Overproduction of recombinant proteins in plants

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 184; pp. 83 - 101
• Main Authors: Egelkrout, Erin, Rajan, Vidya, Howard, John A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; alternative hosts; animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Cell culture; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic engineering applications; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Germplasm; Heterologous expression; industry; Pharmaceuticals; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified; Promoter selection; Protein accumulation; Protein overproduction; Recombinant DNA; recombinant proteins; Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis; Recombinant Proteins - economics; Reviews; Transcription; Transformation; Transgenic plants; Translation; translation (genetics); Promoter selection; Recombinant DNA; Protein overproduction; Transgenic plants; Protein accumulation; Heterologous expression; Storage protein; Plant biology; Gene expression; Overproduction; Genetic transfer; Promoter; Transgenic plant; Recombinant protein
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2011.12.005

Recombinant protein production in microbial hosts and animal cell cultures has revolutionized the pharmaceutical and industrial enzyme industries. Plants as alternative hosts for the production of recombinant proteins are being actively pursued, taking advantage of their unique characteristics. The key to cost-efficient production in any system is the level of protein accumulation, which is inversely proportional to the cost. Levels of up to 5g/kg biomass have been obtained in plants, making this production system competitive with microbial hosts. Increasing protein accumulation at the cellular level by varying host, germplasm, location of protein accumulation, and transformation procedure is reviewed. At the molecular level increased expression by improving transcription, translation and accumulation of the protein is critically evaluated. The greatest increases in protein accumulation will occur when various optimized parameters are more fully integrated with each other. Because of the complex nature of plants, this will take more time and effort to accomplish than has been the case for the simpler unicellular systems. However the potential for plants to become one of the major avenues for protein production appears very promising.