Recent advances in molecular farming using monocot plants

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Plant Science
• Molecular Farming

Background:

• Plant-based systems, or plant molecular farming, provide a safe and scalable method for producing therapeutic biomolecules.
• Monocotyledonous plants, particularly cereals, are promising platforms for high-value recombinant protein production due to their grain storage capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements and strategies for producing biopharmaceutical proteins in transgenic monocots.
• To highlight key aspects of recombinant protein accumulation in cereal grains.
• To discuss current challenges and future prospects for therapeutic molecule biosynthesis in monocot platforms.

Main Methods:

• Review of gene transfer technologies (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, biolistic methods) in monocot crop genetic manipulation.
• Expression of biologically active recombinant human peptide cathelicidin in barley grains using an endosperm-specific promoter.
• Field cultivation of genetically modified barley lines under EU regulations.

Main Results:

• Successful expression of active recombinant human peptide cathelicidin in barley grains.
• Demonstration of field cultivation feasibility for engineered monocot crops under regulatory frameworks.
• Progress in utilizing cereal endosperm for long-term accumulation of therapeutic proteins.

Conclusions:

• Transgenic monocots, especially cereals, are viable platforms for cost-effective biopharmaceutical production.
• Endosperm-specific expression strategies facilitate high-level accumulation of therapeutic proteins in grains.
• Ongoing research and technological advancements continue to address bottlenecks and expand possibilities in plant-based biomanufacturing.