New Inducible Systems for the Production of Recombinant Proteins in Plants

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This patent describes new inducible promoter systems for producing recombinant proteins in plants. The promoters described can be activated rapidly and strongly using UV-C light, allowing precise control over the timing and level of gene expression in genetically modified plants. The invention includes the nucleic acid promoters, associated vectors, and transgenic plants (or plant cells) that carry these systems.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Production of pharmaceutical proteins (e.g., antibodies, vaccines, enzymes) in plants for medical use
• Biosynthesis of industrial enzymes or chemicals in agricultural crops
• Producing high-value nutritional supplements or food additives in edible plants
• Research applications for studying gene function and plant molecular biology via inducible gene expression
• Engineering pest- or disease-resistant plants by inducible expression of protective proteins
• Production of virus-like particles for vaccine or nanobiotechnology purposes

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Temporal control: Protein production can be switched on or off by UV-C exposure, reducing harmful effects on the plant and allowing production to be synchronized with need.
• High yield: The system provides strong induction, leading to higher levels of recombinant protein compared to constitutive expression systems.
• Safety: UV-C induction avoids using hazardous chemicals (as other inducible systems require), making the process safer for plants and humans.
• Low cost: UV-C equipment is inexpensive, easy to install in greenhouses or growth chambers, and only low doses are needed for induction.
• Broader applicability: The promoters work in different plant species and can be used in both stable and transient expression systems.
• Flexible engineering: Compatible with a wide range of genes of interest, making the system broadly useful for biotechnology, agriculture, and research.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates generally to plant genetic engineering. More particularly, it concerns to improved gene expression systems for transgenic plants using nucleic acid molecules comprising an inducible promoter. The present invention also relates to a recombinant gene and to microorganisms, plant cells and plants transformed with the recombinant gene.