Objective: To develop a rapid detection method for genetically modified soybean resistant to glyphosate.
Methods: A duplex PCR was performed with primers designed in this study to simultaneously amplify heterogenous genes in transgenic soybean: CaMV-35S promoter, NOS terminator and CP4-EPSPS gene. And a simple capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) was developed and applied to the rapid analysis of the above PCR products by using a 50 cm length x 100 microm i.d. capillary coated with linear polyacrylamide and an 8 g/L HPMC-4000 sieving buffer under 200 V/cm electric field strength.
Results: The proposed method was able to simultaneously detect the three heterogenous genes existing in genetically modified soybean under the optimization conditions of PCR and capillary electrophoresis. The measured sequences of the duplex PCR products were identical with the original genes' sequences. Moreover, the sample volumes required were not more than 5 nl and the detection could be completed in less than 24 min. The relative standard deviations (R. S. D.) of the migration times for the PCR products were < or = 3.2%.
Conclusion: In comparison with agarose gels electrophoresis, the duplex PCR-based capillary electrophoretic method with laser-induced fluorescence detection is rapid, sensitive and accurate, and it is suitable for detection of genetically modified soybean.