Project Number: 6435-42000-017-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Mar 20, 2001
End Date: Mar 19, 2006

Objective:
Identify microbial interactions in legumes influencing biosynthesis of isoflavonoids with potential phytoestrogenic activities. Characterize microbial elicitors of isoflavonoid production and develop procedures to manipulate isoflavonoid levels. Test individual or combinations of isoflavonoid compounds induced by microbial elicitors for phytoestrogenic effects in animal systems.

Approach:
Soybean varieties will be grown under greenhouse conditions. After various periods, plants will be harvested and phytoestrogenic isoflavonoids will be extracted. The compounds will be purified and identified using HPLC coupled with UV detection. In order to determine elicitation of phytoestrogenic isoflavonoids, soybean plants will be exposed to various phytopathogens and known elicitors derived from phytopathogens. After exposure to these elicitors, isoflavonoids will be purified and identified as above. Estrogenic activity of isoflavonoids isolated from soybean tissues/organs will be analyzed by determining their ability to support in vitro growth of an estrogen dependent cell line. Compounds will be assayed for estrogen activity in assays using a yeast hybrid system having an estrogen dependent promoter coupled with a glucuronidase reporter gene. Estrogen specific induction of the genes will be determined by colorimetric determination. Compounds will be assayed in order to determine synergistic effects and to measure estrogenic potency.

Project Team

Boue, Stephen Cleveland, Thomas

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001

Related National Programs

Food Safety, (animal and plant products) (108)   Human Nutrition (107)

Related Projects

Determine Isoflavonoid Induction in Legumes and Their Phytoestrogenic Effects in Animal Systems    Determine Natural Product Induction in Legumes and the Pharmacologic Consequences in Human Model Systems