Producing Active Xylanase in Tobacco Plants Using a New Strategy
Author Information
Author(s): Llop-Tous Immaculada, Ortiz Miriam, Torrent Margarita, Ludevid M. Dolors
Primary Institution: Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, Consortium CSIC-IRTA-UAB), Barcelona, Spain
Hypothesis
Can a proline-rich domain (Zera) be used to produce active xylanase in tobacco plants?
Conclusion
The study successfully produced an active insoluble aggregate of xylanase fused to Zera in tobacco, demonstrating the potential of Zera as a fusion partner for biotechnological enzyme production.
Supporting Evidence
- Xylanase was produced in tobacco plants at levels accounting for up to 9% of total protein.
- The Zera-xylanase fusion protein was biologically active and stable for at least one month at room temperature.
- Zera-PBs could become efficient and low-cost bioreactors for industrial enzyme production.
Takeaway
Scientists found a way to make a useful enzyme in plants by sticking it to a special protein that helps it stay together, making it easier to collect later.
Methodology
Tobacco leaves were transformed with a vector containing the Zera-xylanase coding region, and the fusion protein was expressed and stored in protein bodies.
Limitations
The study did not address the long-term stability of the enzyme in industrial applications.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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