title: Expression and assembly of a full-length monoclonal antibody in plants using a plant virus vector.
abstract: We have used a tobacco mosaic virus-based vector to express monoclonal antibody (mAb) CO17-1A, directed to a colon cancer antigen, in plants. Genes encoding heavy and light chains of this antibody were introduced independently into the tobacco mosaic virus vector. Upon co-infection of Nicotiana benthamiana plants with both recombinant virus constructs, genes for heavy and light chains were expressed and assembled into a full-length antibody. A functional plant-expressed antibody was detected by ELISA and immunoblot in extracts from systemically infected leaves. This is the first report on the use of a plant virus vector to express and assemble a full-size antibody.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yusibov
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koprowski
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000276:immunology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000276:immunology*; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins