Transgenic plants expressing antibodies: a model for phytoremediation

• Published in: The FASEB journal Vol. 16; no. 14; pp. 1855 - 1860
• Main Authors: Drake, Pascal M. W., Chargelegue, Daniel, Vine, Nicholas D., Dolleweerd, Craig J., Obregon, Patricia, Ma, Julian K.‐C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2002
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - genetics; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antigen-Antibody Complex - analysis; Bacterial Proteins - analysis; Bacterial Proteins - immunology; Environmental Pollutants - immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; hydroponic medium; Immunoglobulin G - genetics; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Membrane Glycoproteins; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - immunology; Models, Biological; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - metabolism; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified; recombinant antibody; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Rhizome - metabolism; transgenic plants
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fj.02-0148com

ABSTRACT
The feasibility of using antibody expressing transgenic plants either to neutralize bioactive molecules in the rhizosphere, or to accumulate and concentrate the molecules in leaves has been demonstrated in a model system consisting of hydroponic Nicotiana plant cultures expressing a murine monoclonal IgG1. Two transgenic plant types were used; in the first, functional antibody was rhizosecreted and shown to bind with antigen in the surrounding medium to form an immune complex. In the second, a transmembrane sequence retained monoclonal antibody in the plants, on the plasma membrane. Antigen added to the nutrient medium around the roots of mIgG plants was transported within 24 h to the topmost leaves of the plant where it was sequestered as an immune complex by binding to antibody on the cell membrane. Concentration of immune complex in the leaf tissue remained constant over a 72 h period after removal of antigen from nutrient medium. Free antigen was not detected in the leaves of wild‐type plants. The two strategies of rhizosecretion‐mediated binding and sequestration in leaf tissue could potentially be used in the phytoremediation of any pollutant for which it is possible to generate a monoclonal antibody.—Drake, P. M. W., Chargelegue, D., Vine, N. D., van Dolleweerd, C. J., Obregon, P., Ma, J. K.‐C. Transgenic plants expressing antibodies: a model for phytoremediation. FASEB J. 16, 1855–1860 (2002)