Advancements in transient overexpression systems for enhanced recombinant protein production in lettuce

Current techniques for recombinant protein synthesis mostly depend on traditional expression systems, including bacterial, insect, and mammalian cell cultures. However, these platforms are expensive to build and operate at commercial scales and/or have limited capacities to produce complex proteins. In recent years, plant-based expression systems have become top candidates for the production of recombinant proteins as they are highly scalable, robust, and safe. Lettuce, with its strong foundation in agriculture, is an excellent host for pharmaceutical protein production. Although vaccines, antibodies, and therapeutic proteins have been produced in plants, the technologies required for safe, efficient, scalable manufacture of recombinant proteins have matured to the point where several products have already been tested and will soon be followed by a rich pipeline of recombinant vaccines, and therapeutic proteins, showcasing their role in addressing global health and industrial demands. By synthesizing recent research, this review article aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the current status, challenges, and future directions of transient overexpression systems in lettuce, paving the way for their broader adoption in biotechnology.