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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Optimization and Utilization of Agrobacterium-mediated Transient Protein Production in Nicotiana
Published on: April 19, 2014
Transient expression of human interleukin-15 in Nicotiana benthamiana
Yuuka Mukai1, Yusuke Taguchi2, Kouki Matsuo3
1School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health and Social Work, Kanagawa University of Human Services, 1-10-1 Heiseicho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238-8522, Japan.
Abstract:
A plant-based expression system provides a cost-effective, scalable, and safe alternative to traditional cell culture platforms. In this study, recombinant human interleukin-15 (IL-15) was transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using agroinfiltration. IL-15 is a cytokine with significant potential in cell engineering, immunotherapy, and cancer therapy. A codon-optimized IL-15 gene was cloned into a binary vector designed for plant expression and introduced into Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens). The R. radiobacter for human IL-15 expression was infiltrated into N. benthamiana leaves. Following purification, receptor-binding assays confirmed that the plant-derived IL-15 could bind to the IL-15 receptor comparably to its mammalian-produced counterpart. This first report of IL-15 expression in plants highlights the promise of plant-based systems for biopharmaceutical production and lays the groundwork for further development of IL-15 for applications in cell engineering, clinical therapies, and the cultured meat industry.
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