Development of a novel heterologous gene expression system using earthworms

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 14;11(1):8190. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87641-w.

Abstract

In recent years, animals and plants have received increasing attention as potential next-generation protein production systems, especially for biopharmaceuticals and animal proteins. The aim of the present study was to develop the earthworms Eisenia fetida Waki and Eisenia andrei Sagami as next-generation animal protein production hosts. These earthworms have been approved as model animals for acute toxicity tests by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and they have post-translational modification systems. However, so far, none of the studies have used earthworm transfection techniques. Thus, we developed a transfection method for E. fetida and E. andrei using microinjection and electroporation systems. The maximum survival rates and transfection efficiencies were 79.2% and 29.2% for E. fetida, and 95.8% and 50.0% for E. andrei, respectively. Furthermore, human erythropoietin was detected in the transformed earthworm tail fragments using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results contribute to the development of a potential earthworm-based novel animal protein production system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electroporation
  • Erythropoietin / genetics
  • Erythropoietin / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Microinjections
  • Models, Animal
  • Oligochaeta / genetics*
  • Oligochaeta / metabolism
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Transfection / methods*

Substances

  • EPO protein, human
  • Erythropoietin