1
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McGinness AJ, Brooks SA, Strasser R, Schoberer J, Kriechbaumer V. Suborganellar resolution imaging for the localisation of human glycosylation enzymes in tobacco Golgi bodies. J Microsc 2024. [PMID: 38687244 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Plant cells are a capable system for producing economically and therapeutically important proteins for a variety of applications, and are considered a safer production system than some existing hosts such as bacteria or yeasts. However, plants do not perform protein modifications in the same manner as mammalian cells do. This can impact on protein functionality for plant-produced human therapeutics. This obstacle can be overcome by creating a plant-based system capable of 'humanising' proteins of interest resulting in a glycosylation profile of synthetic plant-produced proteins as it would occur in mammalian systems. For this, the human glycosylation enzymes (HuGEs) involved in N-linked glycosylation N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase IV and V (GNTIV and GNTV), β-1,4-galactosyltransferase (B4GALT1), and α-2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6GAL) were expressed in plant cells. For these enzymes to carry out the stepwise glycosylation functions, they need to localise to late Golgi body cisternae. This was achieved by a protein targeting strategy of replacing the mammalian Golgi targeting domains (Cytoplasmic-Transmembrane-Stem (CTS) regions) with plant-specific ones. Using high-resolution and dynamic confocal microscopy, we show that GNTIV and GNTV were successfully targeted to the medial-Golgi cisternae while ST6GAL and B4GALT1 were targeted to trans-Golgi cisternae. Plant cells are a promising system to produce human therapeutics for example proteins used in enzyme replacement therapies. Plants can provide safer and cheaper alternatives to existing expression systems such as mammalian cell culture, bacteria or yeast. An important factor for the functionality of therapeutic proteins though are protein modifications specific to human cells. However, plants do not perform protein modifications in the same manner as human cells do. Therefore, plant cells need to be genetically modified to mimic human protein modifications patterns. The modification of importance here, is called N-linked glycosylation and adds specific sugar molecules onto the proteins. Here we show the expression of four human glycosylation enzymes, which are required for N-linked glycosylation, in plant cells. In addition, as these protein modifications are carried out in cells resembling a factory production line, it is important that the human glycosylation enzymes be placed in the correct cellular compartments and in the correct order. This is carried out in Golgi bodies. Golgi bodies are composed of several defined stacks termed cis-, medial and trans-Golgi body stacks. For correct protein function, two of these human glycosylation enzymes need to be placed in the medial-Golgi attacks and the other two in the trans-Golgi stacks. Using high-resolution laser microscopy in live plant cells, we show here that the human glycosylation enzymes are sent within the cells to the correct Golgi body stacks. These are first steps to modify plant cells in order to produce human therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair J McGinness
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Susan A Brooks
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jennifer Schoberer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Kriechbaumer
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Bioimaging, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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2
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Altmann F, Helm J, Pabst M, Stadlmann J. Introduction of a human- and keyboard-friendly N-glycan nomenclature. Beilstein J Org Chem 2024; 20:607-620. [PMID: 38505241 PMCID: PMC10949011 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.20.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In the beginning was the word. But there were no words for N-glycans, at least, no simple words. Next to chemical formulas, the IUPAC code can be regarded as the best, most reliable and yet immediately comprehensible annotation of oligosaccharide structures of any type from any source. When it comes to N-glycans, the venerable IUPAC code has, however, been widely supplanted by highly simplified terms for N-glycans that count the number of antennae or certain components such as galactoses, sialic acids and fucoses and give only limited room for exact structure description. The highly illustrative - and fortunately now standardized - cartoon depictions gained much ground during the last years. By their very nature, cartoons can neither be written nor spoken. The underlying machine codes (e.g., GlycoCT, WURCS) are definitely not intended for direct use in human communication. So, one might feel the need for a simple, yet intelligible and precise system for alphanumeric descriptions of the hundreds and thousands of N-glycan structures. Here, we present a system that describes N-glycans by defining their terminal elements. To minimize redundancy and length of terms, the common elements of N-glycans are taken as granted. The preset reading order facilitates definition of positional isomers. The combination with elements of the condensed IUPAC code allows to describe even rather complex structural elements. Thus, this "proglycan" coding could be the missing link between drawn structures and software-oriented representations of N-glycan structures. On top, it may greatly facilitate keyboard-based mining for glycan substructures in glycan repositories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johannes Helm
- Department of Chemistry, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Pabst
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
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3
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Zahmanova G, Aljabali AAA, Takova K, Minkov G, Tambuwala MM, Minkov I, Lomonossoff GP. Green Biologics: Harnessing the Power of Plants to Produce Pharmaceuticals. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17575. [PMID: 38139405 PMCID: PMC10743837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are increasingly used for the production of high-quality biological molecules for use as pharmaceuticals and biomaterials in industry. Plants have proved that they can produce life-saving therapeutic proteins (Elelyso™-Gaucher's disease treatment, ZMapp™-anti-Ebola monoclonal antibodies, seasonal flu vaccine, Covifenz™-SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle vaccine); however, some of these therapeutic proteins are difficult to bring to market, which leads to serious difficulties for the manufacturing companies. The closure of one of the leading companies in the sector (the Canadian biotech company Medicago Inc., producer of Covifenz) as a result of the withdrawal of investments from the parent company has led to the serious question: What is hindering the exploitation of plant-made biologics to improve health outcomes? Exploring the vast potential of plants as biological factories, this review provides an updated perspective on plant-derived biologics (PDB). A key focus is placed on the advancements in plant-based expression systems and highlighting cutting-edge technologies that streamline the production of complex protein-based biologics. The versatility of plant-derived biologics across diverse fields, such as human and animal health, industry, and agriculture, is emphasized. This review also meticulously examines regulatory considerations specific to plant-derived biologics, shedding light on the disparities faced compared to biologics produced in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergana Zahmanova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.)
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Alaa A. A. Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan;
| | - Katerina Takova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.)
| | - George Minkov
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.)
| | - Murtaza M. Tambuwala
- Lincoln Medical School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK;
| | - Ivan Minkov
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4108 Markovo, Bulgaria
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4
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Ruocco V, Vavra U, König-Beihammer J, Bolaños−Martínez OC, Kallolimath S, Maresch D, Grünwald-Gruber C, Strasser R. Impact of mutations on the plant-based production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBDs. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1275228. [PMID: 37868317 PMCID: PMC10588190 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1275228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Subunit vaccines based on recombinant viral antigens are valuable interventions to fight existing and evolving viruses and can be produced at large-scale in plant-based expression systems. The recombinant viral antigens are often derived from glycosylated envelope proteins of the virus and glycosylation plays an important role for the immunogenicity by shielding protein epitopes. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is a principal target for vaccine development and has been produced in plants, but the yields of recombinant RBD variants were low and the role of the N-glycosylation in RBD from different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is less studied. Here, we investigated the expression and glycosylation of six different RBD variants transiently expressed in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. All of the purified RBD variants were functional in terms of receptor binding and displayed almost full N-glycan occupancy at both glycosylation sites with predominately complex N-glycans. Despite the high structural sequence conservation of the RBD variants, we detected a variation in yield which can be attributed to lower expression and differences in unintentional proteolytic processing of the C-terminal polyhistidine tag used for purification. Glycoengineering towards a human-type complex N-glycan profile with core α1,6-fucose, showed that the reactivity of the neutralizing antibody S309 differs depending on the N-glycan profile and the RBD variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Ruocco
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Omayra C. Bolaños−Martínez
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Somanath Kallolimath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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5
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Strasser R. Plant glycoengineering for designing next-generation vaccines and therapeutic proteins. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 67:108197. [PMID: 37315875 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein glycosylation has a huge impact on biological processes in all domains of life. The type of glycan present on a recombinant glycoprotein depends on protein intrinsic features and the glycosylation repertoire of the cell type used for expression. Glycoengineering approaches are used to eliminate unwanted glycan modifications and to facilitate the coordinated expression of glycosylation enzymes or whole metabolic pathways to furnish glycans with distinct modifications. The formation of tailored glycans enables structure-function studies and optimization of therapeutic proteins used in different applications. While recombinant proteins or proteins from natural sources can be in vitro glycoengineered using glycosyltransferases or chemoenzymatic synthesis, many approaches use genetic engineering involving the elimination of endogenous genes and introduction of heterologous genes to cell-based production systems. Plant glycoengineering enables the in planta production of recombinant glycoproteins with human or animal-type glycans that resemble natural glycosylation or contain novel glycan structures. This review summarizes key achievements in glycoengineering of plants and highlights current developments aiming to make plants more suitable for the production of a diverse range of recombinant glycoproteins for innovative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Strasser
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
