Variability of CP4 EPSPS expression in genetically engineered soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)

The expression of the CP4 EPSPS protein in genetically engineered (GE) soybean confers tolerance to the Roundup(®) family of agricultural herbicides. This study evaluated the variability of CP4 EPSPS expression using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in soybean tissues collected across diverse germplasm and 74 different environments in Argentina, Brazil and the USA. Evaluated material included single and combined (stacked) trait products with other GE traits in entries with cp4 epsps gene at one or two loci. The highest level of CP4 EPSPS was observed in leaf tissues, intermediate in forage and seed, and lowest in root tissues. Varieties with two loci had approximately twice the level of CP4 EPSPS expression compared to one locus entries. Variable and non-directional level of CP4 EPSPS was observed with other factors like genetic background, trait stacking, growing region or season. The maximum and average CP4 EPSPS expression levels in seed provided large margins of exposure (MOE of approximately 4000 and 11,000, respectively), mitigating concerns over exposure to this protein in food and feed from soybean varieties tolerant to Roundup(®) herbicides. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11248-018-0092-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.