ARS | Publication request: Reduction of IgE binding and nonpromotion of Aspergillus flavus fungal growth by simultaneously silencing Ara h 2 and Ara h 6 in peanut.

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 24, 2008
Publication Date: December 10, 2008
Citation: Chu, Y., Faustinelli, P., Ramos, M.L., Hajduch, M., Stevenson, S., Thelen, J.J., Maleki, S.J., Cheng, H., Ozias-Akins, .P. 2008. Reduction of IgE binding and nonpromotion of aspergillus flavus fungal growth by simultaneously silencing Ara h 2 and Ara h 6 in peanut. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 56(23):11225-11233.

Interpretive Summary: The most potent peanut allergens, Ara h 2 and 6, were silenced in transgenic plants using molecular biological approach. Three independent transgenic peanut plant lines were recovered after genetically introducing material that would silence Ara h 2 in the plants. Ara h 2 expression was significantly suppressed in all three lines, whereas, Ara h 6 was reduced in two lines. Expression of peanut allergens Ara h 1 and 3 was not noticeably affected. Significant reduction of allegen-specific human immunoglobulin E antibody (IgE) binding to Ara h 2 and 6 was also observed. Seed weight and germination data from transgenic and non-transgenic segregants showed no significant differences. Data collected from in vitro Aspergillus Flavus infection indicate no significant difference in fungal growth between the transgenic lines and the non-transgenic controls. This data suggests that silencing Ara h 2 and 6 is a feasible approach to produce hypoallergenic peanuts.

Technical Abstract: The most potent peanut allergens, Ara h 2 and 6, were silenced in transgenic plants by RNA interference. Three independent transgenic lines were recovered after microprojectile bombardment, of which two contained single, integrated copies of the transgene. The third line contained multiple copies of the transgene. Ara h 2 expression was significantly suppressed in all three lines, whereas, Ara h 6 was reduced in two lines. Expression of peanut allergens Ara h 1 and 3 was not noticeably affected. Significant reduction of human IgE binding to Ara h 2 and 6 was also observed. Seed weight and germination data from transgenic and non-transgenic segregants showed no significant differences. Data collected from in vitro Aspergillus Flavus infection indicate no significant difference in fungal growth between the transgenic lines and the non-transgenic controls. This data suggests that silencing Ara h 2 and 6 is a feasible approach to produce hypoallergenic peanuts.