• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.148-154
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: Genetically modified(GM) trigonal cactus(Hylocereus trigonus Saff.) contained a coat protein gene of cactus virus X (CVX), which conferred resistance to the virus, phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar) gene, which conferred herbicide resistance, and a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (CaMV 35S). This study was conducted to evaluate the possible impact of GM trigonal cactus cultivation on the soil microbial community. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microorganisms were isolated from the rhizosphere of GM and non-GM trigonal cactus cultivation soils. The total numbers of bacteria, and actinomycete in the rhizosphere soils cultivated GM and non-GM trigonal cactus were similar to each other, and there was no significant difference. Dominant bacterial phyla in the rhizosphere soils cultivated with GM and non-GM trigonal cactus were Proteobacteria, Uncultured archaeon, and Uncultured bacterium. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles show a similar patterns, significant difference was not observed in each other. DNA was isolated from soil cultivated GM and non-GM trigonal cactus, we analyzed the persistence of the inserted gene by PCR. Amplification of the inserted genes was not observed in the soil DNA, which was collected after harvest. CONCLUSION(S): This result suggests that the GM trigonal cactus cultivation does not change significantly the microbial community.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.192-195
• /
• 2006

For the development of a qualitative PCR detection method for genetically modified perilla (Perilla frutescens), perilla species-specific gene, KAS-I (Beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I), was selected and validated as suitable for the use as an endogenous reference gene in perilla. Primer specificity was first tested by the means of qualitative PCR analysis. The primer pair Pfru3-F/R amplifying the perilla endogenous gene, KAS-I, gave rise to an amplicon 95 bp. No amplified product was observed when DNA samples from 15 different plants were used as templates. Qualitative PCR detection method was assayed with vitamin E-enriched GM Perilla developed in Korea. For the qualitative PCR detection method, the construct-specific detection primer pairs were constructed. The primer pair TMTO-F/R amplifying the junction region of TMT (${\gamma}$-tocopherol methyltransferase) gene and OCS (Octopine synthase) terminator introduced in GM perilla gave rise to an amplicon 148 bp.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.791-802
• /
• 2020

Theoredoxin (TRX) transgenic soybeans were developed using the human Theoredoxin gene under the control of the ��-conglycinin promoter with a selection marker, the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) gene. This study was done to assess the acute toxicity of a genetically modified (GM) soybean using the fresh water planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. The acute toxicity effect of the TRX soybean and non-GM soybean (Gwangan) on D. magna was investigated at different concentrations (0, 156, 313, 625, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg·L-1). The TRX soybean used for the test was confirmed to express the TRX/PAT genes by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). D. magna feeding tests showed no significant differences in the cumulative immobility or an abnormal response with either the TRX soybean or non-GM soybean. The feeding study showed a similar abnormal response and cumulative immobility of the D. magna between the TRX soybean and Gwangan treatments. Additionally, the 48 h-EC50 values for the TRX and Gwangan soybeans were 755.6 and 778 mg·L-1, respectively. The soybean NOEC (no observed effect concentration) value for D. magna was suggested to be 156 mg·L-1. These results suggest that there is no significant difference in toxicity to Daphnia magna between the TRX soybean and its non-GM counterpart.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.450-458
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of risk perception characteristics for food risk elements using a psychometric paradigm from 298 university students in Yeungnam region, Korea, by a self-administered questionnaire. The respondents showed the highest level of risk concern about radioactive contaminated foods and the lowest level about GM (genetically modified) foods. In the risk perception characteristics for food risk elements, they perceived radioactive contaminated foods as a catastrophic, worried, new, and uncontrollable risk. In addition, they regarded food additives and foodborne illness as a chronic, controllable, old, and scientifically and individually known risk. According to the results of the factor analysis for risk perception characteristics, dread and unknown were categorized. In the risk perception map, mad cow disease, heavy metal contaminated foods, and radioactive contaminated foods were considered as a dreaded and unknown risk, whereas pesticide residues and GM foods were perceived as a less dreaded and unknown risk. Additionally, food additives and foodborne illness were regarded as a less dreaded and known risk and endocrine disruptors and avian influenza as a dreaded and known risk. These results imply that risk perception characteristics of consumers should be considered to establish strategies for risk communication in food science.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.9
• /
• pp.1310-1314
• /
• 2012

