Shooty teratomas

Most research into in vitro foreign protein production has been undertaken using cell suspensions. However, other forms of plant tissue culture such as hairy roots and shooty teratomas have also been tested in a number of studies (Table 2.1). The characteristics of different types of plant tissue culture and their utility for large-scale foreign protein production are outlined in the following sections. 

Shooty teratoma Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) A. tumefaciens transformation of leaf explant, regenerated plants sexually crossed CaMV 35 S Murine Ig 0.28 mg g 1 dry weight (t) 3.2mgL 1(t) 17... 

Shooty teratomas are differentiated cell cultures produced by transformation with certain strains of A. tumefaciens [107]. Thus far, there has been only one report of pharmaceutical protein production in teratoma cultures, and the levels of antibody were very low [106]. 

Many different plant-based expression systems are now available for the production of recombinant proteins. Those utiHz-ing whole plants have been extensively reviewed, and will not be discussed in detail here (see Refs. [5-8]). Other systems, based on cultured plant cells or organs, include hairy roots [9], shooty teratomas [10],... 

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