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6
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Stark MC, Joubert AM, Visagie MH. Molecular Farming of Pembrolizumab and Nivolumab. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10045. [PMID: 37373192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a class of immunotherapy agents capable of alleviating the immunosuppressive effects exerted by tumorigenic cells. The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint is one of the most ubiquitous checkpoints utilized by tumorigenic cells for immune evasion by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the proliferation and cytokine production of T lymphocytes. Currently, the most frequently used ICIs targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint include monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) pembrolizumab and nivolumab that bind to PD-1 on T lymphocytes and inhibit interaction with PD-L1 on tumorigenic cells. However, pembrolizumab and nivolumab are costly, and thus their accessibility is limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, it is essential to develop novel biomanufacturing platforms capable of reducing the cost of these two therapies. Molecular farming is one such platform utilizing plants for mAb production, and it has been demonstrated to be a rapid, low-cost, and scalable platform that can be potentially implemented in LMICs to diminish the exorbitant prices, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in cancer-related mortalities within these countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Stark
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Pretoria 0031, South Africa
| | - Anna M Joubert
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Pretoria 0031, South Africa
| | - Michelle H Visagie
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Pretoria 0031, South Africa
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7
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Narayanan Z, Glick BR. Biotechnologically Engineered Plants. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040601. [PMID: 37106801 PMCID: PMC10135915 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The development of recombinant DNA technology during the past thirty years has enabled scientists to isolate, characterize, and manipulate a myriad of different animal, bacterial, and plant genes. This has, in turn, led to the commercialization of hundreds of useful products that have significantly improved human health and well-being. Commercially, these products have been mostly produced in bacterial, fungal, or animal cells grown in culture. More recently, scientists have begun to develop a wide range of transgenic plants that produce numerous useful compounds. The perceived advantage of producing foreign compounds in plants is that compared to other methods of producing these compounds, plants seemingly provide a much less expensive means of production. A few plant-produced compounds are already commercially available; however, many more are in the production pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zareen Narayanan
- Division of Biological Sciences, School of STEM, University of Washington, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
| | - Bernard R Glick
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada
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8
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Eidenberger L, Kogelmann B, Steinkellner H. Plant-based biopharmaceutical engineering. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:426-439. [PMID: 37317690 PMCID: PMC10030082 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00044-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Plants can be engineered to recombinantly produce high-quality proteins such as therapeutic proteins and vaccines, also known as molecular farming. Molecular farming can be established in various settings with minimal cold-chain requirements and could thus ensure rapid and global-scale deployment of biopharmaceuticals, promoting equitable access to pharmaceuticals. State of the art plant-based engineering relies on rationally assembled genetic circuits, engineered to enable the high-throughput and rapid expression of multimeric proteins with complex post-translational modifications. In this Review, we discuss the design of expression hosts and vectors, including Nicotiana benthamiana, viral elements and transient expression vectors, for the production of biopharmaceuticals in plants. We examine engineering of post-translational modifications and highlight the plant-based expression of monoclonal antibodies and nanoparticles, such as virus-like particles and protein bodies. Techno-economic analyses suggest a cost advantage of molecular farming compared with mammalian cell-based protein production systems. However, regulatory challenges remain to be addressed to enable the widespread translation of plant-based biopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Eidenberger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Kogelmann
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- acib — Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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9
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Assessment of transient expression strategies to sialylate recombinant proteins in N. benthamiana. J Biotechnol 2023; 365:48-53. [PMID: 36805356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
There is a demand for increasing the current manufacturing capacities for recombinant protein-based drugs. Novel expression systems such as plants are being explored as faster, more flexible, and possibly cheaper platforms. Many of these therapeutic proteins are glycosylated and require terminal sialylation to attain full biological activity. In planta protein sialylation has been achieved by the introduction of an entire mammalian biosynthetic pathway in Nicotiana benthamiana, comprising the coordinated expression of the genes for (i) biosynthesis, (ii) activation, (iii) transport, and (iv) transfer of Neu5Ac to terminal galactose. Here we address technical issues that can compromise the efficacy of protein sialylation and how they can be overcome. We used the same reporter protein to compared three strategies to transiently deliver the sialylation pathway-genes evaluating efficacy, heterogeneity and batch-to-batch consistency. In addition, we assess the ability of the single-step method to sialylated additional recombinant proteins with different complexity and number of glycosylation sites. Finally, we show that efficient protein sialylation can be up-scaled for large-scale production of sialylated proteins in plants.
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10
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Karki U, Wright T, Xu J. High yield secretion of human erythropoietin from tobacco cells for ex vivo differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells towards red blood cells. J Biotechnol 2022; 355:10-20. [PMID: 35777457 PMCID: PMC9492895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human erythropoietin (EPO) is a key cytokine in erythropoiesis by regulating differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells into red blood cells (RBCs). Plant cell cultures are considered as promising alternative bioproduction platforms for EPO. To overcome the bottlenecks of low protein productivity and secretion, EPO was expressed in tobacco BY-2 cells with a designer peptide tag, termed (SP)20 that consists of 20 tandem repeats of a "Ser-Pro" motif. This de novo designed tag directed extensive O-glycosylation on each Pro residue in plant cells and acted as a molecular carrier to promote the extracellular secretion of EPO. To facilitate the establishment of stable and high-expression BY-2 cell lines, EPO molecules were co-expressed with a reporter protein GFP, which could be used as a visual marker to monitor the protein expression during the subculture. The engineered (SP)20 glycomodule substantially increased the secreted yields of EPO up to 4.31 μg/mL. The (SP)20-tagged EPOs exhibited the expected activity in promoting the proliferation of TF-1 cells, though their EC50 was 12-fold higher than that of EPO standard. The (SP)20-tagged EPOs could also stimulate the ex vivo expansion and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell (CD34+ cells) towards RBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uddhab Karki
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, USA
| | | | - Jianfeng Xu
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, USA; College of Agriculture, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72401, USA.
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11
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van der Kaaij A, van Noort K, Nibbering P, Wilbers RHP, Schots A. Glyco-Engineering Plants to Produce Helminth Glycoproteins as Prospective Biopharmaceuticals: Recent Advances, Challenges and Future Prospects. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:882835. [PMID: 35574113 PMCID: PMC9100689 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.882835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Glycoproteins are the dominant category among approved biopharmaceuticals, indicating their importance as therapeutic proteins. Glycoproteins are decorated with carbohydrate structures (or glycans) in a process called glycosylation. Glycosylation is a post-translational modification that is present in all kingdoms of life, albeit with differences in core modifications, terminal glycan structures, and incorporation of different sugar residues. Glycans play pivotal roles in many biological processes and can impact the efficacy of therapeutic glycoproteins. The majority of biopharmaceuticals are based on human glycoproteins, but non-human glycoproteins, originating from for instance parasitic worms (helminths), form an untapped pool of potential therapeutics for immune-related diseases and vaccine candidates. The production of sufficient quantities of correctly glycosylated putative therapeutic helminth proteins is often challenging and requires extensive engineering of the glycosylation pathway. Therefore, a flexible glycoprotein production system is required that allows straightforward introduction of heterologous glycosylation machinery composed of glycosyltransferases and glycosidases to obtain desired glycan structures. The glycome of plants creates an ideal starting point for N- and O-glyco-engineering of helminth glycans. Plants are also tolerant toward the introduction of heterologous glycosylation enzymes as well as the obtained glycans. Thus, a potent production platform emerges that enables the production of recombinant helminth proteins with unusual glycans. In this review, we discuss recent advances in plant glyco-engineering of potentially therapeutic helminth glycoproteins, challenges and their future prospects.
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12
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Improving Protein Quantity and Quality—The Next Level of Plant Molecular Farming. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031326. [PMID: 35163249 PMCID: PMC8836236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants offer several unique advantages in the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals for humans and animals. Although numerous recombinant proteins have been expressed in plants, only a small fraction have been successfully put into use. The hugely distinct expression systems between plant and animal cells frequently cause insufficient yield of the recombinant proteins with poor or undesired activity. To overcome the issues that greatly constrain the development of plant-produced pharmaceuticals, great efforts have been made to improve expression systems and develop alternative strategies to increase both the quantity and quality of the recombinant proteins. Recent technological revolutions, such as targeted genome editing, deconstructed vectors, virus-like particles, and humanized glycosylation, have led to great advances in plant molecular farming to meet the industrial manufacturing and clinical application standards. In this review, we discuss the technological advances made in various plant expression platforms, with special focus on the upstream designs and milestone achievements in improving the yield and glycosylation of the plant-produced pharmaceutical proteins.
