Poster: Protein modification

Abs # 809: Development of Soybeans with Improved Amino Acid Composition

Presenter:	Peng, Jiexin , JJpeng@monsanto.com
Authors	Peng, Jiexin  (A)   Rapp, William  (A)   Tian, Kairong  (A)   Wicker, Jason  (C)   Nadig, Gautham  (C)   Vaduva, Gabriela  (A)   Walkup, Andy  (C)   Venkatesh, T.V.  (A)   Oulmassov, Tim  (A)   Marguerite, Varagona  (A)   Liang, Jihong  (B)   Gruys, Kenneth  (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Monsanto Co. Biotechnology - St. Louis, MO (B): Renessen, LLC - Bannockburn, IL (C): Previously worked in Monsanto Co.

Soybeans represent a valuable source of protein for both human and animal nutrition. Although present in large amounts, the protein in soybeans does not contain a balanced proportion of dietary essential amino acids. As part of an effort to create soybeans with more favorable amino acid compositions, we are developing technologies to generate transgenic soybeans containing proteins that are enriched selected essential amino acids. These alterations in the primary structure of the protein are designed such that the three–dimensional structure is maintained, and so the modified proteins can accumulate in the seed at levels comparable to the endogenous seed proteins. Expression of such “high essential amino acid” seed proteins will improve the amino acid composition of the soybean, and increase its value as a source of protein to meet human dietary needs and for livestock feed formulations