Increased digestibility of two products in genetically modified food (CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab) after preheating

We performed experiments on in vitro digestion of newly expressed proteins by SGF (simulated gastric fluid) and SIF (simulated intestinal fluid) to assess the allergenicity of food components derived from biotechnological modification. For newly expressed proteins, we chose CP4-EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4) and Cry1Ab derived from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain HD-1. The former is expressed in GM-soybeans and the latter is expressed in GM-corns. Firstly, we examined the digestibility of purified CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab by SGF. Both proteins were rapidly digested within 60 sec. After preheating, the digestibility by SGF was slightly increased. Secondly, CP4-EPSPS in GM-soybean extracts and Cry1Ab in GM-corn extracts were digested by SGF. The digestion time of both proteins by SGF was almost the same as that of the purified proteins. Thirdly, the digestibility of CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab by SIF was examined. The digestion time of these proteins was 240 min or more. However, digestibility of these proteins by SIF was dramatically increased by preheating, and the digestion time was less than 5 sec. Fourthly, CP4-EPSPS in GM-soybean extracts and Cry1Ab in GM-corn extracts were digested by SIF. Digestion time of both proteins by SIF was almost the same as that of the purified proteins. From these results, we concluded that the digestibility of both CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab by SGF and SIF was increased by preheating. Therefore, we suggest that the allergenicity of both proteins should be extremely low because of the easy digestibility of these proteins by SGF and also by SIF with preheating.