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13
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Hemmati F, Hemmati-Dinarvand M, Karimzade M, Rutkowska D, Eskandari MH, Khanizadeh S, Afsharifar A. Plant-derived VLP: a worthy platform to produce vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Biotechnol Lett 2021; 44:45-57. [PMID: 34837582 PMCID: PMC8626723 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-021-03211-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
After its emergence in late 2019 SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 and has claimed more than 2.8 million lives. There has been a massive global effort to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and the rapid and low cost production of large quantities of vaccine is urgently needed to ensure adequate supply to both developed and developing countries. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are composed of viral antigens that self-assemble into structures that mimic the structure of native viruses but lack the viral genome. Thus they are not only a safer alternative to attenuated or inactivated vaccines but are also able to induce potent cellular and humoral immune responses and can be manufactured recombinantly in expression systems that do not require viral replication. VLPs have successfully been produced in bacteria, yeast, insect and mammalian cell cultures, each production platform with its own advantages and limitations. Plants offer a number of advantages in one production platform, including proper eukaryotic protein modification and assembly, increased safety, low cost, high scalability as well as rapid production speed, a critical factor needed to control outbreaks of potential pandemics. Plant-based VLP-based viral vaccines currently in clinical trials include, amongst others, Hepatitis B virus, Influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Here we discuss the importance of plants as a next generation expression system for the fast, scalable and low cost production of VLP-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farshad Hemmati
- Plant Virology Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Hemmati-Dinarvand
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Marziye Karimzade
- Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daria Rutkowska
- CSIR Next Generation Health, PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Mohammad Hadi Eskandari
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sayyad Khanizadeh
- Hepatitis Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Alireza Afsharifar
- Plant Virology Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
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14
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Schwestka J, König-Beihammer J, Shin YJ, Vavra U, Kienzl NF, Grünwald-Gruber C, Maresch D, Klausberger M, Laurent E, Stadler M, Manhart G, Huber J, Hofner M, Vierlinger K, Weinhäusel A, Swoboda I, Binder CJ, Gerner W, Grebien F, Altmann F, Mach L, Stöger E, Strasser R. Impact of Specific N-Glycan Modifications on the Use of Plant-Produced SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Serological Assays. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:747500. [PMID: 34646292 PMCID: PMC8503525 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.747500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein plays a key role in the virus-host cell interaction, and viral infection. The RBD is a major target for neutralizing antibodies, whilst recombinant RBD is commonly used as an antigen in serological assays. Such assays are essential tools to gain control over the pandemic and detect the extent and durability of an immune response in infected or vaccinated populations. Transient expression in plants can contribute to the fast production of viral antigens, which are required by industry in high amounts. Whilst plant-produced RBDs are glycosylated, N-glycan modifications in plants differ from humans. This can give rise to the formation of carbohydrate epitopes that can be recognized by anti-carbohydrate antibodies present in human sera. For the performance of serological tests using plant-produced recombinant viral antigens, such cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) could result in false positives. Here, we transiently expressed an RBD variant in wild-type and glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and characterized the impact of different plant-specific N-glycans on RBD reactivity in serological assays. While the overall performance of the different RBD glycoforms was comparable to each other and to a human cell line produced RBD, there was a higher tendency toward false positive results with sera containing allergy-related CCD-antibodies when an RBD carrying β1,2-xylose and core α1,3-fucose was used. These rare events could be further minimized by pre-incubating sera from allergic individuals with a CCD-inhibitor. Thereby, false positive signals obtained from anti-CCD antibodies, could be reduced by 90%, on average.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Schwestka
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yun-Ji Shin
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nikolaus F. Kienzl
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Klausberger
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Laurent
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Core Facility Biomolecular & Cellular Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Stadler
- Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriele Manhart
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Huber
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Hofner
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Weinhäusel
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ines Swoboda
- Biotechnology Section, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J. Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wilhelm Gerner
- Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Grebien
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Friedrich Altmann
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Stöger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Karki U, Fang H, Guo W, Unnold-Cofre C, Xu J. Cellular engineering of plant cells for improved therapeutic protein production. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2021; 40:1087-1099. [PMID: 33837823 PMCID: PMC8035600 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02693-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In vitro cultured plant cells, in particular the tobacco BY-2 cell, have demonstrated their potential to provide a promising bioproduction platform for therapeutic proteins by integrating the merits of whole-plant cultivation systems with those of microbial and mammalian cell cultures. Over the past three decades, substantial progress has been made in improving the plant cell culture system, resulting in a few commercial success cases, such as taliglucerase alfa (Elelyso®), the first FDA-approved recombinant pharmaceutical protein derived from plant cells. However, compared to the major expression hosts (bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells), plant cells are still largely underutilized, mainly due to low productivity and non-human glycosylation. Modern molecular biology tools, in particular RNAi and the latest genome editing technology CRISPR/Cas9, have been used to modulate the genome of plant cells to create new cell lines that exhibit desired "traits" for producing therapeutic proteins. This review highlights the recent advances in cellular engineering of plant cells towards improved recombinant protein production, including creating cell lines with deficient protease levels or humanized glycosylation, and considers potential development in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uddhab Karki
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA
| | - Hong Fang
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA
- College of Agriculture, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA
| | - Wenzheng Guo
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA
| | - Carmela Unnold-Cofre
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA
| | - Jianfeng Xu
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA.
- College of Agriculture, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA.
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16
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Shin YJ, König-Beihammer J, Vavra U, Schwestka J, Kienzl NF, Klausberger M, Laurent E, Grünwald-Gruber C, Vierlinger K, Hofner M, Margolin E, Weinhäusel A, Stöger E, Mach L, Strasser R. N-Glycosylation of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain Is Important for Functional Expression in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:689104. [PMID: 34211491 PMCID: PMC8239413 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.689104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is used worldwide as production host for recombinant proteins. Many recombinant proteins such as monoclonal antibodies, growth factors or viral antigens require posttranslational modifications like glycosylation for their function. Here, we transiently expressed different variants of the glycosylated receptor binding domain (RBD) from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in N. benthamiana. We characterized the impact of variations in RBD-length and posttranslational modifications on protein expression, yield and functionality. We found that a truncated RBD variant (RBD-215) consisting of amino acids Arg319-Leu533 can be efficiently expressed as a secreted soluble protein. Purified RBD-215 was mainly present as a monomer and showed binding to the conformation-dependent antibody CR3022, the cellular receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and to antibodies present in convalescent sera. Expression of RBD-215 in glycoengineered ΔXT/FT plants resulted in the generation of complex N-glycans on both N-glycosylation sites. While site-directed mutagenesis showed that the N-glycans are important for proper RBD folding, differences in N-glycan processing had no effect on protein expression and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ji Shin
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jennifer Schwestka
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nikolaus F. Kienzl
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Klausberger
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Laurent
- Department of Biotechnology, Core Facility Biomolecular and Cellular Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Department of Chemistry, Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Hofner
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andreas Weinhäusel
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Stöger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Klausberger M, Duerkop M, Haslacher H, Wozniak-Knopp G, Cserjan-Puschmann M, Perkmann T, Lingg N, Aguilar PP, Laurent E, De Vos J, Hofner M, Holzer B, Stadler M, Manhart G, Vierlinger K, Egger M, Milchram L, Gludovacz E, Marx N, Köppl C, Tauer C, Beck J, Maresch D, Grünwald-Gruber C, Strobl F, Satzer P, Stadlmayr G, Vavra U, Huber J, Wahrmann M, Eskandary F, Breyer MK, Sieghart D, Quehenberger P, Leitner G, Strassl R, Egger AE, Irsara C, Griesmacher A, Hoermann G, Weiss G, Bellmann-Weiler R, Loeffler-Ragg J, Borth N, Strasser R, Jungbauer A, Hahn R, Mairhofer J, Hartmann B, Binder NB, Striedner G, Mach L, Weinhäusel A, Dieplinger B, Grebien F, Gerner W, Binder CJ, Grabherr R. A comprehensive antigen production and characterisation study for easy-to-implement, specific and quantitative SARS-CoV-2 serotests. EBioMedicine 2021; 67:103348. [PMID: 33906067 PMCID: PMC8099623 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibody tests are essential tools to investigate humoral immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. While first-generation antibody tests have primarily provided qualitative results, accurate seroprevalence studies and tracking of antibody levels over time require highly specific, sensitive and quantitative test setups. METHODS We have developed two quantitative, easy-to-implement SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests, based on the spike receptor binding domain and the nucleocapsid protein. Comprehensive evaluation of antigens from several biotechnological platforms enabled the identification of superior antigen designs for reliable serodiagnostic. Cut-off modelling based on unprecedented large and heterogeneous multicentric validation cohorts allowed us to define optimal thresholds for the tests' broad applications in different aspects of clinical use, such as seroprevalence studies and convalescent plasma donor qualification. FINDINGS Both developed serotests individually performed similarly-well as fully-automated CE-marked test systems. Our described sensitivity-improved orthogonal test approach assures highest specificity (99.8%); thereby enabling robust serodiagnosis in low-prevalence settings with simple test formats. The inclusion of a calibrator permits accurate quantitative monitoring of antibody concentrations in samples collected at different time points during the acute and convalescent phase of COVID-19 and disclosed antibody level thresholds that correlate well with robust neutralization of authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus. INTERPRETATION We demonstrate that antigen source and purity strongly impact serotest performance. Comprehensive biotechnology-assisted selection of antigens and in-depth characterisation of the assays allowed us to overcome limitations of simple ELISA-based antibody test formats based on chromometric reporters, to yield comparable assay performance as fully-automated platforms. FUNDING WWTF, Project No. COV20-016; BOKU, LBI/LBG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Klausberger
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mark Duerkop
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; Novasign GmbH Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmuth Haslacher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; CD Laboratory for innovative Immunotherapeutics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Cserjan-Puschmann
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Perkmann
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nico Lingg
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Patricia Pereira Aguilar
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Laurent
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; BOKU Core Facility Biomolecular & Cellular Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU),Vienna, Austria
| | - Jelle De Vos
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manuela Hofner
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Holzer
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Department for Animal Health, Moedling, Austria
| | - Maria Stadler
- Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriele Manhart
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Margot Egger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder Linz and Ordensklinikum Linz Barmherzige Schwestern, Linz, Austria
| | - Lisa Milchram
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Gludovacz
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicolas Marx
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Köppl
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Christopher Tauer
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Beck
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- BOKU Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- BOKU Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria; Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Peter Satzer
