Anti-hypertensive activity of genetically modified soybean seeds accumulating novokinin

Peptides. 2008 Mar;29(3):331-7. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2007.11.018. Epub 2007 Dec 3.

Abstract

Novokinin (Arg-Pro-Leu-Lys-Pro-Trp), which has been designed based on the structure of ovokinin (2-7), significantly reduces the systolic blood pressure at a dose of 100 microg/kg after oral administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In this study, we generated a transgenic soybean which accumulates novokinin. A vector encoding a modified beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit (4novokinin-alpha') in which four novokinin sequences have been incorporated by site-directed mutagenesis was introduced into somatic embryos by whisker-mediated gene transformation to produce a transgenic soybean. The 4novokinin-alpha' occupied 0.5% of total soluble protein and 5% of the beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit in the transgenic soybean seeds. Protein extracted from the transgenic soybean reduced systolic blood pressure after single oral administration in SHRs at a dose of 0.15 g/kg. Defatted flour from the transgenic soybean also reduced the systolic blood pressure at a dose of 0.25 g/kg. Thus, the 4novokinin-alpha' produced in soybean exhibited an anti-hypertensive activity in SHRs after oral administration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antihypertensive Agents / metabolism
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Glycine max / genetics
  • Glycine max / metabolism*
  • Immunoblotting
  • Male
  • Oligopeptides / isolation & purification
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred SHR
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Seeds / genetics
  • Seeds / metabolism*
  • Soybean Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Soybean Proteins / metabolism
  • Soybean Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Arg-Pro-Leu-Lys-Pro-Trp
  • Oligopeptides
  • Soybean Proteins