Plantibody
Encyclopedia
A plantibody is an antibody
produced by genetically modified
crops. Antibodies are part of animal immune systems, and are produced in plants by transforming
them with antibody genes from animals. This was first done in 1989, with a mouse antibody made by tobacco plants . Although plants do not naturally make antibodies, plantibodies have been shown to function in the same way as normal antibodies.
The term plantibody as well as the concept is trademarked by the company Biolex
.
There are two potential major applications for plantibodies. A number of companies in addition to Biolex, including Planet Biotechnology in California, and Medicago in Canada are pursuing the commercial development of plantibodies as therapies for everything from cancer to the common cold. Secondly, the production of plantibodies might be used to make (genetically modified) crops resistant to plant pathogens.
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
produced by genetically modified
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
crops. Antibodies are part of animal immune systems, and are produced in plants by transforming
Transformation (genetics)
In molecular biology transformation is the genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the direct uptake, incorporation and expression of exogenous genetic material from its surroundings and taken up through the cell membrane. Transformation occurs naturally in some species of bacteria, but it can...
them with antibody genes from animals. This was first done in 1989, with a mouse antibody made by tobacco plants . Although plants do not naturally make antibodies, plantibodies have been shown to function in the same way as normal antibodies.
The term plantibody as well as the concept is trademarked by the company Biolex
Biolex
Biolex Therapeutics is a biotechnology firm in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. The company focuses on formation of difficult to synthesize proteins in Lemna, a duckweed. The duckweeds are a family of small aquatic plants that can be grown in sterile culture. Biolex has developed...
.
There are two potential major applications for plantibodies. A number of companies in addition to Biolex, including Planet Biotechnology in California, and Medicago in Canada are pursuing the commercial development of plantibodies as therapies for everything from cancer to the common cold. Secondly, the production of plantibodies might be used to make (genetically modified) crops resistant to plant pathogens.