Lecture 22 - Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry | Plant Biotechnology - Botany PDF Download

 Page 1


 
Institute of  lifelong learning, University of  Delhi 
    
       
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National 
Mission on Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Anatomy 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher 
Department of Biochemistry 
Institute of Home Economics 
University of Delhi 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of 
Delhi, South Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 2


 
Institute of  lifelong learning, University of  Delhi 
    
       
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National 
Mission on Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Anatomy 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher 
Department of Biochemistry 
Institute of Home Economics 
University of Delhi 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of 
Delhi, South Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            2 
 
Table of Contents    
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
? Introduction 
? Production of therapeutic products 
? Plantibodies 
? Method of plantibody production 
? In planta applications of plantibodies 
? Ex-planta applications of plantibodies 
? Plant based Vaccines 
? Method of plant based vaccine production 
? Examples of plant based vaccines 
? Limitations of plant based vaccines 
? Other pharmaceutical products 
(Biopharmaceuticals) 
? Recombinant Insulin (Humulin) 
? Human growth hormone (somatotropin) 
? Glucocerebrosidase 
? Production of industrial products 
? Enzymes 
? Trypsin (Protease) 
? Cellulase and Xylanase 
? ?-amylase 
? Aprotinin 
? Phytase 
? Bioplastics 
? Production of commercially important crops 
? Trangenic plants which are resistant to abiotic and 
biotic stress 
? Transgenic plants with improved nutritive value 
? Transgenic crops to yield quality oils 
? Summary 
? Exercise 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web Links 
Page 3


 
Institute of  lifelong learning, University of  Delhi 
    
       
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National 
Mission on Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Anatomy 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher 
Department of Biochemistry 
Institute of Home Economics 
University of Delhi 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of 
Delhi, South Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            2 
 
Table of Contents    
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
? Introduction 
? Production of therapeutic products 
? Plantibodies 
? Method of plantibody production 
? In planta applications of plantibodies 
? Ex-planta applications of plantibodies 
? Plant based Vaccines 
? Method of plant based vaccine production 
? Examples of plant based vaccines 
? Limitations of plant based vaccines 
? Other pharmaceutical products 
(Biopharmaceuticals) 
? Recombinant Insulin (Humulin) 
? Human growth hormone (somatotropin) 
? Glucocerebrosidase 
? Production of industrial products 
? Enzymes 
? Trypsin (Protease) 
? Cellulase and Xylanase 
? ?-amylase 
? Aprotinin 
? Phytase 
? Bioplastics 
? Production of commercially important crops 
? Trangenic plants which are resistant to abiotic and 
biotic stress 
? Transgenic plants with improved nutritive value 
? Transgenic crops to yield quality oils 
? Summary 
? Exercise 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web Links 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            3 
 
 
 
Introduction 
 
Plant biotechnology is among the newer tools used for maximizing the potential of 
agriculture and for the benefit of society in a large number of other ways. Plants can 
be exploited as bioreactors for production of economically viable recombinant 
biomolecules. Increased production of a chemical within a plant may also be cost 
effective as compared to other methods like fermentation. Plants have emerged as 
convenient, eco-friendly and economical alternatives over other expression systems. 
This is also referred to as molecular farming wherein genetically modified plants are 
being used for the production of various significant pharmaceutical, therapeutic or 
other industrial products. It has the potential to provide large amounts of supply of 
recombinant proteins providing a lucrative alternative to other conventional protein 
production methods. 
 
 
Figure: Molecular farming is used for the production of various therapeutic products, 
nutritional components, bioplastics and other industrial products. 
Source: Author 
 
Therapeutic 
products: 
Antibodies, 
Vaccines, Growth 
stimulators, proteins 
BioPlastics: 
polyesters like 
PHA, PHB 
Industrial products: 
Enzymes, Diagnostic 
proteins, research aids 
Nutritional components: 
Quality oils, proteins, 
amino acids, vitamins, 
fatty acids, flavonoids 
Molecular farming 
Page 4


 
Institute of  lifelong learning, University of  Delhi 
    
       
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National 
Mission on Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Anatomy 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher 
Department of Biochemistry 
Institute of Home Economics 
University of Delhi 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of 
Delhi, South Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            2 
 
Table of Contents    
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
? Introduction 
? Production of therapeutic products 
? Plantibodies 
? Method of plantibody production 
? In planta applications of plantibodies 
? Ex-planta applications of plantibodies 
? Plant based Vaccines 
? Method of plant based vaccine production 
? Examples of plant based vaccines 
? Limitations of plant based vaccines 
? Other pharmaceutical products 
(Biopharmaceuticals) 
? Recombinant Insulin (Humulin) 
? Human growth hormone (somatotropin) 
? Glucocerebrosidase 
? Production of industrial products 
? Enzymes 
? Trypsin (Protease) 
? Cellulase and Xylanase 
? ?-amylase 
? Aprotinin 
? Phytase 
? Bioplastics 
? Production of commercially important crops 
? Trangenic plants which are resistant to abiotic and 
biotic stress 
? Transgenic plants with improved nutritive value 
? Transgenic crops to yield quality oils 
? Summary 
? Exercise 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web Links 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            3 
 
