Molecular Level Lignin Patterns of Genetically Modified Bt-Maize MON88017 and Three Conventional Varieties Using Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide (TMAH)-Induced Thermochemolysis

Bt-maize MON88017, its near-isogenic line DKC5143, and the two conventional varieties DK315 and Benicia were subjected to tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)-induced thermochemolysis to reveal molecular level lignin patterns. MON88017 is genetically modified to express the Cry3Bb1 protein aimed at the Western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, a serious threat for European maize production. The results indicated that roots of the Bt-maize were characterized by a slightly enhanced total lignin content (by ∼7%) compared to the near-isogenic line, whereas the molecular-based patterns, expressed by the relative fractions of ρ-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl, and syringyl breakdown products (P-, G-, and S-units, respectively) were virtually identical for both lines. No effects regarding either total lignin or molecular-based lignin patterns could be observed for leaves, indicating that biogenesis of lignin was not pleiotropically affected by the genetic modification. Significant differences for both total lignin and different lignin proxies existed between the conventional maize lines. Molecular level lignin analysis by means of TMAH-induced thermochemolysis is able to distinguish conventional maize varieties. Further work is necessary to evaluate lignin-related pleiotropic effects in genetically modified maize plants. The validation and application of a commonly accepted method for lignin analysis, capable of characterizing lignin at the molecular level, is a prerequisite.