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; CD Laboratory for innovative Immunotherapeutics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Huber
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Wahrmann
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Farsad Eskandary
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Marie-Kathrin Breyer
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, Otto Wagner Hospital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Sieghart
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Quehenberger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerda Leitner
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Strassl
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander E Egger
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Irsara
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gregor Hoermann
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria; MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich, Germany
| | - Günter Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rosa Bellmann-Weiler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Judith Loeffler-Ragg
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicole Borth
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Austria
| | - Alois Jungbauer
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Rainer Hahn
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Boris Hartmann
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Department for Animal Health, Moedling, Austria
| | - Nikolaus B Binder
- Technoclone Herstellung von Diagnostika und Arzneimitteln GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerald Striedner
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; Novasign GmbH Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria; enGenes Biotech GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Weinhäusel
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Dieplinger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder Linz and Ordensklinikum Linz Barmherzige Schwestern, Linz, Austria
| | - Florian Grebien
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Wilhelm Gerner
- Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for an Optimized Prediction of Vaccination Success in Pigs, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Present address: The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph J Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Reingard Grabherr
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
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18
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McNulty MJ, Silberstein DZ, Kuhn BT, Padgett HS, Nandi S, McDonald KA, Cross CE. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and recombinant protein sources with focus on plant sources: Updates, challenges and perspectives. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 163:10-30. [PMID: 33279618 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by low plasma levels of A1AT, a serine protease inhibitor representing the most abundant circulating antiprotease normally present at plasma levels of 1-2 g/L. The dominant clinical manifestations include predispositions to early onset emphysema due to protease/antiprotease imbalance in distal lung parenchyma and liver disease largely due to unsecreted polymerized accumulations of misfolded mutant A1AT within the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. Since 1987, the only FDA licensed specific therapy for the emphysema component has been infusions of A1AT purified from pooled human plasma at the 2020 cost of up to US $200,000/year with the risk of intermittent shortages. In the past three decades various, potentially less expensive, recombinant forms of human A1AT have reached early stages of development, one of which is just reaching the stage of human clinical trials. The focus of this review is to update strategies for the treatment of the pulmonary component of A1ATD with some focus on perspectives for therapeutic production and regulatory approval of a recombinant product from plants. We review other competitive technologies for treating the lung disease manifestations of A1ATD, highlight strategies for the generation of data potentially helpful for securing FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) approval and present challenges in the selection of clinical trial strategies required for FDA licensing of a New Drug Approval (NDA) for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J McNulty
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - David Z Silberstein
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brooks T Kuhn
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; University of California, Davis, Alpha-1 Deficiency Clinic, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | | - Somen Nandi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Global HealthShare Initiative®, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Karen A McDonald
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Global HealthShare Initiative®, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Carroll E Cross
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; University of California, Davis, Alpha-1 Deficiency Clinic, Sacramento, CA, USA; Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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19
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Alvisi N, van Noort K, Dwiani S, Geschiere N, Sukarta O, Varossieau K, Nguyen DL, Strasser R, Hokke CH, Schots A, Wilbers RHP. β-Hexosaminidases Along the Secretory Pathway of Nicotiana benthamiana Have Distinct Specificities Toward Engineered Helminth N-Glycans on Recombinant Glycoproteins. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:638454. [PMID: 33815445 PMCID: PMC8010188 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.638454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Secretions of parasitic worms (helminths) contain a wide collection of immunomodulatory glycoproteins with the potential to treat inflammatory disorders, like autoimmune diseases. Yet, the identification of single molecules that can be developed into novel biopharmaceuticals is hampered by the limited availability of native parasite-derived proteins. Recently, pioneering work has shown that helminth glycoproteins can be produced transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana plants while simultaneously mimicking their native helminth N-glycan composition by co-expression of desired glycosyltransferases. However, efficient "helminthization" of N-glycans in plants by glyco-engineering seems to be hampered by the undesired truncation of complex N-glycans by β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidases, in particular when aiming for the synthesis of N-glycans with antennary GalNAcβ1-4GlcNAc (LacdiNAc or LDN). In this study, we cloned novel β-hexosaminidase open reading frames from N. benthamiana and characterized the biochemical activity of these enzymes. We identified HEXO2 and HEXO3 as enzymes responsible for the cleavage of antennary GalNAc residues of N-glycans on the model helminth glycoprotein kappa-5. Furthermore, we reveal that each member of the HEXO family has a distinct specificity for N-glycan substrates, where HEXO2 has strict β-galactosaminidase activity, whereas HEXO3 cleaves both GlcNAc and GalNAc. The identification of HEXO2 and HEXO3 as major targets for LDN cleavage will enable a targeted genome editing approach to reduce undesired processing of these N-glycans. Effective knockout of these enzymes could allow the production of therapeutically relevant glycoproteins with tailor-made helminth N-glycans in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Alvisi
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Kim van Noort
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sarlita Dwiani
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Nathan Geschiere
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Octavina Sukarta
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Koen Varossieau
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Dieu-Linh Nguyen
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cornelis H. Hokke
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Arjen Schots
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ruud H. P. Wilbers
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Ruud H. P. Wilbers,
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20
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Göritzer K, Strasser R. Glycosylation of Plant-Produced Immunoglobulins. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2021; 112:519-543. [PMID: 34687021 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-76912-3_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many economically important protein-based therapeutics like monoclonal antibodies are glycosylated. Due to the recognized importance of this type of posttranslational modification, glycoengineering of expression systems to obtain highly active and homogenous therapeutics is an emerging field. Although most of the monoclonal antibodies on the market are still produced in mammalian expression platforms, plants are emerging as an alternative cost-effective and scalable production platform that allows precise engineering of glycosylation to produce targeted human glycoforms at large homogeneity. Apart from producing more effective antibodies, pure glycoforms are required in efforts to link biological functions to specific glycan structures. Much is already known about the role of IgG1 glycosylation and this antibody class is the dominant recombinant format that has been expressed in plants. By contrast, little attention has been paid to the glycoengineering of recombinant IgG subtypes and the other four classes of human immunoglobulins (IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM). Except for IgD, all these antibody classes have been expressed in plants and the glycosylation has been analyzed in a site-specific manner. Here, we summarize the current data on glycosylation of plant-produced monoclonal antibodies and discuss the findings in the light of known functions for these glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Strasser
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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21
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Park SH, Ji KY, Kim HM, Ma SH, Park SY, Do JH, Oh DB, Kang HS, Shim JS, Joung YH. Optimization of the human colorectal carcinoma antigen GA733-2 production in tobacco plants. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 15:55-67. [PMID: 33520002 PMCID: PMC7825390 DOI: 10.1007/s11816-020-00657-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The colorectal carcinoma-associated protein GA733-2 is one of the representative candidate protein for the development of plant-derived colorectal cancer vaccine. Despite of its significant importance for colorectal vaccine development, low efficiency of GA733-2 production limits its wide applications. To improve productivity of GA733-2 in plants, we here tested multiple factors that affect expression of recombinant GA733-2 (rGA733-2) and rGA733 fused to fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain (rGA733-Fc) protein. The rGA733-2 and rGA733-Fc proteins were highly expressed when the pBINPLUS vector system was used for transient expression in tobacco plants. In addition, the length of interval between rGA733-2 and left border of T-DNA affected the expression of rGA733 protein. Transient expression analysis using various combinations of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains (C58C1, LBA4404, and GV3101) and tobacco species (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc and Nicotiana benthamiana) revealed that higher accumulation of rGA733-2 and rGA733-Fc proteins were obtained by combination of A. tumefaciens LBA4404 and Nicotiana benthamiana. Transgenic plants generated by introduction of the rGA733-2 and rGA733-Fc expression cassettes also significantly accumulated corresponding recombinant proteins. Bioactivity and stability of the plant-derived rGA733 and rGA733-Fc were evaluated by further in vitro assay, western blot and N-glycosylation analysis. Collectively, we here suggest the optimal condition for efficient production of functional rGA733-2 protein in tobacco system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Hee Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Kon-Young Ji
- Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054 Korea
| | - Hyun Min Kim
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Ma
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Seo Young Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Ju Hui Do
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Doo-Byoung Oh
- Synthetic Biology and Bioengineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141 Korea
- Department of Biosystems and Bioengineering, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113 Korea
| | - Hyung Sik Kang
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Jae Sung Shim
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
| | - Young Hee Joung
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186 Korea
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22
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Gattinger P, Izadi S, Grünwald-Gruber C, Kallolimath S, Castilho A. The Instability of Dimeric Fc-Fusions Expressed in Plants Can Be Solved by Monomeric Fc Technology. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:671728. [PMID: 34305971 PMCID: PMC8299721 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.671728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The potential therapeutic value of many proteins is ultimately limited by their rapid in vivo clearance. One strategy to limit clearance by metabolism and excretion, and improving the stability of therapeutic proteins, is their fusion to the immunoglobulin fragment crystallizable region (Fc). The Fc region plays multiple roles in (i) dimerization for the formation of "Y"-shaped structure of Ig, (ii) Fc-mediated effector functions, (iii) extension of serum half-life, and (iv) a cost-effective purification tag. Plants and in particular Nicotiana benthamiana have proven to be suitable expression platforms for several recombinant therapeutic proteins. Despite the enormous success of their use for the production of full-length monoclonal antibodies, the expression of Fc-fused therapeutic proteins in plants has shown limitations. Many Fc-fusion proteins expressed in plants show different degrees of instability resulting in high amounts of Fc-derived degradation products. To address this issue, we used erythropoietin (EPO) as a reporter protein and evaluated the efforts to enhance the expression of full-length EPO-Fc targeted to the apoplast of N. benthamiana. Our results show that the instability of the fusion protein is independent from the Fc origin or IgG subclass and from the peptide sequence used to link the two domains. We also show that a similar instability occurs upon the expression of individual heavy chains of monoclonal antibodies and ScFv-Fc that mimic the "Y"-shape of antibodies but lack the light chain. We propose that in this configuration, steric hindrance between the protein domains leads to physical instability. Indeed, mutations of critical residues located on the Fc dimerization interface allowed the expression of fully stable EPO monomeric Fc-fusion proteins. We discuss the limitations of Fc-fusion technology in N. benthamiana transient expression systems and suggest strategies to optimize the Fc-based scaffolds on their folding and aggregation resistance in order to improve the stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Gattinger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute for Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shiva Izadi
