To evaluate the expression levels of AMY797E and PMI proteins in Maize 3272, field studies were carried out, and the concentrations of the proteins were determined by ELISA in various plant tissues and in the whole plant in five stages of growth (cartridge, anthesis, filling of the grain, maturity seed and senescence) in Maize 3272 and in the non-genetically modified hybrid, with the same background genetic. The expression of the AMY797E protein is driven by the corn gamma-zein promoter for specific expression in the grain endosperm. As expected, relatively high levels of AMY797E protein were measured in Maize 3272 grains. On a dry basis, AMY797E levels in Maize 3272 were higher in the grain filling phase. The average levels of AMY797E in grains of the hybrid evaluated in all phases varied from 838 ± 225 mg/g (wet weight) (1004 ± 322 mg/g in dry weight) to 1627 ± 338 mg/g (wet weight) (3365 ± 780 mg/g dry weight). In addition to grains, AMY797E protein levels were measured in roots, leaves, pollen and in whole plants in five stages of development. Quantifiable levels of AMY797E protein were detected in some whole plant samples and some root samples. In whole plants, in the phases of anthesis, grain filling, grain maturity and senescence, the presence of a proportion of grain in these samples was responsible for the detection of AMY797E. The AMY797E protein was also detected in some samples of whole plants (phenological stages of cartridge and anthesis), before the development of the grain and, in some samples of roots when the plant was in the cartridge stage, in Maize 3272. This low level of AMY797E detected in some whole plants at the cartridge stage, anthesis stage and in some roots may be due to the AMY797E protein in root-bound remnants of the germinated seed. very low levels of AMY797E that were slightly above the limit of quantification were also detected in plants
control (whole plants in the grain filling phase) (0.02 and 0.1 mg/g wet weight, 0.1 and 0.4 mg/g dry weight). AMY797E protein was not detected in pollen and was detected in only one leaf sample, from senescence. The expression of the PMI protein occurs through a constitutive promoter and was detected in most of the plant and tissues analyzed, with the exception of some samples of plants in senescence. PMI levels were generally similar for corn evaluated at each time point, for each tissue type, with the highest levels being detected in pollen: 8.0 - 8.5 (mg/g fresh weight) and 17. 0 - 18.2 (mg/g dry weight).