Meristem Targets Protein Production in Plants
In the December issue of Genetic Engineering News, (vol. 21, # 21, p 72 & 74), Dr. Susan Aldridge, describes the program of a recently established private pharmaceutical company called, "Meristem Therapeutics" with its headquarters at Clemont-Ferrand, France. The objective of the company is to apply a novel system to produce pharmaceuticals on an industrial scale. The method consists of using Meristem's specialized cassette to allow the plant cell to recognize the inserted human gene. Following transformation, the bioengineered plant cells are transferred to the company's phytotron. Under ideal conditions of temperature, light and humidity, healthy transgenic plants develop. After the plants grow to maturity, they are tested for the human gene targeted to these plant cells and then analyzed for expression level. Individual plants showing an acceptable level of protein are multiplied and their seeds are planted in fields in the US and France during summer and in Chile during the winter months Already, using this method the company has been able to produce 1 mg of extracted recombinant protein per one gram of corn. Although this is quite an achievement, the company thinks production may be further enhanced with the improvement of techniques. Because the technology is field- and not factory-based, the company is confident that their products will be much cheaper compared to factory-produced pharmaceuticals.
