Plant Bioreactors for Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Plant bioreactors are attractive expression systems for economic production of pharmaceuticals. Various plant expression systems or platforms have been tested with certain degrees of success over the past years. However, further development and improvement are needed for more effective plant bioreactors. In this review we first summarize recent progress in various plant bioreactor expression systems and then focus on discussing protein compartmentation to unique organelles and various strategies for developing better plant bioreactors.

Lysosomal and vacuolar sorting: not so different after all!

“…Consequently, yeast and plants are emerging as good alternative organisms for the expression and the purification of human lysosomal proteins with important impacts on pharmaceuticals and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) [60]. Plants in particular seem to represent a promising system thanks to the cost-effective and easy production of lysosomal proteins with already successful attempts of expressing human hydrolases such as mannosidases and glucocerebrosidase [61,62].…”

Plants as bioreactors: Recent developments and emerging opportunities

“…Facing a looming crisis in the production capacity for monoclonal antibodies and other protein- based therapeutics, the industry is concentrating to solve the technical problems associated with molecular farming. Several approaches have been developed and rapid progress has been made towards addressing these issues (Bakker et al, 2001;Basaran and Rodríguez-Cerezo, 2008;Corrado and Karali, 2009;Fujiyama et al, 2009;Ko et al, 2009;Mio et al, 2008;Strasser et al, 2004Strasser et al, , 2008Torrent et al, 2009). As plant cell cultures are grown in confined environments, their use for the production of foreign bio-molecules, addresses the issues related to the release of genetically modified organisms (James and Lee, 2001;Shih and Doran, 2009).…”

Molecular aspects of endosomal cellular transport

“…During study of vacuolar transport, was found that proteins can be directed towards vacuoles in vesicles on whose surface there are different types of sorting signals [106]. The process of sorting takes place during recognition of tyrosine motive YMPL with subunits of μ adaptinadaptor complex associated with trans Golgi network [108]. During study the process of metabolite trans port through tonoplast and their further role in this organelle, was found that proteins could pass different modification stages [108].…”

“…The process of sorting takes place during recognition of tyrosine motive YMPL with subunits of μ adaptinadaptor complex associated with trans Golgi network [108]. During study the process of metabolite trans port through tonoplast and their further role in this organelle, was found that proteins could pass different modification stages [108].…”