). The event specific PCR assays involve the overlapping regions of endogenous and inserted DNA. The event, construct and gene specific assays provide more accurate determination, since same gene and / construct are used in the creation of several GM plants, and only few of these may eventually be approved for commercialization.
The second batch of triplex PCR assay is for amplification of GMO specific sequences \(npt-II, P-e35S & T-nos)11-12. Although, the generated amplicons are in close proximity, they can still be distinguished by a 2.5% agarose gel run. Non-appearance of bands in the respective negative and environmental controls, confirms the specificity of the assay. The GMO specific triplex PCR assay could, as a stand alone assay, be used for the screening of genetically modified plants. These GMOs specific sequences are important for the selection and expression of transgene and are present in more than 80% GM plants. The detection of these elements indicates the presence of GM material.
Limit of detection (LOD)
The estimation of the accuracy and precision of the PCR assay is important for labeling norms in the EU that considers 1% of transgenic material as the threshold limit for compulsory labeling2, 13. MON810 specific triplex PCR assay was employed to establish the LOD for MON810. The DNA samples isolated from certified reference material of MON810 (5%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1% & 0.0%) were used as template. The assay yielded a clear distinct gel picture, demonstrating significant amplification at all test concentrations of CRM samples. As expected, 0% sample showed no band (Fig. 3). The uniqueness of this assay is the ability to establish LOD, with greater confidence, being supported by concurrent generation of gene, event and construct specific amplicons of MON810. Our data led us to infer that as low as 38 copies of transgene cassette could easily be detected (Table 2). The copy no. of GMO genome was calculated using nuclear DNA content of the Zea mays15. The gel picture is tempting enough to suggest that even 0.05% sample detection is feasible. However due to non-availability of 0.05% MON810 CRM, the assay was not performed. The LOD of 0.1% is adequate enough for regulatory compliance on GMO’s. The specificity of event, construct & gene specific triplex PCR assay for MON810 was confirmed by testing genomic DNA sourced from other GMOs i.e. RR Soya, Bt-Cotton, transgenic cotton carrying vip-s gene and native maize. None of the templates except that of MON810 elicited any amplification, confirming the specificity of the assay (data not shown).
Longrun transgene cassette specific PCR assays
As per US patent # US2004180373, YieldGard(R) corn event MON810 was generated using plasmid pMON15772 which has two expression cassettes, at 5’ end nptII marker gene and linked at a 3’ end to cry1Ab transgene cassette7. Both the transgene cassettes are flanked with P-e35S promoter at 5’ end and with T-nos terminator at 3’ end. Maize hsp70 intron sequence is placed just between the P-e35S promoter and cry1Ab transgene. The presence of these transgenic inserts was already confirmed by standard PCR assay (Fig. 1a & b) and its stability and integrity was now evaluated through longrun construct specific PCR assays.
