Title 40 -- Protection of Environment

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§725.421 Introduced genetic material.

For a new microorganism to qualify for either exemption under this subpart, introduced genetic material must meet all of the criteria listed in this section.

(a) Limited in size. The introduced genetic material must consist only of the following:

(1) The structural gene(s) of interest.

(2) The regulatory sequences permitting the expression of solely the gene(s) of interest.

(3) Associated nucleotide sequences needed to move genetic material, including linkers, homopolymers, adaptors, transposons, insertion sequences, and restriction enzyme sites.

(4) The nucleotide sequences needed for vector transfer.

(5) The nucleotide sequences needed for vector maintenance.

(b) Well-characterized. For introduced genetic material, well-characterized means that the following have been determined:

(1) The function of all of the products expressed from the structural gene(s).

(2) The function of sequences that participate in the regulation of expression of the structural gene(s).

(3) The presence or absence of associated nucleotide sequences and their associated functions, where associated nucleotide sequences are those sequences needed to move genetic material including linkers, homopolymers, adaptors, transposons, insertion sequences, and restriction enzyme sites.

(c) Poorly mobilizable. The ability of the introduced genetic material to be transferred and mobilized is inactivated, with a resulting frequency of transfer of less than 10-8 transfer events per recipient.

(d) Free of certain sequences. (1) The introduced genetic material must not contain a functional portion of any of the toxin-encoding sequences described in this paragraph (d).

(i) For the purposes of this section, a functional portion of a toxin-encoding sequence means any sequence which codes for a polypeptide that has one of the following effects:

(A) It directly or indirectly contributes to toxic effects in humans. Directly contributes to toxic effects in humans means those sequences encoding polypeptides that have direct toxicity to target cells. An example of a sequence which directly contributes to toxic effects in humans is one which encodes the portion of diphtheria toxin, listed in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, capable of interacting with elongation factor 2, leading to inhibition of protein synthesis in target respiratory, heart, kidney, and nerve tissues. Indirectly contributes to toxic effects in humans means a sequence whose encoded polypeptide is not directly toxic to target cells, yet still adversely affects humans. An example of a sequence which indirectly contributes to toxic effects is the sequence which encodes the portion of the botulinum toxin, listed in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, capable of blocking the release of acetylcholine from gangliosides. Botulinum toxin affects neuromuscular junctions by its blockage of acetylcholine release, leading to irreversible relaxation of muscles and respiratory arrest.

(B) It binds a toxin or toxin precursor to target human cells.

(C) It facilitates intracellular transport of a toxin in target human cells.

(ii) While these toxins are listed (with synonyms in parentheses) in paragraphs (d)(2) through (d)(7) of this section according to the source organism, it is use of the nucleotide sequences that encode the toxins that is being restricted and not the use of the source organisms. The source organisms are listed to provide specificity in identification of sequences whose use is restricted. Although similar or identical sequences may be isolated from organisms other than those listed below in paragraphs (d)(2) through (d)(7) of this section, these comparable toxin sequences, regardless of the organism from which they are derived, must not be included in the introduced genetic material.

(2) Sequences for protein synthesis inhibitor.


              Sequence Source                        Toxin Name

Corynebacterium diphtheriae & C.        Diphtheria toxin
 ulcerans
Pseudomonas aeruginosa                      Exotoxin A
Shigella dysenteriae                        Shigella toxin (Shiga toxin,
                                             Shigella dysenteriae type I
                                             toxin, Vero cell toxin)
Abrus precatorius, seeds                    Abrin
Ricinus communis, seeds                     Ricin


(3) Sequences for neurotoxins.


              Sequence Source                        Toxin Name

Clostridium botulinum                       Neurotoxins A, B, C1, D, E,
                                             F, G (Botulinum toxins,
                                             botulinal toxins)
Clostridium tetani                          Tetanus toxin
                                             (tetanospasmin)
Proteus mirabilis                           Neurotoxin
Staphylococcus aureus                       Alpha toxin (alpha lysin)
Yersinia pestis                             Murine toxin

  1  1  Snake toxins                        ............................
Bungarus caeruleus                          Caeruleotoxin
Bungarus multicinctus                       Beta-bungarotoxin
                                             (phospholipase)
Crotalus spp.                               Crotoxin (phospholipase)
Dendroaspis viridis                         Neurotoxin
Naja naja varieties                         Neurotoxin
Notechia scutatus                           Notexin (phospholipase)
Oxyuranus scutellatus                       Taipoxin

  Invertebrate toxins
Chironex fleckeri                           Neurotoxin
Androctnus australis                        Neurotoxin
Centruroides sculpturatus                   Neurotoxin


(4) Sequences for oxygen labile cytolysins.


