Flanking Sequence and Copy-Number Analysis of Transformation Events by Integrating Next-Generation Sequencing Technology with Southern Blot Hybridization

With the continual development of genetically modified (GM) crops, it has become necessary to develop detailed and effective molecular characterization methods to select candidate events from a large pool of transformation events. Relative to traditional molecular analysis methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot hybridization, next generation sequencing (NGS) technology for whole-genome sequencing of complex crop genomes had proven comparatively useful for in-depth molecular characterization. In this study, four transformation events, including one in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-resistant rice, one in resveratrol-producing rice, and two in beta-carotene-enhanced soybeans, were selected for molecular characterization. To merge NGS analysis and Southern blot-hybridization results, we confirmed the transgene insertion sites, insertion construction, and insertion numbers of these four transformation events. In addition, the read-coverage depth assessed by NGS analysis for inserted genes might provide consistent results in terms of inserted T-DNA numbers in case of complex insertion structures and highly duplicated donor genomes; however, PCR-based methods can produce incorrect conclusions. Our combined method provides an effective and complete analytical approach for whole-genome visual inspection of transformation events that require biosafety assessment.