The soybean (Glycine max) was produced through cross breeding of modified parental varieties BCS-GM151-6 x DAS-444Ø6-6.
Soybean BCS-GM151-6 was modified for resistance to plant-parasitic nematode and for tolerance to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides. To achieve resistance to nematodes, the soybean expresses Bacillus thuringiensis Cry14Ab1, an insecticidal crystal protein that is active against susceptible nematodes, including soybean cyst nematode. The protein is considered to act through disruption of intestinal cells following ingestion. To achieve tolerance to (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides, the soybean expresses a modified Pseudomonas fluorescens HPPD, containing amino acid substitutions that reduce sensitivity to herbicides such as isoxaflutole and mesotrione.
Soybean DAS-444Ø6-6 was modified for glyphosate, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glufosinate herbicide tolerance. To achieve glyphosate tolerance, the soybean expresses modified Zea mays enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, which has reduced binding affinity for glyphosate and allows continued synthesis of aromatic amino acids through the shikimate pathway in the presence of the herbicide. To achieve tolerance to aryloxyalkanoate herbicides, including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, the soybean expresses aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase (AAD-12), which degrades these herbicides into non-herbicidal compounds. To achieve tolerance to glufosinate, the soybean expresses the gene from Streptomyces viridochromogenes encoding phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase encoding gene, which inactivates the active compound L-phosphinothricin through acetylation of the primary amino group.