東京大学 大学院農学生命科学研究科 生物・環境工学専攻

生物環境工学研究室

Bioenvironmental Engineering Lab
The University of Tokyo

Research

Environment Control for Plant-made Pharmaceutical Protein Production

We focus on the production of recombinant proteins using plants as one of the effective applications of plant factories with artificial lighting (PFAL). A typical example is pharmaceutical proteins including vaccine antigens and monoclonal antibodies. Conventionally, these pharmaceutical proteins have been produced by culturing microorganisms or mammalian cells, or by culturing viruses using embryonated chicken eggs. However, the use of plants is thought to offer advantages such as lower production costs, higher scalability of production to meet demand, and reduced risk of pathogen contamination during the production process. We have conducted basic research to establish the environmental control strategy for PFALs or greenhouses suitable for the production of recombinant proteins using plants. In particular, we have been targeting the transient gene expression method, in which genes encoding recombinant proteins are introduced into mature plants (Nicotiana benthamiana) transiently expressed. We would like to contribute to the utilization and dissemination of this new plant biotechnology from the standpoint of bioenvironmental engineering.

Publications

Matsuda, R., A. Ueno, K. Fujiwara. (2019) Effects of environmental conditions before gene transfer on the amount of influenza hemagglutinin transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Journal of Agricultural Meteorology 75(3): 129-136.

Matsuda, R., A. Ueno, H. Nakaigawa, K. Fujiwara. (2018) Gas exchange rates decrease and leaf temperature increases in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves transiently overexpressing hemagglutinin in an Agrobacterium-assisted viral vector system. Frontiers in Plant Science 9: 1315.

Fujiuchi, N., R. Matsuda, N. Matoba, K. Fujiwara. (2017) Effects of plant density on recombinant hemagglutinin yields in an Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression system using Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 114(8): 1762-1770.

Matsuda, R., T. Abe, N. Fujiuchi, N. Matoba, K. Fujiwara. (2017) Effect of temperature post viral vector inoculation on the amount of hemagglutinin transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering 124(3): 346-350.

Matsuda, R., T. Abe, K. Fujiwara. (2017) Viral vector-based transient gene expression in Nicotiana benthamiana: effects of light source on leaf temperature and hemagglutinin content. Plant Cell Reports 36(10): 1667-1669.

Fujiuchi, N., N. Matoba, R. Matsuda. (2016) Environment control to improve recombinant protein yields in plants based on Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 4: 23.

Fujiuchi, N., R. Matsuda, N. Matoba, K. Fujiwara. (2016) Removal of bacterial suspension water occupying the intercellular space of detached leaves after agroinfiltration improves the yield of recombinant hemagglutinin in a Nicotiana benthamiana transient gene expression system. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 113(4): 901-906.

Fujiuchi, N., R. Matsuda, N. Matoba, K. Fujiwara. (2014) Effect of nitrate concentration in nutrient solution on hemagglutinin content of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves in a viral vector-mediated transient gene expression system. Plant Biotechnology 31(3): 207-211.

Matsuda, R., A. Tahara, N. Matoba, K. Fujiwara. (2012) Virus-vector mediated rapid protein production in Nicotiana benthamiana: effects of temperature and photosynthetic photon flux density on hemagglutinin accumulation. Environment Control in Biology 50(4): 375-381.

Photos

Fig. 1. Nicotiana benthamiana as a plant material used for transient gene expression.

Fig. 2. Vacuum infiltration to introduce transgenes into mesophyll cells of a mature plant.