Development of a novel method for specific detection of genetically modified Atlantic salmon, AquAdvantage, using real-time polymerase chain reaction

Keisuke Soga; Kosuke Nakamura; Takumi Ishigaki; Shinya Kimata; Kiyomi Ohmori; Masahiro Kishine; Junichi Mano; Reona Takabatake; Kazumi Kitta; Hiroyuki Nagoya; Kazunari Kondo

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125426

Development of a novel method for specific detection of genetically modified Atlantic salmon, AquAdvantage, using real-time polymerase chain reaction

Food Chem. 2020 Feb 1:305:125426. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125426. Epub 2019 Aug 26.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 215-9501, Japan.
² National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 215-9501, Japan. Electronic address: kosnakamura@nihs.go.jp.
³ Chemistry Division, Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health, 1-3-1 Shimomachiya, Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-0087, Japan.
⁴ Division of Analytical Science, Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8642, Japan.
⁵ Research Center for Aquatic Breeding, National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 224-1 Hiruta, Tamaki-cho, Mie 519-0423, Japan.

PMID: 31522124
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125426

Abstract

Genetically modified (GM) Atlantic salmon, AquAdvantage (AquAd), was the first GM animal approved officially for human consumption. Many countries monitor the use of this product under their GM regulations, but a pragmatic system for AquAd-specific detection is needed. Here, we developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction method with high sensitivity for detection of AquAd in foods. This method showed high specificity for the AquAd transgene and the detection limit was 12.5-25 targeted DNA copies per test reaction. An inter-laboratory study using the method developed demonstrated reproducibility at >0.1% (w/w) AquAd content.

Keywords: AquAdvantage; Detection method; Genetically modified; Real-time polymerase chain reaction; Salmo salar; Salmon.

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Food, Genetically Modified*
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
Reproducibility of Results
Salmo salar / genetics*
Seafood / analysis*