              Sequence Source                        Toxin Name

Bacillus alve                               Alveolysin
Bacillus cereus                             Cereolysin
Bacillus laterosporus                       Laterosporolysin
Bacillus thuringiensis                      Thuringiolysin
Clostridium bifermentans                    Lysin
Clostridium botulinum                       Lysin
Clostridium caproicum                       Lysin
Clostridium chauvoei                        Delta-toxin
Clostridium histolyticum                    Epsilon-toxin
Clostridium novyi                           Gamma-toxin
Clostridium oedematiens                     Delta-toxin
Clostridium perfringens                     Theta-toxin (Perfringolysin)
Clostridium septicum                        Delta-toxin
Clostridium sordellii                       Lysin
Clostridium tetani                          Tetanolysin
Listeria monocytogenes                      Listeriolysin (A B)
Streptococcus pneumoniae                    Pneumolysin
Streptococcus pyogene                       Streptolysin O (SLO)


(5) Sequences for toxins affecting membrane function.


              Sequence Source                        Toxin Name

 Bacillus anthracis                         Edema factor (Factors I II);
                                             Lethal factor (Factors II
                                             III)
Bacillus cereus                             Enterotoxin (diarrheagenic
                                             toxin, mouse lethal factor)
Bordetella pertussis                        Adenylate cyclase (Heat-
                                             labile factor); Pertussigen
                                             (pertussis toxin, islet
                                             activating factor,
                                             histamine sensitizing
                                             factor, lymphocytosis
                                             promoting factor)
Clostridium botulinum                       C2 toxin
Clostridium difficile                       Enterotoxin (toxin A)
Clostridium perfringens                     Beta-toxin; Delta-toxin
Escherichia coli & other                Heat-labile enterotoxins
 Enterobacteriaceae spp.                     (LT); Heat-stable
                                             enterotoxins (STa, ST1
                                             subtypes ST1a ST1b; also
                                             STb, STII)
Legionella pneumophila                      Cytolysin
Vibrio cholerae & Vibrio mimicus        Cholera toxin (choleragen)


(6) Sequences that affect membrane integrity.


              Sequence Source                        Toxin Name

Clostridium bifermentans & other        Lecithinase
 Clostridium spp
Clostridium perfringens                     Alpha-toxin (phospholipase
                                             C, lecithinase);
                                             Enterotoxin
Corynebacterium pyogenes & other        Cytolysin (phospholipase C),
 Corynebacterium spp.                        Ovis toxin
                                             (sphingomyelinase D)
Staphylococcus aureus                       Beta-lysin (beta toxin)


(7) Sequences that are general cytotoxins.


              Sequence Source                        Toxin Name

Adenia digitata                             Modeccin
Aeromonas hydrophila                        Aerolysin (beta-lysin,
                                             cytotoxic lysin)
Clostridium difficile                       Cytotoxin (toxin B)
Clostridium perfringens                     Beta-toxin; Epsilon-toxin;
                                             Kappa-toxin
Escherichia coli & other                Cytotoxin (Shiga-like toxin,
 Enterobacteriaceae spp.                     Vero cell toxin)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa                      Proteases
Staphylococcus aureus                       Gamma lysin (Gamma toxin);
                                             Enterotoxins (SEA, SEB,
                                             SEC, SED SEE); Pyrogenic
                                             exotoxins A B; Toxic shock
                                             syndrome toxins (TSST-1)
Staphylococcus aureus & Pseudomonas     Leucocidin (leukocidin,
 aeruginosa                                  cytotoxin)
Streptococcus pyogenes                      Streptolysin S (SLS);
                                             Erythrogenic toxins
                                             (scarlet fever toxins,
                                             pyrogenic exotoxins)
Yersinia enterocolitica                     Heat-stable enterotoxins
                                             (ST)



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