title: Transgenic plants expressing antibodies: a model for phytoremediation.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Unit of Immunology, Guy's Tower, Guy's Hospital, GKT Dental Institute, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT, UK.
authors.forename: Pascal M W
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chargelegue
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Vine
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Van Dolleweerd
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Obregon
authors.forename: Julian K-C
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D027343:Rhizome / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C055764:S-layer proteins