title: Transient expression of chicken alpha interferon gene in lettuce.
abstract: We investigated the possibility of producing chicken alpha interferon (ChIFN-alpha) in transgenic plants. The cDNA encoding ChIFN-alpha was introduced into lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants by using an agro-infiltration transient expression system. The ChIFN-alpha gene was correctly transcribed and translated in the lettuce plants according to RT-PCR and ELISA assays. Recombinant protein exhibited antiviral activity in vitro by inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication on chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF). The results demonstrate that biologically active avian cytokine with potential pharmaceutical applications could be expressed in transgenic lettuce plants and that it is possible to generate interferon protein in forage plants for preventing infectious diseases of poultry.
authors.affiliation: Guizhou Key Laboratory of Ago-Bioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: De-gang
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yong-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D018545:Lactuca / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins