About half of the individual kernels had inadequate insect resistance because those kernels contained little or no avidin. Avidin maize was not toxic to mice when administered as the sole component of their diet for three weeks. Avidin maize might be processed to include supplementation with biotin or by treatment with heat. The latter process would denature the avidin as well as the avidin-biotin complex and release most of the biotin for use by the consumer. Whatever utilization does occur, avidin maize is at least a proof of concept for the efficacy of a common human food protein as a biopesticide in transgenic plants.
Transgenic maize expressing avidin is resistant to storage pests.
Morgan TD, Oppert B, Czapla TH, and Kramer KJ. 1993. Avidin and streptavidin as insecticidal and growth inhibiting dietary proteins. Hood EE, et al. 1997. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed for research and educational purposes only.