title: Transgenic expression of bean alpha-amylase inhibitor in peas results in altered structure and immunogenicity.
abstract: The development of modern gene technologies allows for the expression of recombinant proteins in non-native hosts. Diversity in translational and post-translational modification pathways between species could potentially lead to discrete changes in the molecular architecture of the expressed protein and subsequent cellular function and antigenicity. Here, we show that transgenic expression of a plant protein (alpha-amylase inhibitor-1 from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Tendergreen)) in a non-native host (transgenic pea (Pisum sativum L.)) led to the synthesis of a structurally modified form of this inhibitor. Employing models of inflammation, we demonstrated in mice that consumption of the modified alphaAI and not the native form predisposed to antigen-specific CD4+ Th2-type inflammation. Furthermore, consumption of the modified alphaAI concurrently with other heterogeneous proteins promoted immunological cross priming, which then elicited specific immunoreactivity of these proteins. Thus, transgenic expression of non-native proteins in plants may lead to the synthesis of structural variants possessing altered immunogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Bioscience, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Vanessa E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mattes
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: T J V
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D015870:Gene Expression; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000235:genetics*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D037121:Plant Lectins; C061510:alpha-amylase inhibitor, Phaseolus vulgaris