Project: An integrated genomic and proteomic characterization of induced seed storage organelles for the optimal production of biopharmaceuticals in plants and plant cells

The scientific objectives of the Project aim towards developing a comprehensive understanding of the genome and proteome of rice and Arabidopsis, in the first tier but also tobacco, a species that has unique attributes for specific applications in the field of molecular farming. The project’s key objectives are: (1) Understand qualitative and quantitative changes in protein composition a plant undergoes during the formation of endogenous and induced storage protein bodies (PBs) at the genomic and proteomic levels; (2) characterize the final protein composition (proteome) of induced storage bodies in order to understand the mechanism of PB formation, specifically focusing on their use as production tools and delivery vehicles for molecular farming applications; (3) establish a knowledge basis, founded on proteomic and genomic characterisation, that will allow identification of genes and proteins that might influence either positively or negatively the accumulation of exogenous proteins in plants and plant cells; (4) use the above knowledge to propose more refined strategies for maximizing productivity of valuable recombinant proteins for molecular farming applications and test these using a commercially relevant protein (EGF, Epidermal Growth Factor).

Acronym	ProteinStorage
Duration	01/10/2007 - 01/10/2010
Website	visit project website
Network	ERA-PG
Call	Structuring Plant Genomic Research in Europe - ERA-PG First Call for Proposals (2006)

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
	ERA biotech		Spain
	French National Institute for Agricultural Research		France
	Insitute For Food And Agriculture Research And Technology		Spain
	Nestlé France - Research and Development		France
	PartnerChip		France
	RWTH Aachen University		Germany
	University of Lleida	Coordinator	Spain