Protein modifications in the plant secretory pathway: current status and practical implications in molecular pharming

Vaccine. 2005 Mar 7;23(15):1770-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.11.003.

Abstract

Plants have become, over the last ten years, a suitable alternative to microbial and animal cell factories for the production of clinically-useful, therapeutic proteins. Besides the well known advantage of low-cost and large-scale production of safe and biologically active mammalian proteins, plants also are able to perform most post-translational maturations required for biological activity and suitable pharmacokinetics of recombinant therapeutic proteins. In this short review we focus on glycosylation and proteolytic processing of plant-made pharmaceuticals during their transport through the plant cell's secretory pathway. We also address the practical implications of these important processes on the effectiveness of plant molecular pharming systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Plants / metabolism

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Peptide Hydrolases