Conducted Studies

Nature 342, 76 - 78 (02 November 1989); doi:10.1038/342076a0

Production of Antibodies into Transgenic Plants

ANDREW HIATT, ROBERT CAFFFERKEY & KATHERINE BOWDISH

Department of Molecular Biology, The Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA


In this lab, complimentary DNA's that were derived from a mouse hybridoma messenger RNA were used o transform tobacco leaf segments followod by regeneration of mature plants. Plants that expressed single gamma or kappa immunoglobulin chains were crossed to yield progeny in which both chains were expressed simultaneously. A functional antibody accumulated to 1.3% of total leaf protein in plants expressing full-length cDNAs containing leader sequences.Binding of the antigen was similar to the hybridoma-dervided antibody. Transformants having γ- or κ- chain cDNAs without leader sequence gave poor expression of the proteins. The results demonstrated that production of immunoglobulins and assembly of functional antibodies occurs very efficiently in tobacco (Andrew). 

Andrew, H. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v342/n6245/abs/342076a0.html