Molecular Farming of Pharmaceutical Proteins in Different Crop Systems: A Way Forward

Molecular farmingMolecular farming is commonly associated with the exploitation of plant cell cultures, parts of or whole plants, aiming to obtain products with commercial value. Genetic engineering has made it possible to obtain transgenic plants for agribusiness, with the capability to synthesize biomolecules with high added value and great pharmaceutical interest. Advances in molecular techniques have enabled the large-scale cultivation of plant cells in bioreactors. Besides, genetic engineering has made it possible to use different parts or the whole plant, to produce numerous biomolecules. The production of heterologous protein can be for a short period (transient gene expression) or for a prolonged period (stable gene expression). Historically, plant engineering has been successfully applied to pharmacological protein production utilized for human and veterinaryVeterinary health, as well as in the use of adjuvants for drugs and medical supplies. Over the years, molecular farming products will become increasingly available in the marketplace, and here the use of different crop systems and their potential for the production of pharmaceutical proteins will be discussed.