 
 
Introduction 
 
Plant biotechnology is among the newer tools used for maximizing the potential of 
agriculture and for the benefit of society in a large number of other ways. Plants can 
be exploited as bioreactors for production of economically viable recombinant 
biomolecules. Increased production of a chemical within a plant may also be cost 
effective as compared to other methods like fermentation. Plants have emerged as 
convenient, eco-friendly and economical alternatives over other expression systems. 
This is also referred to as molecular farming wherein genetically modified plants are 
being used for the production of various significant pharmaceutical, therapeutic or 
other industrial products. It has the potential to provide large amounts of supply of 
recombinant proteins providing a lucrative alternative to other conventional protein 
production methods. 
 
 
Figure: Molecular farming is used for the production of various therapeutic products, 
nutritional components, bioplastics and other industrial products. 
Source: Author 
 
Therapeutic 
products: 
Antibodies, 
Vaccines, Growth 
stimulators, proteins 
BioPlastics: 
polyesters like 
PHA, PHB 
Industrial products: 
Enzymes, Diagnostic 
proteins, research aids 
Nutritional components: 
Quality oils, proteins, 
amino acids, vitamins, 
fatty acids, flavonoids 
Molecular farming 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            4 
 
In recent years, several proteins and biomolecules have been produced in genetically 
modified plants by the introduction of foreign genes. The inserted gene (transgene) 
may be from an unrelated plant or from a completely different species. These plants 
are thus genetically modified. There are basically two strategies for production of 
foreign molecules: 
i) Production of transgenic plants by stable integration of a transgene in plant 
either using naturally occurring plasmids of Agrobacterium or by using direct 
gene transfer. 
ii) Transient expression of a transgene by using vectors like plant viruses. 
 
A widely used technique is Agrobacterium mediated transformation where the genes 
of interest is transferred into plant genome (Refer to the chapter on Methods of Gene 
Transfer). A. tumefaciens is a soil bacterium that contains Ti (tumor inducing) 
plasmid and causes crown gall disease in a number of dicotyledenous plants. 
Infection occurs when the bacterium invades a wound in the plant stem and causes 
cancerous proliferation in the region of the crown because of the presence of Ti 
plasmid. This is a large (200kb) plasmid and carries genes involved in the infection 
process. A part of Ti plasmid known as T-DNA gets inserted in the plant genome, is 
maintained stably and is passed to daughter cells. New genes can be inserted in the 
T-DNA and integrated in the plant genome. Another plant vector is based on Ri 
plasmid of Agrobacteium rhizogenes which causes hairy root disease in a number of 
dicotyledenous plants.  
Biolistics i.e., bombardment with microprojectiles to introduce foreign DNA directly 
into plant embryos is also being used widely. In addition, techniques like 
electroporation, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated direct gene transfer are also 
being employed.  
While producing a transgenic plant, it is important that the transgene achieves a high 
level of expression. Biolistics and PEG induced direct gene transfers could also be 
used to transfer genes into the chloroplast genome provided the foreign DNA carries 
sequences similar to chloroplast genome and integration occurs via homologous 
recombination. Chloroplast transgenes generally result in high expression levels. This 
can also be achieved using suitable strong promoters. 
 
Page 5


 
Institute of  lifelong learning, University of  Delhi 
    
       
 
 
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National 
Mission on Education Through ICT” 
 
Discipline: Botany 
Paper: Plant Anatomy 
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla 
 
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher 
Department of Biochemistry 
Institute of Home Economics 
University of Delhi 
 
Lesson Reviewer: Dr. Manoj K. Sharma 
School of Biotechnology 
Jawaharlal Nehru University 
 
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka 
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of 
Delhi, South Campus 
 
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            2 
 
Table of Contents    
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
? Introduction 
? Production of therapeutic products 
? Plantibodies 
? Method of plantibody production 
? In planta applications of plantibodies 
? Ex-planta applications of plantibodies 
? Plant based Vaccines 
? Method of plant based vaccine production 
? Examples of plant based vaccines 
? Limitations of plant based vaccines 
? Other pharmaceutical products 
(Biopharmaceuticals) 
? Recombinant Insulin (Humulin) 
? Human growth hormone (somatotropin) 
? Glucocerebrosidase 
? Production of industrial products 
? Enzymes 
? Trypsin (Protease) 
? Cellulase and Xylanase 
? ?-amylase 
? Aprotinin 
? Phytase 
? Bioplastics 
? Production of commercially important crops 
? Trangenic plants which are resistant to abiotic and 
biotic stress 
? Transgenic plants with improved nutritive value 
? Transgenic crops to yield quality oils 
? Summary 
? Exercise 
? Glossary 
? References 
? Web Links 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            3 
 
