Expression of a transferred gene from bean to pea can lead to allergic reactions in mice

13 February 2006

A gene from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that prevents major dammage by a pea beetle (Bruchus pisorum), may lead to allergic reactions in mice, when they feed on peas harboring the, transgenic, gene product. It's not su much the alpha-amylase-inhibitor itself that leads to allergic reactions, it's the way in which sugar moledules are attached, the so-called glycosylation. Glycosylation in peas differs from the process in beans. The iritation also occurs after boiling the transgenic peas. The three-dimensional shape of the protein seems of little importance. Alpha-amylase-blocker specifically targets the starch digestion in the beetle. It literally starves from eating beans. After ten years of studies, researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia have stopped their project to transfer resistance against this beetle to peas. According to the researchers these results warn against developing transgenic crops. So far the article.

Transgenic crops are only admitted to the market after a special procedure. Part of that procedure is a risk assessment. The ERGO research programme aims at generating knowledge by which eventual ecological risks from future generations of genetically modified crops can be properly assessed. 

Leguminous crops get extra attention regarding allergenicity anyway, also when they have be bred by conventional methods alone. A great number of people, relatively, gets complkaints after eating them. (Traces of) Leguminous seeds can be part of a great many products, making it very difficult to prevent exposure.

source: Bionieuws 25 november 2005