Tobacco Plants as a Versatile Host for the Expression of Glycoproteins

Approximately 70% of recombinant therapeutic proteins are glycoproteins. They are playing pivotal roles today in the treatment of an array of diseases. It is crucial for such proteins to be properly glycosylated for their folding, secretion, and biological activity. The demand for glycoprotein drugs is already high and is expected to increase further in the coming years due to increasing incidences of chronic and infectious diseases worldwide. The mammalian cell-based expression system (MCBES) used to express these proteins is expensive and cannot meet increasing demand. Plant-based expression system (PBES) is emerging as an alternative to MCBES because of its low cost, glycosylation capacity typical of higher eukaryotes, flexibility in genetic modification of its glycosylation pathways and target expression, and no risk of transmitting mammalian pathogens. In this book chapter, we discuss recent advances in the use of plants in general and tobacco plants, in particular, to produce therapeutic proteins with human-like glycosylation. We also discuss the future prospect for PBES and its impact on human health.