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute for Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Somanath Kallolimath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute for Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Castilho
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute for Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Alexandra Castilho,
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23
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Margolin E, Crispin M, Meyers A, Chapman R, Rybicki EP. A Roadmap for the Molecular Farming of Viral Glycoprotein Vaccines: Engineering Glycosylation and Glycosylation-Directed Folding. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:609207. [PMID: 33343609 PMCID: PMC7744475 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.609207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Immunization with recombinant glycoprotein-based vaccines is a promising approach to induce protective immunity against viruses. However, the complex biosynthetic maturation requirements of these glycoproteins typically necessitate their production in mammalian cells to support their folding and post-translational modification. Despite these clear advantages, the incumbent costs and infrastructure requirements with this approach can be prohibitive in developing countries, and the production scales and timelines may prove limiting when applying these production systems to the control of pandemic viral outbreaks. Plant molecular farming of viral glycoproteins has been suggested as a cheap and rapidly scalable alternative production system, with the potential to perform post-translational modifications that are comparable to mammalian cells. Consequently, plant-produced glycoprotein vaccines for seasonal and pandemic influenza have shown promise in clinical trials, and vaccine candidates against the newly emergent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 have entered into late stage preclinical and clinical testing. However, many other viral glycoproteins accumulate poorly in plants, and are not appropriately processed along the secretory pathway due to differences in the host cellular machinery. Furthermore, plant-derived glycoproteins often contain glycoforms that are antigenically distinct from those present on the native virus, and may also be under-glycosylated in some instances. Recent advances in the field have increased the complexity and yields of biologics that can be produced in plants, and have now enabled the expression of many viral glycoproteins which could not previously be produced in plant systems. In contrast to the empirical optimization that predominated during the early years of molecular farming, the next generation of plant-made products are being produced by developing rational, tailor-made approaches to support their production. This has involved the elimination of plant-specific glycoforms and the introduction into plants of elements of the biosynthetic machinery from different expression hosts. These approaches have resulted in the production of mammalian N-linked glycans and the formation of O-glycan moieties in planta. More recently, plant molecular engineering approaches have also been applied to improve the glycan occupancy of proteins which are not appropriately glycosylated, and to support the folding and processing of viral glycoproteins where the cellular machinery differs from the usual expression host of the protein. Here we highlight recent achievements and remaining challenges in glycoengineering and the engineering of glycosylation-directed folding pathways in plants, and discuss how these can be applied to produce recombinant viral glycoproteins vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Max Crispin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ann Meyers
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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24
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Kittur FS, Hung CY, Zhu C, Shajahan A, Azadi P, Thomas MD, Pearce JL, Gruber C, Kallolimath S, Xie J. Glycoengineering tobacco plants to stably express recombinant human erythropoietin with different N-glycan profiles. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 157:158-169. [PMID: 32348856 PMCID: PMC8349175 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Plant-based expression system has many potential advantages to produce biopharmaceuticals, but plants cannot be directly used to express human glycoproteins because of their differences in glycosylation abilities from mammals. To exploit plant-based expression system for producing recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO), we glycoengineered tobacco plants by stably introducing seven to eight mammalian genes including a target human EPO into tobacco in order to generate capacities for β1,4-galactosylation, bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and sialylation. Wild type human β1,4-galactosyltransferase gene (GalT) or a chimeric GalT gene (ST/GalT) was co-expressed to produce rhuEPO bearing β1,4-galactose-extended N-glycan chains as well as compare their β1,4-galactosylation efficiencies. Five mammalian genes encoding enzymes/transporter for sialic acid biosynthesis, transport and transfer were co-expressed to build sialylation capacity in plants. The human MGAT3 was co-expressed to produce N-glycan chains with bisecting GlcNAc. Our results demonstrated that the above transgenes were incorporated into tobacco genome and transcribed. ST/GalT was found to be more efficient than GalT for β1,4-galactosylation. Furthermore, co-expressing MGAT3 generated N-glycans likely bearing bisected GlcNAc. However, our current efforts did not result in generating sialylation capacity. Created transgenic plants expressing EPO and ST/GalT could be used to produce rhuEPO with high proportion of β1,4-galactose-extended N-glycan chains for tissue protective purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farooqahmed S Kittur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
| | - Chiu-Yueh Hung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
| | - Chuanshu Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA; College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Asif Shajahan
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Michelle D Thomas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
| | - Jackson L Pearce
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
| | - Clemens Gruber
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Somanath Kallolimath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jiahua Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA.
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25
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Chen Q, Tan Z, Guan F, Ren Y. The Essential Functions and Detection of Bisecting GlcNAc in Cell Biology. Front Chem 2020; 8:511. [PMID: 32719771 PMCID: PMC7350706 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The N-glycans of mammalian glycoproteins vary greatly in structure, and the biological importance of these variations is mostly unknown. It is widely acknowledged that the bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) structure, a β1,4-linked GlcNAc attached to the core β-mannose residue, represents a special type of N-glycosylated modification, and it has been reported to be involved in various biological processes, such as cell adhesion, fertilization and fetal development, neuritogenesis, and tumor development. In particular, the occurrence of N-glycans with a bisecting GlcNAc modification on proteins has been proven, with many implications for immune biology. Due to the essential functions of bisecting GlcNAc structures, analytical approaches to this modification are highly required. The traditional approach that has been used for bisecting GlcNAc determinations is based on the lectin recognition of Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin (PHA-E); however, poor binding specificity hinders the application of this method. With the development of mass spectrometry (MS) with high resolution and improved sensitivity and accuracy, MS-based glycomic analysis has provided precise characterization and quantification for glycosylation modification. In this review, we first provide an overview of the bisecting GlcNAc structure and its biological importance in neurological systems, immune tolerance, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and tumor metastasis and development and then summarize approaches to its determination by MS for performing precise functional studies. This review is valuable for those readers who are interested in the importance of bisecting GlcNAc in cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiushi Chen
- Clinical Laboratory of BGI Health, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zengqi Tan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Glycobiology and Medical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Guan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Glycobiology and Medical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Ren
- Clinical Laboratory of BGI Health, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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26
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Kriechbaum R, Ziaee E, Grünwald‐Gruber C, Buscaill P, van der Hoorn RAL, Castilho A. BGAL1 depletion boosts the level of β-galactosylation of N- and O-glycans in N. benthamiana. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 18:1537-1549. [PMID: 31837192 PMCID: PMC7292537 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Glyco-design of proteins is a powerful tool in fundamental studies of structure-function relationship and in obtaining profiles optimized for efficacy of therapeutic glycoproteins. Plants, particularly Nicotiana benthamiana, are attractive hosts to produce recombinant glycoproteins, and recent advances in glyco-engineering facilitate customized N-glycosylation of plant-derived glycoproteins. However, with exception of monoclonal antibodies, homogenous human-like β1,4-galactosylation is very hard to achieve in recombinant glycoproteins. Despite significant efforts to optimize the expression of β1,4-galactosyltransferase, many plant-derived glycoproteins still exhibit incomplete processed N-glycans with heterogeneous terminal galactosylation. The most obvious suspects to be involved in trimming terminal galactose residues are β-galactosidases (BGALs) from the glycosyl hydrolase family GH35. To elucidate the so far uncharacterized mechanisms leading to the trimming of terminal galactose residues from glycans of secreted proteins, we studied a N. benthamiana BGAL known to be active in the apoplast (NbBGAL1). Here, we determined the NbBGAL1 subcellular localization, substrate specificity and in planta biological activity. We show that NbBGAL1 can remove β1,4- and β1,3-galactose residues on both N- and O-glycans. Transient BGAL1 down-regulation by RNA interference (RNAi) and BGAL1 depletion by genome editing drastically reduce β-galactosidase activity in N. benthamiana and increase the amounts of fully galactosylated complex N-glycans on several plant-produced glycoproteins. Altogether, our data demonstrate that NbBGAL1 acts on galactosylated complex N-glycans of plant-produced glycoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda Kriechbaum
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Esmaiel Ziaee
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of AgricultureShiraz UniversityShirazIran
| | | | - Pierre Buscaill
- The Plant Chemetics LaboratoryDepartment of Plant SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Alexandra Castilho
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
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27
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Barolo L, Abbriano RM, Commault AS, George J, Kahlke T, Fabris M, Padula MP, Lopez A, Ralph PJ, Pernice M. Perspectives for Glyco-Engineering of Recombinant Biopharmaceuticals from Microalgae. Cells 2020; 9:E633. [PMID: 32151094 PMCID: PMC7140410 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microalgae exhibit great potential for recombinant therapeutic protein production, due to lower production costs, immunity to human pathogens, and advanced genetic toolkits. However, a fundamental aspect to consider for recombinant biopharmaceutical production is the presence of correct post-translational modifications. Multiple recent studies focusing on glycosylation in microalgae have revealed unique species-specific patterns absent in humans. Glycosylation is particularly important for protein function and is directly responsible for recombinant biopharmaceutical immunogenicity. Therefore, it is necessary to fully characterise this key feature in microalgae before these organisms can be established as industrially relevant microbial biofactories. Here, we review the work done to date on production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals in microalgae, experimental and computational evidence for N- and O-glycosylation in diverse microalgal groups, established approaches for glyco-engineering, and perspectives for their application in microalgal systems. The insights from this review may be applied to future glyco-engineering attempts to humanize recombinant therapeutic proteins and to potentially obtain cheaper, fully functional biopharmaceuticals from microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Barolo
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Raffaela M. Abbriano
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Audrey S. Commault
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Jestin George
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Tim Kahlke
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Michele Fabris
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Matthew P. Padula
- School of Life Sciences and Proteomics Core Facility, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia;
| | - Angelo Lopez
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK;
| | - Peter J. Ralph
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway Campus, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia; (R.M.A.); (A.S.C.); (J.G.); (T.K.); (M.F.); (P.J.R.)
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28
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Sainsbury F. Innovation in plant-based transient protein expression for infectious disease prevention and preparedness. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 61:110-115. [PMID: 31816585 PMCID: PMC7127347 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Addressing new challenges in global health and biosecurity requires responsive and accessible platforms for the manufacture of preventative or therapeutic interventions. Transient protein expression in plants has evolved into a technology that offers a unique combination of rapid expression, inherent scalability, and flexibility in gene stacking with the capability to produce complex proteins and protein assemblies. Technical developments that have driven the progress of transient expression in plants include advanced expression systems, protein engineering and synthetic biology approaches to transiently, or stably, modify host plants. The plasticity of transient expression in plants, speed of scalability and relatively low capital costs, highlight the great potential of this technology in the future of human and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Sainsbury
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.
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29
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Bohlender LL, Parsons J, Hoernstein SNW, Rempfer C, Ruiz-Molina N, Lorenz T, Rodríguez Jahnke F, Figl R, Fode B, Altmann F, Reski R, Decker EL. Stable Protein Sialylation in Physcomitrella. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:610032. [PMID: 33391325 PMCID: PMC7775405 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.610032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Recombinantly produced proteins are indispensable tools for medical applications. Since the majority of them are glycoproteins, their N-glycosylation profiles are major determinants for their activity, structural properties and safety. For therapeutical applications, a glycosylation pattern adapted to product and treatment requirements is advantageous. Physcomitrium patens (Physcomitrella, moss) is able to perform highly homogeneous complex-type N-glycosylation. Additionally, it has been glyco-engineered to eliminate plant-specific sugar residues by knock-out of the β1,2-xylosyltransferase and α1,3-fucosyltransferase genes (Δxt/ft). Furthermore, Physcomitrella meets wide-ranging biopharmaceutical requirements such as GMP compliance, product safety, scalability and outstanding possibilities for precise genome engineering. However, all plants, in contrast to mammals, lack the capability to perform N-glycan sialylation. Since sialic acids are a common terminal modification on human N-glycans, the property to perform N-glycan sialylation is highly desired within the plant-based biopharmaceutical sector. In this study, we present the successful achievement of protein N-glycan sialylation in stably transformed Physcomitrella. The sialylation ability was achieved in a Δxt/ft moss line by stable expression of seven mammalian coding sequences combined with targeted organelle-specific localization of the encoded enzymes responsible for the generation of β1,4-galactosylated acceptor N-glycans as well as the synthesis, activation, transport and transfer of sialic acid. Production of free (Neu5Ac) and activated (CMP-Neu5Ac) sialic acid was proven. The glycosidic anchor for the attachment of terminal sialic acid was generated by the introduction of a chimeric human β1,4-galactosyltransferase gene under the simultaneous knock-out of the gene encoding the endogenous β1,3-galactosyltransferase. Functional complex-type N-glycan sialylation was confirmed via mass spectrometric analysis of a stably co-expressed recombinant human protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennard L. Bohlender
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Juliana Parsons
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Christine Rempfer
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Natalia Ruiz-Molina
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Timo Lorenz
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fernando Rodríguez Jahnke
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Figl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Friedrich Altmann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva L. Decker
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Eva L. Decker,
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Sialoglycans and genetically engineered plants. SIALIC ACIDS AND SIALOGLYCOCONJUGATES IN THE BIOLOGY OF LIFE, HEALTH AND DISEASE 2020. [PMCID: PMC7153322 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816126-5.00002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Plants express N-glycosylation pathways and produce N-glycosylated proteins but differ from the mammalian-type proteins. Therefore attempts are made to design and engineer plant glycosylation pathways that can produce mammalian-type glycosylated moieties so that large quantities of biopharmaceuticals compatible to the human body can be produced. Most of the studies of plant expression systems for molecular farming have been conducted on Nicotiana sp. and genetic engineering and molecular biology tools have enabled the generation of glycoengineered plant for human use in the production of therapeutic recombinant proteins. We have discussed in this chapter the advances of glycoengineering in plants with special reference to the reconstruction of silaylation pathways in plants and the latest application in the production of antibody and therapeutics in plants.
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β-N-Acetylhexosaminidases-the wizards of glycosylation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:7869-7881. [PMID: 31401752 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-10065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
β-N-Acetylhexosaminidases (EC 3.2.1.52) are a unique family of glycoside hydrolases with dual substrate specificity and a particular reaction mechanism. Though hydrolytic enzymes per se, their good stability, easy recombinant production, absolute stereoselectivity, and a broad substrate specificity predestine these enzymes for challenging applications in carbohydrate synthesis. This mini-review aims to demonstrate the catalytic potential of β-N-acetylhexosaminidases in a range of unusual reactions, processing of unnatural substrates, formation of unexpected products, and demanding reaction designs. The use of unconventional media can considerably alter the progress of transglycosylation reactions. By means of site-directed mutagenesis, novel catalytic machineries can be constructed. Glycosylation of difficult substrates such as sugar nucleotides was accomplished, and the range of afforded glycosidic bonds comprises unique non-reducing sugars. Specific functional groups may be tolerated in the substrate molecule, which makes β-N-acetylhexosaminidases invaluable allies in difficult synthetic problems.
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Abstract
Antibodies are immunoglobulins that play essential roles in immune systems. All antibodies are glycoproteins that carry at least one or more conserved N-linked oligosaccharides (N-glycans) at the Fc domain. Many studies have demonstrated that both the presence and fine structures of the attached glycans can exert a profound impact on the biological functions and therapeutic efficacy of antibodies. However, antibodies usually exist as mixtures of heterogeneous glycoforms that are difficult to separate in pure glycoforms. Recent progress in glycoengineering has provided useful methods that enable production of glycan-defined and site-selectively modified antibodies for functional studies and for improved therapeutic efficacy. This review highlights major approaches in glycoengineering of antibodies with a focus on recent advances in three areas: glycoengineering through glycan biosynthetic pathway manipulation, glycoengineering through in vitro chemoenzymatic glycan remodeling, and glycoengineering of antibodies for site-specific antibody-drug conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai-Xi Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; , , , ,
| | - Xin Tong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; , , , ,
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; , , , ,
| | - John P Giddens
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; , , , ,
| | - Tiezheng Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; , , , ,
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Lu G, Holland LA. Profiling the N-Glycan Composition of IgG with Lectins and Capillary Nanogel Electrophoresis. Anal Chem 2018; 91:1375-1383. [PMID: 30525457 PMCID: PMC6335613 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Glycosylated human
IgG contains fucosylated biantennary N-glycans with
different modifications including N-acetylglucosamine,
which bisects the mannose core. Although
only a limited number of IgG N-glycan structures
are possible, human IgG N-glycans are predominantly
biantennary and fucosylated and contain varying levels of α2–6-linked
sialic acid, galactose, and bisected N-acetylglucosamine.
Monitoring the relative abundance of bisecting N-acetylglucosamine
is relevant to physiological processes. A rapid, inexpensive, and
automated method is used to successfully profile N-linked IgG glycans
and is suitable to distinguish differences in bisection, galactosylation,
and sialylation in N-glycans derived from different
sources of human IgG. The separation is facilitated with self-assembled
nanogels that also contain a single stationary zone of lectin. When
the lectin specificity matches the N-glycan, the
peak disappears from the electropherogram, identifying the N-glycan structure. The nanogel electrophoresis generates
separation efficiencies of 500 000 plates and resolves the
positional isomers of monogalactosylated biantennary N-glycan and the monogalactosylated bisected N-glycan. Aleuria aurantia lectin, Erythrina cristagalli lectin (ECL), Sambucus nigra lectin, and Phaseolus vulgaris Erythroagglutinin (PHA-E) are used to
identify fucose, galactose, α2–6-linked sialic acid,
and bisected N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. Although
PHA-E lectin has a strong binding affinity for bisected N-glycans that also contain a terminal galactose on the α1–6-linked
mannose branch, this lectin has lower affinity for N-glycans containing terminal galactose and for agalactosylated bisected
biantennary N-glycans. The lower affinity to these
motifs is observed in the electropherograms as a change in peak width,
which when used in conjunction with the results from the ECL lectin
authenticates the composition of the agalactosylated bisected biantennary N-glycan. For runs performed at 17 °C, the precision
in migration time and peak area was less than or equal to 0.08 and
4% relative standard deviation, respectively. The method is compatible
with electrokinetic and hydrodynamic injections, with detection limits
of 70 and 300 pM, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Lu
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry , West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia 26506 , United States
| | - Lisa A Holland
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry , West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia 26506 , United States
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Castilho A, Beihammer G, Pfeiffer C, Göritzer K, Montero‐Morales L, Vavra U, Maresch D, Grünwald‐Gruber C, Altmann F, Steinkellner H, Strasser R. An oligosaccharyltransferase from Leishmania major increases the N-glycan occupancy on recombinant glycoproteins produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1700-1709. [PMID: 29479800 PMCID: PMC6131413 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
N-glycosylation is critical for recombinant glycoprotein production as it influences the heterogeneity of products and affects their biological function. In most eukaryotes, the oligosaccharyltransferase is the central-protein complex facilitating the N-glycosylation of proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Not all potential N-glycosylation sites are recognized in vivo and the site occupancy can vary in different expression systems, resulting in underglycosylation of recombinant glycoproteins. To overcome this limitation in plants, we expressed LmSTT3D, a single-subunit oligosaccharyltransferase from the protozoan Leishmania major transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana, a well-established production platform for recombinant proteins. A fluorescent protein-tagged LmSTT3D variant was predominately found in the ER and co-located with plant oligosaccharyltransferase subunits. Co-expression of LmSTT3D with immunoglobulins and other recombinant human glycoproteins resulted in a substantially increased N-glycosylation site occupancy on all N-glycosylation sites except those that were already more than 90% occupied. Our results show that the heterologous expression of LmSTT3D is a versatile tool to increase N-glycosylation efficiency in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Castilho
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Gernot Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Christina Pfeiffer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Kathrin Göritzer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Laura Montero‐Morales
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Friedrich Altmann
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
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Espinosa-Leal CA, Puente-Garza CA, García-Lara S. In vitro plant tissue culture: means for production of biological active compounds. PLANTA 2018; 248:1-18. [PMID: 29736623 PMCID: PMC7088179 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-2910-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Plant tissue culture as an important tool for the continuous production of active compounds including secondary metabolites and engineered molecules. Novel methods (gene editing, abiotic stress) can improve the technique. Humans have a long history of reliance on plants for a supply of food, shelter and, most importantly, medicine. Current-day pharmaceuticals are typically based on plant-derived metabolites, with new products being discovered constantly. Nevertheless, the consistent and uniform supply of plant pharmaceuticals has often been compromised. One alternative for the production of important plant active compounds is in vitro plant tissue culture, as it assures independence from geographical conditions by eliminating the need to rely on wild plants. Plant transformation also allows the further use of plants for the production of engineered compounds, such as vaccines and multiple pharmaceuticals. This review summarizes the important bioactive compounds currently produced by plant tissue culture and the fundamental methods and plants employed for their production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Espinosa-Leal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, NL, México
| | - César A Puente-Garza
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, NL, México
| | - Silverio García-Lara
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, NL, México.