For assessing molecular stability of transgene cassette, long construct and event specific PCR assays were performed using existing published primer sets and also the in house designed new ones \(Fig. 5a & b). The variable combinations employed in either case were unique and have not been reported so far. The longrun construct specific PCR assay was designed using forward primer of P-e35S & reverse primer of T-nos, the elongation time for amplification adjusted at 1 min./Kb of amplicon coupled with auto extension of 2 sec./cycle. The expected amplicon size for npt-II transgene cassette is <sub>1.5Kb and for cry1Ab transgene cassette it is </sub>5.0Kb, if construct remains in a stable configuration \(Table 3 a & b). The PCR run yielded no amplicon for any of the transgene cassettes \(Fig 4a & b). A similar PCR run for amplification of npt-II transgene cassette of Bt-cotton and vip-s transgene cassette of Vip-cotton, \(two positive controls) was affirmative and confirmed the validity of the assay. The anticipated amplicons sizes of positive controls were <sub>1.5Kb \(Bt-cotton) and </sub>3.1Kb \(Vip-cotton) samples \(Fig. 4c & d). On the basis of these observations, this long run assay confirms the structural instability of MON810 transgene cassettes. Since the cry1Ab gene in MON810 maize is truncated and T-nos being absent, the long run amplification was not expected. However, inability to amplify npt-II transgene cassette suggests migration of either one or both of its constituent components \(P-e35S & T-nos). Contrary to the claims of Monsanto regarding absence of selection marker gene \(npt-II) in the genome of MON810 maize4, we consistently observed the presence of both npt-II & T-nos by our standard PCR assays \(Fig. 1b). There have been conflicting claims regarding the presence of T-nos in MON8108 - "http://www.i-sis.org.uk/UTLI.php":http://www.i-sis.org.uk/UTLI.php
Structural and functional stability of MON810
To monitor the insert integrity and structure of the existing truncated, but functional, cry1Ab transgene cassette, different combinations of primer sets were tested (Fig. 5a). Amongst number of assays evaluated, three long run event specific assays were performed. Initial two long run assays involved amplification from – 5’ region, first one denoting junction region of maize genome – P-e35S end sequence, with amplicon size of 336bp, and the second assay represented border sequences of maize genome and cry1Ab transgene bridged by covering P-e35S & hsp70 gene sequence, with resultant amplicon size of 1205bp. The third assay amplified 3’ region of truncated cry1Ab transgene - maize genome with amplicon size of 1533bp (Fig. 5a & b). Additionally a construct specific PCR assay was run by amplifying junction sequences of P-e35S – cry1Ab transgene bridged by hsp70 gene, resulting in 992bp amplicon. Finally, a cry1Ab gene specific PCR assay was executed, resulting in a 599bp amplicon. The amplicons generated by two event specific assays; (a) maize genome – P-e35S, (b) maize genome - cry1Ab transgene and one construct specific; P-e35S - cry1Ab transgene, were at variance from the calculated anticipated sequence sizes detailed in Table 3. Rather, the data suggested deletion in P-e35S region. Subsequent to our study, sequence of synthetic construct truncated cry1Ab gene was listed on public domain (NCBI acc. no. AY326434), which explains and confirms our findings (Fig. 5c). The long run event specific & construct specific amplicons of 5’ region of cry1Ab transgene cassettes were confirmed/validated by an independent nested PCR assay (Fig. 6). For such nested PCR, long run amplicons were purified from gel & served as the template.
During transgene inheritance, deletion, duplication, rearrangement and repeated sequence recombination for transgenic loci have been reported16. The proposed longrun construct specific PCR assays are able to signal such a deletion & can simultaneously assess the truncated transgene cassette, for structural stability and integrity over succeeding generations of MON810. The functional stability of the truncated MON810 transgene, was confirmed by detection of Cry1Ab protein by a commercial Dip Stick kit \(Envirologix, USA)17. In view of the observed truncation of MON810 transgene with functional stability remaining intact, it would be prudent to assess the transgene structure stability over generations and define critical regions essential for GM protein expression.
Conclusions
Though a number of PCR based assays to detect MON810 GM crop & produce are available on public domain, none for complete characterization & structural stability analysis is available so far. The uniqueness of present study is in the experimental design, execution and interpretation of the results. In spite of the fact, that the many of our assays employed previously reported primer sets, the optimized assay conditions and use of various combinations of primers for concurrent amplification, elicited new and valuable information relating to the changes in the transgene construct.
Our analysis revealed the absence of both T-nos and part of the 3’ \(tail) end of the cry1Ab gene. The relocation of T-nos elsewhere in the genome indicates that it may have moved from its original position. This study also indicated a partial deletion of P-e35S and concurs with a similar recent report. The study of GMOs structure would neccessitate sensitive detection and quantification tests complying with the multiple multinational regulations. Such tests would enable monitoring of transgene stability over successive generations and characterization of different GMO cultivars produced with the same initial construct and provide information on the effect of the genomic background on the DNA insert stability. We propose that the developed assays shall fulfils the requirement of a complete molecular detection/analysis of MON810 transgene insert & its stability in any subsequent generation and also help in evaluation of safety factors like gene flow or genome fluidity.