Expression of Single Chain Variable Fragment (scFv) Molecules in Plants: A Comprehensive Update

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Plant Sciences

Background:

• Single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) are engineered antibody derivatives offering advantages like smaller size and multivalency over traditional monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
• Plant-based expression systems have emerged as a viable and cost-effective method for producing recombinant proteins, including scFvs, across diverse species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of plant expression systems for scFv production.
• To discuss the developments, benefits, challenges, and future prospects of using plants for industrial-scale scFv biosynthesis.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on scFv production in various plant species.
• Analysis of expression and purification strategies for plant-derived scFvs.
• Evaluation of advantages and limitations of plant-based expression platforms.

Main Results:

• Over 50 antigens have been targeted for scFv production using at least 10 different plant species.
• Significant improvements in scFv expression and purification techniques have been achieved over the past 24 years.
• Transgenic plants provide a scalable and accessible platform for scFv development.

Conclusions:

• Plant expression systems are a promising and increasingly sophisticated platform for the biosynthesis of scFvs.
• Further optimization of plant-based production holds potential for meeting the growing demand in therapeutic and diagnostic fields.
• Addressing current challenges can enhance the industrial-level exploitation of plants for scFv manufacturing.