A research group from the Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department of Alcalá University has developed some procedures for rapid differentiation between transgenic and non-transgenic soybean using chromatographic protein profiles by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on reversed phase using monolithic and perfusion columns. The group is looking for licensing agreements or collaboration and commercial agreements for technical assistance.
New and innovative aspects
These procedures represent a breakthrough for two reasons:
- It offers the possibility to use chromatographic analysis techniques that can be easily implemented in routine analysis;
- It allows fast screening between transgenic and non-transgenic soybeans based on the analysis of protein profiles expressed from the original or modified DNA (transgenic).
Main advantages of its use
- The procedures of the invention are simple, fast and affordable because they use a basic instrumentation in most analytical laboratories, in particular a liquid chromatograph.
-Both methods allow the rapid separation of soy proteins. In the case of monolithic column, 15 peaks are obtained in less than 8 minutes, and with the perfusion column, 14 peaks are observed in about 3 minutes.
- The method of sample treatment is simple and fast in both procedures because they involve the grinding of soybeans, and subsequent dissolution in a medium composed by water: ACN (80: 20v /v), sonication and prior centrifugation to chromatographic analysis.
- The two chromatographic methods can be used to make a quick screening that distinguishes between transgenic and non-transgenic soybean when the content of transgenic soy is high. Thus, peaks 8 and 9 for the monolithic column and the peaks 3 and 4 for perfusion column change the ratio of their size depending on whether it is transgenic or non-transgenic soybean.
- The chromatographic methods with the use of multivariate classification techniques can differentiate between transgenic and non-transgenic soybean even when the content of transgenic material is small. Multivariate methods have been used such as cluster analysis (Ward method) and discriminant analysis, allowing both of them the proper classification of the 16 tested samples (6 non-transgenic, 5 proven transgenic by DNA analysis and 5 standards containing 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5% (m /m) of transgenic soybean).
Specifications
The invention consists of two analytical procedures by reversed-phase HPLC using monolithic and perfusion columns for rapid differentiation of transgenic and non-transgenic soybean using chromatographic protein profiles obtained by different methods described in the table attached.
These separation conditions were applied to samples dissolved in water mixtures: ACN (80:20 v / v) allowing observe the same protein profile for at least a week. If the water content is higher, the solutions were more unstable, and if the organic content increases, the observed protein profile was changed.
Applications
- Quality control and food safety
Intellectual property status
Patent granted with date 4/03/2010
Current development status
Already on the market
Desired business relationship
Commercial agreement with technical assistance
License agreement