 
 
Introduction 
 
Plant biotechnology is among the newer tools used for maximizing the potential of 
agriculture and for the benefit of society in a large number of other ways. Plants can 
be exploited as bioreactors for production of economically viable recombinant 
biomolecules. Increased production of a chemical within a plant may also be cost 
effective as compared to other methods like fermentation. Plants have emerged as 
convenient, eco-friendly and economical alternatives over other expression systems. 
This is also referred to as molecular farming wherein genetically modified plants are 
being used for the production of various significant pharmaceutical, therapeutic or 
other industrial products. It has the potential to provide large amounts of supply of 
recombinant proteins providing a lucrative alternative to other conventional protein 
production methods. 
 
 
Figure: Molecular farming is used for the production of various therapeutic products, 
nutritional components, bioplastics and other industrial products. 
Source: Author 
 
Therapeutic 
products: 
Antibodies, 
Vaccines, Growth 
stimulators, proteins 
BioPlastics: 
polyesters like 
PHA, PHB 
Industrial products: 
Enzymes, Diagnostic 
proteins, research aids 
Nutritional components: 
Quality oils, proteins, 
amino acids, vitamins, 
fatty acids, flavonoids 
Molecular farming 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            4 
 
In recent years, several proteins and biomolecules have been produced in genetically 
modified plants by the introduction of foreign genes. The inserted gene (transgene) 
may be from an unrelated plant or from a completely different species. These plants 
are thus genetically modified. There are basically two strategies for production of 
foreign molecules: 
i) Production of transgenic plants by stable integration of a transgene in plant 
either using naturally occurring plasmids of Agrobacterium or by using direct 
gene transfer. 
ii) Transient expression of a transgene by using vectors like plant viruses. 
 
A widely used technique is Agrobacterium mediated transformation where the genes 
of interest is transferred into plant genome (Refer to the chapter on Methods of Gene 
Transfer). A. tumefaciens is a soil bacterium that contains Ti (tumor inducing) 
plasmid and causes crown gall disease in a number of dicotyledenous plants. 
Infection occurs when the bacterium invades a wound in the plant stem and causes 
cancerous proliferation in the region of the crown because of the presence of Ti 
plasmid. This is a large (200kb) plasmid and carries genes involved in the infection 
process. A part of Ti plasmid known as T-DNA gets inserted in the plant genome, is 
maintained stably and is passed to daughter cells. New genes can be inserted in the 
T-DNA and integrated in the plant genome. Another plant vector is based on Ri 
plasmid of Agrobacteium rhizogenes which causes hairy root disease in a number of 
dicotyledenous plants.  
Biolistics i.e., bombardment with microprojectiles to introduce foreign DNA directly 
into plant embryos is also being used widely. In addition, techniques like 
electroporation, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated direct gene transfer are also 
being employed.  
While producing a transgenic plant, it is important that the transgene achieves a high 
level of expression. Biolistics and PEG induced direct gene transfers could also be 
used to transfer genes into the chloroplast genome provided the foreign DNA carries 
sequences similar to chloroplast genome and integration occurs via homologous 
recombination. Chloroplast transgenes generally result in high expression levels. This 
can also be achieved using suitable strong promoters. 
 
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Industry 
 
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi                                            5 
 
 
Figure: Gene of interest is first inserted in the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium 
tumefaciens. It is then introduced into the plant cells in culture. The new gene 
gets integrated within the host genome. After selection the transgenic plant is 
regenerated. 
Source: 
http://buildyourownbombshelter.wikispaces.com/file/view/transgenic_plant.jpg/2
96431856/320x176/transgenic_plant.jpg(cc) 
 
Link for animation of Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer: 
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/9834092339/student_view0/chapter17/g
enes_into_plants_using_the_ti-plasmid.html 
 
 
Advantages 
There are various advantages of using plants as bioreactors: 
1. They have mechanisms of post-translational processing. 
2. They are cost effective and have lower upstream production costs. They also 
lower storage costs. 
3. It is easier, faster and less expensive to produce transgenic plants as 
compared to transgenic animals. 
4. Plants that generate large biomass like corn, tobacco etc. are capable of 
producing large amounts of products. 
5. Proteins can be stored in seeds for longer times with little reduction in quality. 
6. Most of the plant pathogens are harmless to humans.