Advantages
- Significant cost reduction: It is estimated that 50–80% of recombinant protein production costs are attributed to downstream processes (extraction and purification). By enabling secretion into the culture medium, this system greatly simplifies these complex steps, resulting in lower costs and faster production
- High-purity yield: Compared with animal cell-based systems, the culture medium contains fewer contaminants, allowing easy separation and recovery of target proteins at high purity
Current Stage & Data
Researchers have successfully established an efficient secretory protein production system using hairy root cultures of Nicotiana benthamiana by combining a newly identified plant-derived signal peptide (SP) with GFP. The culture medium exhibited intense fluorescence throughout, confirming large-scale and stable secretion of the protein into the medium (see figure below).
 |
Figure: Accumulation of GFP in the hairy root culture medium
GFP (C): Control, SP1-GFP to SP4-GFP: Hairy roots expressing GFP fused with different signal peptides (SPs)
Partnering Model
The University of Osaka is seeking companies interested in collaborating on the commercialization of this protein production technology. We can discuss flexible collaboration options, such as validating the system’s effectiveness with proteins of interest or conducting joint research.
As a next step, we can arrange direct meetings with the researchers.
Technology Overview & Background
This technology combines the vigorous growth capacity of hairy roots with a uniquely identified signal peptide, enabling continuous secretion of target proteins into the culture medium. The medium is based on inexpensive inorganic salts and contains no animal-derived components, minimizing the risk of contamination with animal viruses and leading high safety.
By avoiding or minimizing conventional steps such as cell disruption and multi-stage column purification, the system offers an efficient, low-cost route to high-purity protein production.
Patent(s)
Applied (Unpublished)
Principal Investigator & Academic Institution
Assistant Prof. Hiroyuki KAJIURA (International Center for Biotechnology, The University of Osaka)
Project ID:TT-05330