Produce of physiologically functional plants introduced the CD98 gene for tumor-specific protein

Abstract

In an attempt to produce physiologically functional plants exhibiting an anti-cancer effect, we prepared transgenic plants transformed with the CD98 gene for a tumor-specific, membrane-located protein. The CD98 protein plays a significant role on amino acid transport and integrin-mediated adhesion, and is strongly produced in tumorous cells of kidney, small intestine, testis and ovary. In this study, the CD98 gene was introduced into Louts japonicus using an Agrobacterium -mediated method, and its expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. As a result, hygromycin-resistance lines selected were shown to successfully transcribe the introduced gene and translate the CD98 protein. Thus, the present study suggests that our approach provides an experimental basis for production of edible vaccine against CD98.