Mempro™ Alfalfa-Derived VLP Production Using Stable Transformation System

Based on the comprehensive membrane protein production platform established through years of experiences, scientists form Creative Biostructure provides custom Mempro™ alfalfa-derived virus-like particels (VLPs) prodution services based on stabe transformation system.

Conventional strategy of producing VLPs in plants is to create stabe, transgenic plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is another employed host for large-scale manufacturing of VLPs as well as recombinant proteins. Transgenic alfalfa is well suited to produce high-volume recombinant proteins, however, the process is time-consuming - up to half of a year. With stable transformation, the foreign gene of becoming part of the host genome and making the transgene heritable through succeeding generations. Transgenic alfalfa based on stable transformation methodology are powerful host for large-scale production of VLPs.

Key processes to scale up VLP production are to optimize the quality and quantity of the rDNA incorporated in alfalfa cells and to determine its fate after integration into the genome of alfalfa. Other processes, such as transcription, posttranscription, translation, and posttranslation, are also important in affecting the quality of final products. VLPs are self-assembled multi-protein structures derived from viral antigens that can simulate native viruses, but are non-infectious owing to lacking the viral genetic materials. It is reported that intact membrane proteins with native conformation can be integrated in to VLPs (this complex is termed lipoparticles). Thus, Lipoparticles are widely used as a powerful tool for integral membrane protein poduction. Self-assembled VLPs capture desired membrane proteins and bud them off from the cell membrane in the direct manner.

Due to the relatively long time in the process of VLP preparation, the utilize of alfalfa-derived stable transformation system has declined. Fortunately, Creative Biostructure provides an alternative strategy for VLP production using A. tumefaciens-mediated transient expression system.

Creative Biostructure also provides custom Mempro™ VLP production services for various biological studies, including antibody screening, phage and yeast display, vaccines production, ligand binding assay and small molecules delivery. Please feel free to contact us for a detailed quote.

References:
A. R. Kusnadi, et al. (1997). Production of recombinant proteins in transgenic plants: practical considerations. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 56: 473-484.
J. Marsian and G. P. Lomonossoff (2016). Molecular pharming - VLPs made in plants. Curr. Opion Biotech., 37: 201-206.
M. A. D'Aoust, et al. (2010). The production of hemagglutinin-based virus-like particles in plants: a rapid, efficient and safe response to pandemic influenza. Plant Biotechnol. J., 8(5): 607-619.
Q. Chen and H. Lai (2015). Gene delivery into plant cells for recombinant protein production. BioMed Research International, 2015: 10.