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Technology Information

Title	HIGH PHYTASE SOYBEAN: TRANSGENIC AND GENETIC APPROACHES
Case Number	06UMC069
Manager	Chris Fender ( fenderc@missouri.edu )
Abstract	Soybeans, which are high in protein and oil, are a good source of animal feed. Unfortunately, soymeal contains several anti-nutritional factors. One is phytic acid (PA). PA is a phosphorus (P)-rich compound that cannot be digested by non-ruminant animals, causing an array of problems, one of which is the unavailability of seed P to the animal. Also, high PA meals lead to P in runoff from animal operations, leading to environmental problems such as eutrophication and toxic algal blooms. An invention from research at the University of Missouri involves the expression of a phytase gene introduced into the soybean genome. This gene encodes a protein (a phytase enzyme) that catalyzes the digestion of PA so that, in the mature seed, the majority of P is in available phosphate. In addition, the mature seed contains active phytase enzyme. One advantage of this new technology is a soybean line which, through expressing this protein (= cAPPA or phytase) and degrading PA as it is made, shows no obvious negative traits, such as lowered yield or germination rate. POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATIONS: Soymeal as a use for animal feed; Soymeal as a phytase source for agriculture and food processing; Soymeal as a soil "conditioner"; Use in human nutrition (soy foods based on soybean). MAIN ADVANTAGES OF INVENTION: Lowered PA in soymeal, leading to greater P and mineral availability in monogastric animals such as hogs, chickens, fish, and humans; Lowered environmental P pollution in large-scale animal production facilities; Soymeal as a much cheaper source of recombinant phytase to treat other high-phytate meals; Soymeal as a soil "conditioner" to "solubilize" unavailable organic-bound P for crop use (fertilizer mineral P is being rapidly depleted); Improved human nutrition in foods based on soybean. POSSIBLE DISADVANTAGES OF INVENTION: Invention involves a genetically modified organism (GMO). STATE OF DEVELOPMENT: Prototype complete. FURTHER R&D REQUIRED: Produce, by accelerated in vitro evolution, phytase with increased acid-and thermo-stability; Test poultry feed formulations that contain cAPPA as the source of phytase, compared to commercial phytases; Compare cAPPA and normal soymeal protein meal to determine relative P availability.
Taxonomy	Technology Categories/Biochemistry/Plant Science
Keywords	UM-Columbia

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