Foreign Protein Expression Using Plant Cell Suspension and Hairy Root Cultures

Foreign Protein Expression Using Plant Cell Suspension and Hairy Root Cultures... 

The presence of foreign protein in the medium of plant cultures does not necessarily mean that all or even most of the product can be recovered from the medium. In many expression systems where an appropriate signal sequence has been used, considerable amounts of foreign protein remain within the plant cells and/or tissues. For example, in a comparison of IgG antibody production in tobacco cell suspension and hairy root cultures, a maximum of 72% of the total antibody was found in the medium of the suspension cultures whereas only 26% was found in the medium of the hairy root cultures [17]. This result could indicate that secretion and/or transport across the cell wall was slower in the hairy roots alternatively, it could indicate poorer stability of the secreted protein in the hairy root medium. If foreign proteins are to be purified from the medium, improved secretion and extracellular product stability are desirable. 

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