TITLE:
Recombinant protein detection and its content in total protein, lipids and toxic antinutritional substances in Mexican maize
AUTHORS:
Peña Betancourt Silvia Denise, Posadas Manzano Eduardo, Valladares Carranza Benjamín
KEYWORDS:
Transgenic Maize; Mycotoxins; Safety; Toxicants; Anti-Nutritional Protein
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.10A,
October
18,
2013
ABSTRACT: The engineering genetic technology has developed Bt maize events which contain recombinant protein that will be safe for
the consumer. The aflatoxins are contaminants present in maize capable of
producing cancer and decreasing the immune response in human, additionally contained
polyphenols compounds considered non nutritive. The objective of this study
was to identify the presence of recombinant protein in hybrid and local
varieties of corn and evaluate the content of aflatoxins and tannins. 25 samples
of white grain maize for human consumption were collected, 12 were for hybrid
maize and 13 local varieties, from the states of Hidalgo, Mexico and Morelos. Samples were analyzed for
Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac, using lateral flow strip method, crude protein and lipids by standard methods. Aflatoxins were assessed by comercial Elisa kit and tannins by spectroscopy method. The data were grouped in a
completely random model and an analysis of variance was performed. The results
indicated that 44.5% of hybrid corn was positive by Bt-Cry1Ab/1Ac proteins,
containing 9.02% ± 2.5 lipids and 11.33% ± 2.2 crude protein, 189 ± 0.92 mg/g
of tannins and 6.36 ± 3.3 μg·g-1 aflatoxins. The local maize samples (55.5%)
were negative to Bt-Cry1Ab/ Cry1Ac, which protein content was of 8.68% ± 0.90,
6.14% lipids ± 2.3, 273 ± 0.40 mg/100g tannin and 7.15 ± 3.3 μg·g-1 of aflatoxins. In conclusion, we observed
an improvement of nutrient composition in
hybrid maize with Bt proteins, and decrease in tannins content comparing with
some local varieties without Bt proteins. The effectiveness
of Bt maize expressing the Cry1Ab/ Cry1Ac in reducing aflatoxin contamination
was not observed, therefore, additive affects of aflatoxins contamination in
maize Bt-Cry need to be further investigated in cancer disease development.