Insect Resistant Maize MON801 | BCH-LMO-SCBD-15410 | Living Modified Organism | Biosafety Clearing-House

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Living Modified Organism (LMO)

Decisions on the LMO Risk Assessments  
published: 13 Jul 2006 last updated: 24 May 2013
Living Modified Organism identity
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Insect Resistant Maize MON801
EN
MON801
No
Insect-resistant maize produced by inserting the full form of the cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1. The genetic modification affords resistance to attack by the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis.  The nptII gene confers resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin and is used as a genetic marker.
EN
The term “Recipient organism” refers to an organism (either already modified or non-modified) that was subjected to genetic modification, whereas “Parental organisms” refers to those that were involved in cross breeding or cell fusion.
EN
  • PH-MON8Ø9-2 - Insect-resistant maize MON809
    | Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. | Resistance to antibiotics (Kanamycin), Resistance to diseases and pests (Insects, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)), Resistance to herbicides (Glyphosate)
  • MON-ØØ81Ø-6 - YieldGard™ maize
    | Monsanto | Resistance to diseases and pests (Insects, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis))
Characteristics of the modification process
PV-ZMBK07 and PV-ZMGT10
EN
  • Biolistic / Particle gun
Some of these genetic elements may be present as fragments or truncated forms. Please see notes below, where applicable.
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-14985-12 Cry1Ab | Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt, Bacillus, BACTU)
    Protein coding sequence | Resistance to diseases and pests (Insects, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths))
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-15001-5 Neomycin Phosphotransferase II | Escherichia coli (ECOLX)
    Protein coding sequence | Resistance to antibiotics (Kanamycin)
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-100366-6 CaMV Enhanced 35S promoter | Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)
    Promoter
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-100359-7 Hsp70 intron | Zea mays (Maize, Corn, MAIZE)
    Intron
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-100269-8 Nopaline Synthase Gene Terminator | Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Agrobacterium)
    Terminator
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-100365-6 Chloroplast transit peptide 2 | Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale cress, Mouse-ear cress, Arabidopsis, ARATH)
    Transit signal
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-14979-7 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene | Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Agrobacterium)
    Protein coding sequence | Resistance to herbicides (Glyphosate)
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-101902-4 rbcS Transit Peptide | Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale cress, Mouse-ear cress, Arabidopsis, ARATH)
    Transit signal
  • BCH-GENE-SCBD-14998-4 Glyphosate oxidoreductase gene | Ochrobactrum anthropi (OCHAN)
    Protein coding sequence | Resistance to herbicides (Glyphosate)
The PV-ZMBK07 plasmid contained the coding sequence of a synthetic version of the cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, which was modified to enhance the expression of the Cry1Ab protein in plants, however the resulting amino acid sequence is identical to the native protein.

PV-ZMGT10 plasmid contained the genes cp4 epsps and gox as well as the antibiotic resistance marker gene nptII.
EN
LMO characteristics
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  • Food
  • Feed
Detection method(s)
EN
Additional Information
The transgenic maize line MON801 was genetically engineered to resist ECB by producing its own insecticide. This line was developed by introducing the cry1Ab gene, isolated from the common soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), into the maize cultivar Hi-II by particle acceleration (biolistic) transformation. The cry1Ab gene produces the insect control protein Cry1Ab, a delta-endotoxin.

The insecticidally active portion of the Cry1Ab protein produced by the Bt maize is identical to that found in nature and in commercial Bt spray formulations. Cry proteins, of which Cry1Ab is only one, act by selectively binding to specific sites localized on the lining of the midgut of susceptible insect species. Following binding, pores are formed that disrupt midgut ion flow causing gut paralysis and eventual death due to bacterial sepsis. Cry1Ab is insecticidal only when eaten by the larvae of lepidopteran insects (moths and butterflies), and its specificity of action is directly attributable to the presence of specific binding sites in the target insects. There are no binding sites for delta-endotoxins of B. thuringiensis on the surface of mammalian intestinal cells, therefore, livestock animals and humans are not susceptible to these proteins.

The nptII gene was isolated from transposon Tn5 in Klebsiella pneumonia. The nptII protein, neomycin phosphotransferase II, confers resistance to some aminoglycoside antibiotics including neomycin and kanamycin, and was used as a selectable marker for transformed plant cells.
EN
Records referencing this document Show in search
Record type Field Record(s)
Laboratory for detection and identification of LMOs LMO(s) detectable by the laboratory 2
Country's Decision or any other Communication Living modified organism(s) 1
Risk Assessment generated by a regulatory process Living modified organism(s) 1
Living Modified Organism Related LMO(s) 2