Gastrointestinal digestibility of new proteins inserted in the food supply is a significant parameter for assessing the safety of GM foods based on the assumption that digestive stability is undesirable. In this study, we performed in vitro digestion of CP4EPSPS, a new protein, expressed in genetically modified (GM) soybean in order to evaluate its digestibility in three different ratios of simulated gastric fluid with preheating. Ratios of GM soybean to simulated gastric fluid were 2:2, 2.5:1.5, and 1.5:2 and preheating was conducted at $100^{\circ}C$ for 5 min. Electrophoresis and Western blotting were used to confirm changes in soybean protein patterns and CP4EPSPS gene expression after in vitro digestion. At ratios in which the amount of gastric fluid was equal to (2:2) or relatively higher than that of soybean (1.5:2), no CP4EPSPS (47.4 kDa) protein was detected after 15 seconds of simulated gastric fluid incubation, the earliest time interval evaluated. However, when the ratio of GM soybean to gastric fluid was 2.5:1.5, CP4EPSPS was detected in 5 min and gradually decreased according to time. After preheating, no CP4EPSPS protein was detected after 15 seconds under all conditions. From these results, we concluded that the digestibility of CP4EPSPS in simulated gastric fluid increased upon preheating. Accordingly, we suggest that it is important to account for the ratio of gastric fluid to GM food in in vitro digestibility assessment models of GM food.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.82-82
• /
• 2004

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2016

Silk has had a reputation as a luxurious and sensuous fabric but it is not popular due to the expensive price and poor durability. To develop the silk materials that apply the various industries, the artificially synthesized gene can be introduced into the silkworm and expressed in the silk gland. Transgenic silkworms for the mass production of green fluorescent silks are generated using a fibroin H-chain expression system. For commercial use, safety assessment of the transgenic silkworms is essential. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential acute oral toxicity of EGFP protein expressed in genetically modified (GM) fluorescence silkworm and to obtain the approximative lethal dose in the male and female at 6-weeks ICR mice. EGFP protein was fed at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight in five male or five female mice. Mortalities, clinical findings and body weight changes were monitored for 1, 3, 7, 14 days after dosing. At the end of 14 day observation period, all mice were sacrificed, and the postmortem necropsy were performed. The test group was not observed death case. Also the effect was not admitted by test substance administration in common symptoms, the body weight and postmortem. The results of single-dose oral toxicity test showed that approximative lethal dose of EGFP protein expressed in fluorescence silkworm was considered to exceed the 2,000 mg/kg body weight in both sexes.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.239-246
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study is selection of the male-sterile plant for inhibiting transgene flow through gamma-irradiation ($^{60}Co$) at the pollination and fertilization cycle of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.). High frequencies of plant mutations were obtained about 18% from $M_1$ generation at the doses (10 to 50 Gy). We also found that some $M_1$ plants showed male-sterile plants using de-husked seeds and comparison of stainable pollen using $KI-I_2$ solution. Besides the effects of irradiation on pollination and fertilization cycle, various other mutations like dwarf, cold tolerance, increasing grains and mass were observed. Four of dwarfism plants were selected through comparison of morphological characteristic between control and mutants during 4 years. These results demonstrated that the gamma-irradiation on pollination and fertilization cycle is very effective to induce the various mutations, and the male-sterile mutants are useful for controlling transgene flow and developing of high quality turfgasses.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.201-206
• /
• 2021

To ensure the safety of developing or importing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Korea has enacted the "LMO Act." Accordingly, the safety of using GMOs as food or feed is evaluated in accordance with the concept of "substantial equivalence" proposed by OECD. The allergenicity of GMOs is assessed as a part of their safety evaluation. The methods of allergenicity assessment have been discussed by various international organizations, such as the OECD, FAO, and WHO. The main methods used for the allergenicity assessment of proteins newly expressed in GMOs include assessment of the physicochemical stability of these proteins, evaluation of their amino acid homology with existing allergenic proteins, and serum screening. In this study, we describe guidelines and related studies for the allergenicity assessment of GM crops.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.113-124
• /
• 2019

Insect-resistant transgenic (Bt-9) rice was generated by inserting mCry1Ac1, a modified gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, into the genome of a conventional variety of rice (Ilmi). With regard to potential problems such as safety, an evaluation of non-target organisms is necessary as an essential element of an environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops. We studied the effects of the Bt-9 rice on the survival of cantor Daphnia magna, a commonly used model organism in ecotoxicological studies. D. magna fed on the Bt-transgenic rice (Bt-9) and its near non-GM counterparts (Ilmi) grown in the same environment (a 100% ground rice suspension). The Bt-9 rice was confirmed to have the inserted T-DNA and protein expression evident by the PCR and ELISA analyses. The feeding study showed a similar cumulative immobility and abnormal response of the Daphnia magna between the Bt-9 rice and Ilmi. Additionally, the 48 h-EC50 values of the Bt-9 and Ilmi rice were 4,400 mg/L (95% confidence limits: 3861.01 - 5015.01 mg/L) and 5,564 mg/L (95% confidence limits: 4780.03 - 6476.93 mg/L), respectively. The rice NOEC (No observed effect concentration) value for D. magna was suggested to be 1,620 mg/L. We conclude that the tested Bt-9 and Ilmi have a similar cumulative immobility for D. magna, a widely used model organism, and the growth of Bt-9 did not affect non-target insects.