Transient expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor in pea (<i>Pisum sativum</i> L.) plants

Abstract

Nowadays, there are many therapeutic proteins produced in different host plants in transient easy to perform, short production cycle, efficient and inexpensive. In this study, the modified pea early browning virus (PEBV) vector containing GFP and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) was introduced into pea plants by leave injection. GFP expression was first observed in the treated leaves 8 to 10 days post-inoculation (dpi) and reached to the highest accumulation in both leaves and stems in 12 to 14 dpi. We suggested that 12 to 14 dpi were the best harvesting time for foreign proteins. The aFGF expression in pea plants has also been confirmed by Western blot.

Key words: Pea plants, acidic fibroblast growth factor, leave injection, plant bioreactor.