MINUTES OF MEETING - December 6-7 
19 
It was pointed out that since Pseudomonas aeruginosa is on 
the Appendix A exchanger list, this experiment would be 
exempt from the Guidelines, except that the prohibitions 
override the exemptions and Section I-D-2 prohibits "deliber- 
ate formation of recombinant DNAs containing genes for the 
biosynthesis of toxins potent for vertebrates." Dr. Novick 
asked whether exotoxin A would be considered a potent toxin 
for vertebrates. Dr. Young responded that this question 
revolves about the interpretation of "potent." He said 
exotoxin A is clearly a toxin, but is not as potent as 
diphtheria toxin. Dr. Williams said he felt that exotoxin A 
is a potent toxin on the basis of the LD50 given on page 2 
of tab 792. 
Dr. Gottesman asked what type of containment is appropriate 
for this experiment. Dr. Young said he would recommend 
P3 + EK2 since this appears to be an exception to a prohibi- 
tion and containment should be assigned in a prudent and 
conservative manner. 
Dr. Gottesman said she is not certain that P3 + EK2, containment 
should be required, but the RAC should regard this request as 
a exception to a prohibition. It was agreed to republish 
this specific request in the Federal Register prior to its 
reconsideration at the next RAC meeting. Dr. Setlow also 
appointed a working group consisting of Drs. Maas, Brill, and 
Campbell to consider this general issue. 
C. Proposal to transform tobacco protoplasts with com zein 
protein DNA ligated to the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium 
tumefaciens 
Dr. Setlow absented herself and appointed Mr. Thornton as the 
chairman. Dr. Zaitlin said that Dr. Setlow as chairman of 
Brookhaven National Laboratory local IBC has requested that 
the RAC consider a proposal from Dr. Benjamin Burr (771). 
Dr. Burr proposed to make cDNA for the corn protein, zein. 
The DNA will be cloned in a lambda vector and characterized. 
That piece of DNA will then be linked to the Ti plasmid of 
Agrobacterium and introduced into a plant protoplast with 
the expectation that the protoplast will grow into a plant. 
Dr. Zaitlin said that Section III-C-4 of the Guidelines 
allows this proposal at P2 containment as requested. A 
motion that this proposal is covered by the current Guide- 
lines was accepted by the RAC by a vote of seventeen in 
favor, none opposed, with one abstention. 
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