DNA insert from MON89034 vector PV-ZMIR245
Two insecticidal protein expression cassettes were inserted into the genome. Bacillus thuringiensis cry1A.105 expression is under the control of the CaMV 35S enhanced promoter, which first transcribes wheat (Triticum aestivum) 5' untranslated region of the chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (cab) and a rice actin 1 intron before transcribing cry1A.105. Transcription terminates at the wheat heat shock protein 17.3 terminator. Expression of the B. thuringiensis cry2Ab2 starts at the Figwort mosaic virus 34S promoter, which transcribes the Zea mays heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), then the Z. mays transit peptide and the cry2Ab2 coding sequence, before terminating at the nos terminator.

Note:
- The Cry2Ab2 coding sequence was modified for optimal expression in plants.
- South blot analysis confirmed that single insertions of both cry2Ab2 and cry1A.105, as well as no vector backbone were present and in the parent.
- A deletion removed the duplicated enhancer elements compared to the original CaMV 35S enhanced promoter in PV-ZMIR245.
- The selectable marker, nptII, cassette was bred out of the parental line and became not associated with this transformation event.


DNA insert from MIR162 vector pNOV1300
In the parental MIR162 maize, a variant of the native B. thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein 3Aa (vip3Aa20), named vip3Aa19, which has codon changes that result in a single M129I amino acid substitution was inserted into the transformation cassette. During the transformation process an additional DNA mutation resulted in a K284Q amino acid substitution. This final form was designated the name Vip3Aa20. Transcription of vip3Aa20 commences at the Z. mays ubiquitin gene promoter and then transcribes vip3Aa20 followed by intron 9 of Z. mays phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, before terminating at the CaMV 35S terminator. A second expression cassette, containing the E. coli phosphomannose isomerase gene, was also inserted into the parental genome. The gene is under the control of another ubiquitin promoter and transcription terminates at the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase gene (nos) terminator.

Note:
- Southern blot analyses demonstrated that the T-DNA insert contains: (i) single copies of a vip3Aa20 gene and a pmi gene; (ii) two copies of the maize ubiquitin promoter; (iii) one copy of the nos terminator; and (iv) no backbone sequences from transformation plasmid pNOV1300.


DNA insert from MON87411 vector PV-ZMIR10871
The MON87411 genome contains an RNA interference (RNAi) cassette targeting Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb1 cassette and an Agrobacterium tumefaciens 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (cp4-epsps) cassette.

Transcription of the RNAi cassette commences from the Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S enhanced promoter and terminates at the Pisum sativum ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small chain 2 terminator. The transcript initially contains a Zea mays heat shock protein 70 intron, which contributes to enhanced expression in vegetative tissues of the plant, and two partial coding sequences of the D. virgifera virgifera Snf7p gene, which encodes the SNF7 subunit of the ESCRT-III complex. The two Snf7p sequences are in an inverted orientation, separated by a 150-nucleotide intervening sequence, which allows base pairing between the inverted sequences and hairpin RNA formation post-transcription, which then triggers an RNAi response. Due to RNAi processing, small interfering RNA molecules (roughly 21-23 nucleotides in length) will be produced and thus no translation into protein will occur from this cassette.

Transcription of the cry3Bb1 is under control of the Z. mays physical impedance induced protein promoter and Triticum aestivum (wheat) heat shock protein 17.3 terminator. The transcript also contains a wheat 5' untranslated leader from chlorophyll a/b-binding protein and Oryza sativa actin 1 intron for enhanced expression of the transgene. Expression of cp4-epsps is under control of an O. sativa alpha tubulin promoter and terminator. The transcript additionally contains Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast targeting peptide 2 to sequester the protein to the chloroplast.

Note:
- Sequencing, PCR and bioinformatic analyses indicate that a single, intact insertions of the three gene cassettes occurred in the parental line.
- No plasmid backbone was detected.


Kindly refer to the parental LMO records for more information.