High-level expression of a single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) antibody in transgenic pea seeds

The field pea(Pisum sativumL.)is a protein-rich crop and pea seeds are well suited for the production of recombinant proteins. Here we show, that recombinant antibodies can be accumulated in transgenic pea seeds in a homozygous transgenic line up to 2 percnt; of total soluble seed protein. The expression was controlled by the seed-specific USP promoter and the transgenic single-chain Fv antibody protein was retended in the endoplasmic reticulum. The stable inheritance, shown by investigation of the high-level accumulation in the R3 offspring is another important feature of this new antibody production system. The suitability of transgenic pea seeds as an economically potent production system for recombinant antibodies is clearly demonstrated by our results.