Safety Assessment of cryIAc for human, animals and environment

Risk assessment of a transgene is one of the key steps in genetic transformation. Hence, in order to use cryIAc gene for production of transgenic plants, a library and in-silico research was performed to confirm safety of the gene for human comsumption, animal feed and environment. In the first step, the molecular mechanism of action of the CryIAc protein and its specific receptors in the midgut cells of target organism was discussed. Digestibility of the protein in stomach and intestine liquids have been investigated based on the published documents. It was demonstrated that the CryIAc protein could be completely digested in stomach liquid of Vertebrates, especially mammalians including human. It was shown that addition of pure protein into animal diets did not result to any abnormalities in the growth pattern and blood histochemistry of the experimental animals. Also, the performed whole plant assays using the different diets contained transgenic and non-transgenic plant meterials for different experimental animals was discussed. These experiments did not result to any difference between the groups. Possibility of toxic effect of the CryIAc protein was investigated via in-silico tools. The results did not show any similarity between the known toxic protein and the CryIAc protein. Allergenicity of the CryIAc protein was assessed in-silico in different ways. It was proven that there were not any similarities between the protein and other known allergens. Finally, persistancy of the CryIAc protein in the soil was considered. Since different experiments on exposure of the pure protein or transgenic plant tissues proved that the CryIAc protein is degraded easily in the soil soon after its exposure in the environment, the CryIAc protein is an environmental friendly protein. Eventually, It was concluded that the CryIAc protein is a safe protein for human consumption, animal use and the environment, and could be used safely in genetic engineering programs.