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Plant cell culture technology–harnessing a biological approach for competitive cyclotides production

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Abstract

Cyclotides are naturally occurring mini-proteins that have a cyclic backbone and a knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds. They are remarkably stable and have a diverse range of therapeutically useful biological activities, including antimicrobial and anti-HIV activity, although their natural function appears to be plant defence agents. Cyclotides are amenable to chemical synthesis; however currently most bioactivity studies have involved the use of peptides extracted from plants. Plant cell culture technology shows promise towards the goal of producing therapeutically active cyclotides in qualities and quantities required for drug development.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank her co-workers Verena Lürbke and Peter Seydel, and the students involved in the project, Petra Frickinger, Tetyana Heimstädt, Andrea Meyerhöfer, Holger Riess, Daniel Roth, David Wallis and Jorge Wong, for the data resulting from their diploma and master thesis or study work. HD appreciates the excellent technical assistance of Christine Friedl. Parts of the work were supported by a Research Grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG (DO 550/5).

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  1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Paul-Gordan-Str. 3, 91052, Erlangen, Germany

    Heike Dörnenburg

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Dörnenburg, H. Plant cell culture technology–harnessing a biological approach for competitive cyclotides production. Biotechnol Lett 30, 1311–1321 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-008-9704-7

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