title: Heterologous Expression Systems for Plant Defensin Expression: Examples of Success and Pitfalls.
abstract: Defensins are a superfamily of antimicrobial peptides, present in vertebrates, invertebrates, fungi and plants, suggesting that they appeared prior to the divergence in eukaryotes. The destitution of toxicity to mammalian cells of plant defensins has led to a new research ground, i.e., their potential medical use against human infectious diseases. Isolating defensins from natural sources, like plant tissues, can be time-consuming, labor intensive and usually present low yields. Strategies for large-scale production of purified active defensins have been employed using heterologous expression systems (HES) for defensin production, usually based in E. coli system. Like any other technology, HES present limitations and drawbacks demanding a careful experimental design prior the system selection. This review is proposed to discuss some of the major concerns when choosing to heterologously express plant defensins, with special attention on bacterial expression systems.
authors.forename: Luiz Rodrigo Saldanha
authors.initials: LRS
authors.lastname: Gazzaneo
authors.forename: Valesca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
authors.forename: Andre Luiz Santos
authors.initials: ALS
authors.lastname: de Jesus
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crovella
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Benko-Iseppon
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Center of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, CEP 50670-420, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Freitas
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D023082:Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000737:chemistry; D010843:Pichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017510:Protein Folding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D059386:Reverse Genetics / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023082:Defensins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: E. coli; antimicrobial peptides; carrier protein; fusion; inclusion bodies; secretion signal