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Expression of recombinant human acetylcholinesterase in transgenic tomato plants
Author(s) -
Mor Tsafrir S.,
Sternfeld Meira,
Soreq Hermona,
Arntzen Charles J.,
Mason Hugh S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.10012
Subject(s) - acetylcholinesterase , bioproduction , recombinant dna , genetically modified crops , transgene , enzyme , biochemistry , biology , genetically modified tomato , enzyme assay , chemistry , gene
Abstract Enzyme therapy for the prevention and treatment of organophosphate poisoning depends on the availability of large amounts of cholinesterases. Transgenic plants are being evaluated for their efficiency and cost‐effectiveness as a system for the bioproduction of therapeutically valuable proteins. Here we report production of a recombinant isoform of human acetylcholinesterase in transgenic tomato plants. Active and stable acetylcholinesterase, which retains the kinetic characteristics of the human enzyme, accumulated in tomato plants. High levels of specific activity were registered in leaves (up to 25 nmol min −1 mg protein −1 ) and fruits (up to 250 nmol min −1 mg protein −1 ). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 259–266, 2001.