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Montero-Morales L, Steinkellner H. Advanced Plant-Based Glycan Engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:81. [PMID: 29963553 PMCID: PMC6010556 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
With respect to biomanufacturing, glycosylation is one of the most addressed post-translational modifications, since it is well-known that the attachment of sugar residues efficiently affects protein homogeneity and functionality. Much effort has been taken into engineering various expression systems to control glycosylation and to generate molecules with targeted sugar profiles. Nevertheless, engineering of N- and O-linked glycans on well-established expression systems remains challenging. On the one side the glycosylation machinery in mammalian cells is hard to control due to its complexity. Most bacteria, on the other side, completely lack such glycan formations, and in general exhibit fundamental differences in their glycosylation abilities. Beyond that, plants generate complex N-glycans typical of higher eukaryotes, but simpler than those produced by mammals. Paradoxically, it seems that the limited glycosylation capacity of plant cells is an advantage for specific glycan manipulations. This review focuses on recent achievements in plant glycan engineering and provides a short outlook on how new developments (in synthetic biology) might have a positive impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Montero-Morales
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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37
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Rozov SM, Permyakova NV, Deineko EV. Main Strategies of Plant Expression System Glycoengineering for Producing Humanized Recombinant Pharmaceutical Proteins. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2018; 83:215-232. [PMID: 29625542 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297918030033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Most the pharmaceutical proteins are derived not from their natural sources, rather their recombinant analogs are synthesized in various expression systems. Plant expression systems, unlike mammalian cell cultures, combine simplicity and low cost of procaryotic systems and the ability for posttranslational modifications inherent in eucaryotes. More than 50% of all human proteins and more than 40% of the currently used pharmaceutical proteins are glycosylated, that is, they are glycoproteins, and their biological activity, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity depend on the correct glycosylation pattern. This review examines in detail the similarities and differences between N- and O-glycosylation in plant and mammalian cells, as well as the effect of plant glycans on the activity, pharmacokinetics, immunity, and intensity of biosynthesis of pharmaceutical proteins. The main current strategies of glycoengineering of plant expression systems aimed at obtaining fully humanized proteins for pharmaceutical application are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Rozov
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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Glyco-Engineering of Plant-Based Expression Systems. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 175:137-166. [PMID: 30069741 DOI: 10.1007/10_2018_76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Most secreted proteins in eukaryotes are glycosylated, and after a number of common biosynthesis steps the glycan structures mature in a species-dependent manner. Therefore, human therapeutic proteins produced in plants often carry plant-like rather than human-like glycans, which can affect protein stability, biological function, and immunogenicity. The glyco-engineering of plant-based expression systems began as a strategy to eliminate plant-like glycans and produce human proteins with authentic or at least compatible glycan structures. The precise replication of human glycans is challenging, owing to the absence of a pathway in plants for the synthesis of sialylated proteins and the necessary precursors, but this can now be achieved by the coordinated expression of multiple human enzymes. Although the research community has focused on the removal of plant glycans and their replacement with human counterparts, the presence of plant glycans on proteins can also provide benefits, such as boosting the immunogenicity of some vaccines, facilitating the interaction between therapeutic proteins and their receptors, and increasing the efficacy of antibody effector functions. Graphical Abstract Typical structures of native mammalian and plant glycans with symbols indicating sugar residues identified by their short form and single-letter codes. Both glycans contain fucose, albeit with different linkages.
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39
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Hanania U, Ariel T, Tekoah Y, Fux L, Sheva M, Gubbay Y, Weiss M, Oz D, Azulay Y, Turbovski A, Forster Y, Shaaltiel Y. Establishment of a tobacco BY2 cell line devoid of plant-specific xylose and fucose as a platform for the production of biotherapeutic proteins. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2017; 15:1120-1129. [PMID: 28160363 PMCID: PMC5552476 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plant-produced glycoproteins contain N-linked glycans with plant-specific residues of β(1,2)-xylose and core α(1,3)-fucose, which do not exist in mammalian-derived proteins. Although our experience with two enzymes that are used for enzyme replacement therapy does not indicate that the plant sugar residues have deleterious effects, we made a conscious decision to eliminate these moieties from plant-expressed proteins. We knocked out the β(1,2)-xylosyltranferase (XylT) and the α(1,3)-fucosyltransferase (FucT) genes, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow 2 (BY2) cell suspension. In total, we knocked out 14 loci. The knocked-out lines were stable, viable and exhibited a typical BY2 growing rate. Glycan analysis of the endogenous proteins of these lines exhibited N-linked glycans lacking β(1,2)-xylose and/or α(1,3)-fucose. The knocked-out lines were further transformed successfully with recombinant DNaseI. The expression level and the activity of the recombinant protein were similar to that of the protein produced in the wild-type BY2 cells. The recombinant DNaseI was shown to be totally free from any xylose and/or fucose residues. The glyco-engineered BY2 lines provide a valuable platform for producing potent biopharmaceutical products. Furthermore, these results demonstrate the power of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology for multiplex gene editing in BY2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liat Fux
- Protalix BiotherapeuticsCarmielIsrael
| | | | | | | | - Dina Oz
- Protalix BiotherapeuticsCarmielIsrael
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40
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Gurusamy PD, Schäfer H, Ramamoorthy S, Wink M. Biologically active recombinant human erythropoietin expressed in hairy root cultures and regenerated plantlets of Nicotiana tabacum L. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182367. [PMID: 28800637 PMCID: PMC5553650 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hairy root culture is a potential alternative to conventional mammalian cell culture to produce recombinant proteins due to its ease in protein recovery, low costs and absence of potentially human pathogenic contaminants. The current study focussed to develop a new platform of a hairy root culture system from Nicotiana tabacum for the production of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO), which is regularly produced in mammalian cells. The human EPO construct was amplified with C-terminal hexahistidine tag from a cDNA of Caco-2 cells. Two versions of rhEPO clones, with or without the N-terminal calreticulin (cal) fusion sequence, were produced by cloning the amplified construct into gateway binary vector pK7WG2D. Following Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation of tobacco explants; integration and expression of constructs in hairy roots were confirmed by several tests at DNA, RNA and protein levels. The amount of intracellular rhEPO from hairy root cultures with cal signal peptide was measured up to 66.75 ng g-1 of total soluble protein. The presence of the ER signal peptide (cal) was essential for the secretion of rhEPO into the spent medium; no protein was detected from hairy root cultures without ER signal peptide. The addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone enhanced the stabilization of secreted rhEPO leading to a 5.6 fold increase to a maximum concentration of 185.48 pg rhEPOHR g-1 FW hairy root cultures. The rhizo-secreted rhEPO was separated by HPLC and its biological activity was confirmed by testing distinct parameters for proliferation and survival in retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE). In addition, the rhEPO was detected to an amount 14.8 ng g-1 of total soluble leaf protein in transgenic T0 generation plantlets regenerated from hairy root cultures with cal signal peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poornima Devi Gurusamy
- Department of Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Holger Schäfer
- Department of Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Siva Ramamoorthy
- School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, India
| | - Michael Wink
- Department of Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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41
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Falck D, Haberger M, Plomp R, Hook M, Bulau P, Wuhrer M, Reusch D. Affinity purification of erythropoietin from cell culture supernatant combined with MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of erythropoietin N-glycosylation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5324. [PMID: 28706253 PMCID: PMC5509673 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a heavily glycosylated hormone whose recombinant forms are used for treatment of anaemia. EPO glycosylation is important for its pharmacological properties. An analytical workflow, which can determine EPO glycosylation in an accurate and high-throughput fashion from cell culture supernatant (CCS) in approximately 24 h, offers the possibility to follow changes during production. To address this challenge, we present a complete workflow consisting of protein purification, glycan release, sialic acid derivatization, solid phase extraction, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis and MassyTools data processing. EPO purification from CCS by anti-EPO antibody coupled Sepharose beads yielded excellent purity with acceptable recovery and was free of glycoform bias. Glycosylation profiles obtained by MALDI-MS were highly comparable to those obtained with an established capillary gel electrophoresis–laser induced fluorescence method. Our method delivers accurate results for the analysis of changes of important glycosylation parameters, such as sialylation and number of N-acetyllactosamine units, for the time course of a fermentation. We could resolve differences in glycosylation between several CCS samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Falck
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Markus Haberger
- Pharma Biotech Development Penzberg, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, 82377, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Rosina Plomp
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michaela Hook
- Pharma Biotech Development Penzberg, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, 82377, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Bulau
- Pharma Biotech Development Penzberg, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, 82377, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Manfred Wuhrer
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dietmar Reusch
- Pharma Biotech Development Penzberg, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, 82377, Penzberg, Germany
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42
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Schoberer J, Strasser R. Plant glyco-biotechnology. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 80:133-141. [PMID: 28688929 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Glycosylation is an important protein modification in all eukaryotes. Whereas the early asparagine-linked glycosylation (N-glycosylation) and N-glycan processing steps in the endoplasmic reticulum are conserved between mammals and plants, the maturation of complex N-glycans in the Golgi apparatus differs considerably. Due to a restricted number of Golgi-resident N-glycan processing enzymes and the absence of nucleotide sugars such as CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid, plants produce only a limited repertoire of different N-glycan structures. Moreover, mammalian mucin-type O-glycosylation of serine or threonine residues has not been described in plants and the required machinery is not encoded in their genome which enables de novo build-up of the pathway. As a consequence, plants are very well-suited for the production of homogenous N- and O-glycans and are increasingly used for the production of recombinant glycoproteins with custom-made glycans that may result in the generation of biopharmaceuticals with improved therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Schoberer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
