Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Production of IgG Fusion Proteins Transiently Expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana
Published on: January 16, 2021
Production of active single-chain antibodies in seeds using trimeric polyoleosin fusion
Somrutai Winichayakul1, Anton Pernthaner, Sam Livingston
1Forage Biotechnology, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North, New Zealand. somrutai.winichayakul@agresearch.co.nz
Abstract:
A variety of single-chain variable fragments (scFv) that had been previously developed to the surface epitopes of infective Trichostrongylus colubriformis L3 pathogenic gut nematodes of sheep were fused to a trimeric version of polyoleosin (three head-to-tail repeats of oleosin) and expressed in planta under the control of an Arabidopsis oleosin promoter. The fusion products were found to accumulate in oil bodies (OBs) at the range of 0.25-0.9% of the total seed protein which is comparable with the main 18 kDa isoform of Arabidopsis seed oleosin. Immunofluorescence microscopy and immuno-binding were used to demonstrate that it is possible to both purify the recombinant protein via enrichment for OBs as well as use the OBs emulsion to deliver functional recombinant scFv. This work presents a novel fusion strategy platform to boost the productivity and simplify the delivery of recombinant single chain antibodies and other like proteins.
Related Concept Videos
Hybridoma Technology
Hybridoma Selection
Commonly used fusion techniques — electroporation, polyethylene glycol...
Tagging and Fusion Proteins
Production of Pharmaceuticals
Antibody Structure
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...

