MON863 X NK603 OECD identifier: MON-ØØ863-5 x MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) maize is an F1 hybrid resulting from the hybridization of the insect-resistant maize inbred line MON863 (MON-ØØ863-5) and the herbicide-tolerant maize inbred line NK603 (MON-ØØ6Ø3-6). This stacked maize hybrid is a product of traditional plant breeding, and therefore is not automatically subject to regulation in all jurisdictions as are transgenic plants resulting from recombinant DNA technologies. Certain jurisdictions may request notification in advance of the release of a stacked hybrid, or may request information to conduct an environmental and food safety assessment.  Examples of jurisdictions that require either notification or information about stacked hybrids prior to their release into the environment, and for use in human food and livestock feed are Canada and Japan.<br> <br>The stacked hybrid MON863 X NK603 expresses two novel proteins: the delta-endotoxin Cry3Bb1, which is insecticidal to coleopterans such as the Corn Rootworm, and CP4 EPSPS which confers tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.  The CP4 EPSPS protein is produced by the <i>cp4 epsps</i> gene from NK603, and the insecticidal protein Cry3Bb1, by the <i>cry</i>3Bb1 gene from MON863.  The novel traits of each parent line have therefore been combined, using traditional plant breeding methods, to produce this new hybrid.  For a full description of each parent line please refer to the individual product descriptions in the crop database for <a href="dbase.php?action=ShowProd&data=MON863&frmat=LONG"><b>MON863</b></a> and <a href="dbase.php?action=ShowProd&data=NK603&frmat=LONG"><b>NK603</b></a>.<br>The inserted genes and their gene products have a history of safe use, and have undergone review and approval by several regulatory agencies.  No interactions among the gene products or negative synergistic effects are expected in the stacked hybrid.  The Cry3Bb protein is not an enzyme and therefore does not affect plant metabolism.  The CP4 EPSPS has high affinity for its substrates phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and shikimate-3-phosphate, which are part of the shikimate metabolic pathway.   CP4 EPSPS and Cry3Bb are therefore not expected to interact within nor affect the metabolism of the stacked hybrid.  Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that no toxic or allergenic products were formed as a result of the hybridization.