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Slámová K, Bojarová P. Engineered N-acetylhexosamine-active enzymes in glycoscience. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:2070-2087. [PMID: 28347843 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, enzymes modifying N-acetylhexosamine substrates have emerged in numerous theoretical studies as well as practical applications from biology, biomedicine, and biotechnology. Advanced enzyme engineering techniques converted them into potent synthetic instruments affording a variety of valuable glycosides. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review presents the diversity of engineered enzymes active with N-acetylhexosamine carbohydrates: from popular glycoside hydrolases and glycosyltransferases to less known oxidases, epimerases, kinases, sulfotransferases, and acetylases. Though hydrolases in natura, engineered chitinases, β-N-acetylhexosaminidases, and endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases were successfully employed in the synthesis of defined natural and derivatized chitooligomers and in the remodeling of N-glycosylation patterns of therapeutic antibodies. The genes of various N-acetylhexosaminyltransferases were cloned into metabolically engineered microorganisms for producing human milk oligosaccharides, Lewis X structures, and human-like glycoproteins. Moreover, mutant N-acetylhexosamine-active glycosyltransferases were applied, e.g., in the construction of glycomimetics and complex glycostructures, industrial production of low-lactose milk, and metabolic labeling of glycans. In the synthesis of biotechnologically important compounds, several innovative glycoengineered systems are presented for an efficient bioproduction of GlcNAc, UDP-GlcNAc, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and of defined glycosaminoglycans. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The above examples demonstrate that engineering of N-acetylhexosamine-active enzymes was able to solve complex issues such as synthesis of tailored human-like glycoproteins or industrial-scale production of desired oligosaccharides. Due to the specific catalytic mechanism, mutagenesis of these catalysts was often realized through rational solutions. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Specific N-acetylhexosamine glycosylation is crucial in biological, biomedical and biotechnological applications and a good understanding of its details opens new possibilities in this fast developing area of glycoscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Slámová
- Laboratory of Biotransformation, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Bojarová
- Laboratory of Biotransformation, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
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44
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Shin Y, Castilho A, Dicker M, Sádio F, Vavra U, Grünwald‐Gruber C, Kwon T, Altmann F, Steinkellner H, Strasser R. Reduced paucimannosidic N-glycan formation by suppression of a specific β-hexosaminidase from Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2017; 15:197-206. [PMID: 27421111 PMCID: PMC5259580 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants are attractive hosts for the production of recombinant glycoproteins for therapeutic use. Recent advances in glyco-engineering facilitate the elimination of nonmammalian-type glycosylation and introduction of missing pathways for customized N-glycan formation. However, some therapeutically relevant recombinant glycoproteins exhibit unwanted truncated (paucimannosidic) N-glycans that lack GlcNAc residues at the nonreducing terminal end. These paucimannosidic N-glycans increase product heterogeneity and may affect the biological function of the recombinant drugs. Here, we identified two enzymes, β-hexosaminidases (HEXOs) that account for the formation of paucimannosidic N-glycans in Nicotiana benthamiana, a widely used expression host for recombinant proteins. Subcellular localization studies showed that HEXO1 is a vacuolar protein and HEXO3 is mainly located at the plasma membrane in N. benthamiana leaf epidermal cells. Both enzymes are functional and can complement the corresponding HEXO-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants. In planta expression of HEXO3 demonstrated that core α1,3-fucose enhances the trimming of GlcNAc residues from the Fc domain of human IgG. Finally, using RNA interference, we show that suppression of HEXO3 expression can be applied to increase the amounts of complex N-glycans on plant-produced human α1-antitrypsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun‐Ji Shin
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Alexandra Castilho
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Martina Dicker
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Flavio Sádio
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | | | - Friedrich Altmann
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
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45
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Khan AH, Bayat H, Rajabibazl M, Sabri S, Rahimpour A. Humanizing glycosylation pathways in eukaryotic expression systems. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 33:4. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-016-2172-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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46
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Le NPL, Bowden TA, Struwe WB, Crispin M. Immune recruitment or suppression by glycan engineering of endogenous and therapeutic antibodies. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2016; 1860:1655-68. [PMID: 27105835 PMCID: PMC4922387 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Human serum IgG contains multiple glycoforms which exhibit a range of binding properties to effector molecules such as cellular Fc receptors. Emerging knowledge of how the Fc glycans contribute to the antibody structure and effector functions has opened new avenues for the exploitation of defined antibody glycoforms in the treatment of diseases. Here, we review the structure and activity of antibody glycoforms and highlight developments in antibody glycoengineering by both the manipulation of the cellular glycosylation machinery and by chemoenzymatic synthesis. We discuss wide ranging applications of antibody glycoengineering in the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity and inflammation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Glycans in personalised medicine" Guest Editor: Professor Gordan Lauc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Phuong Lan Le
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Weston B Struwe
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Max Crispin
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom.
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47
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Abstract
Sialic acids (Sias) are abundant terminal modifications of protein-linked glycans. A unique feature of Sia, compared with other monosaccharides, is the formation of linear homo-polymers, with its most complex form polysialic acid (polySia). Sia and polySia mediate diverse biological functions and have great potential for therapeutic use. However, technological hurdles in producing defined protein sialylation due to the enormous structural diversity render their precise investigation a challenge. Here, we describe a plant-based expression platform that enables the controlled in vivo synthesis of sialylated structures with different interlinkages and degree of polymerization (DP). The approach relies on a combination of stably transformed plants with transient expression modules. By the introduction of multigene vectors carrying the human sialylation pathway into glycosylation-destructed mutants, transgenic plants that sialylate glycoproteins in α2,6- or α2,3-linkage were generated. Moreover, by the transient coexpression of human α2,8-polysialyltransferases, polySia structures with a DP >40 were synthesized in these plants. Importantly, plant-derived polySia are functionally active, as demonstrated by a cell-based cytotoxicity assay and inhibition of microglia activation. This pathway engineering approach enables experimental investigations of defined sialylation and facilitates a rational design of glycan structures with optimized biotechnological functions.
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48
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Castilho A, Gruber C, Thader A, Oostenbrink C, Pechlaner M, Steinkellner H, Altmann F. Processing of complex N-glycans in IgG Fc-region is affected by core fucosylation. MAbs 2016; 7:863-70. [PMID: 26067753 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2015.1053683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated N-glycan processing of immunoglobulin G1 using the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (CxMab), which has a glycosite in the Fab domain in addition to the conserved Fc glycosylation, as a reporter. Three GlcNAc (Gn) terminating bi-antennary glycoforms of CxMab differing in core fucosylation (α1,3- and α1,6-linkage) were generated in a plant-based expression platform. These GnGn, GnGnF(3), and GnGnF(6) CxMab variants were subjected in vivo to further processing toward sialylation and GlcNAc diversification (bisected and branching structures). Mass spectrometry-based glycan analyses revealed efficient processing of Fab glycans toward envisaged structures. By contrast, Fc glycan processing largely depend on the presence of core fucose. A particularly strong support of glycan processing in the presence of plant-specific core α1,3-fucose was observed. Consistently, molecular modeling suggests changes in the interactions of the Fc carbohydrate chain depending on the presence of core fucose, possibly changing the accessibility. Here, we provide data that reveal molecular mechanisms of glycan processing of IgG antibodies, which may have implications for the generation of glycan-engineered therapeutic antibodies with improved efficacies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Castilho
- a Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology ; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ; Vienna , Austria
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49
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Current Developments and Future Prospects for Plant-Made Biopharmaceuticals Against Rabies. Mol Biotechnol 2016; 57:869-79. [PMID: 26163274 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-015-9880-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Rabies is a prevalent health problem in developing countries. Although vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments are available, their cost and multiple-dose treatments restrict availability. During the last two decades, plants have served as a low-cost platform for biopharmaceuticals production and have been applied to fight against rabies during the last two decades. Herein, I provide a description of the state of the art in the development of plant-made pharmaceuticals against rabies and identify key prospects for the field in terms of novel strategies, immunogen design, and therapeutic antibodies production.
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50
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Yusibov V, Kushnir N, Streatfield SJ. Antibody Production in Plants and Green Algae. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 67:669-701. [PMID: 26905655 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-043015-111812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have a wide range of modern applications, including research, diagnostic, therapeutic, and industrial uses. Market demand for mAbs is high and continues to grow. Although mammalian systems, which currently dominate the biomanufacturing industry, produce effective and safe recombinant mAbs, they have a limited manufacturing capacity and high costs. Bacteria, yeast, and insect cell systems are highly scalable and cost effective but vary in their ability to produce appropriate posttranslationally modified mAbs. Plants and green algae are emerging as promising production platforms because of their time and cost efficiencies, scalability, lack of mammalian pathogens, and eukaryotic posttranslational protein modification machinery. So far, plant- and algae-derived mAbs have been produced predominantly as candidate therapeutics for infectious diseases and cancer. These candidates have been extensively evaluated in animal models, and some have shown efficacy in clinical trials. Here, we review ongoing efforts to advance the production of mAbs in plants and algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidadi Yusibov
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, Delaware 19711; , ,
| | - Natasha Kushnir
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, Delaware 19711; , ,
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