Plant Protein Production Using Red Light Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing proteins in plants lack efficient conditions for improving production efficiency, particularly in terms of light source and wavelength, which affects protein expression levels and purification costs.
Innovation Solution
Cultivating plants under lighting conditions where the ratio of red light (600-700 nm) to total light energy is at least 50%, preferably 75%, to enhance protein expression efficiency and reduce purification loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If natural light or white fluorescent lamp is used for plant cultivation, then general growth is maintained, but protein expression efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral parameters of light by using red LEDs (600-700 nm) instead of natural light or white fluorescent lamps, achieving at least 50% red light content in the illumination spectrum. This parameter change in light wavelength composition directly improves protein expression efficiency while maintaining plant growth
2Productivity
If red light (600-700 nm) ratio is increased to at least 50% of total light energy, then protein expression efficiency increases, but light source complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs LEDs (light-emitting diodes) as the light source, which are inexpensive, energy-efficient, and have long operational life. LEDs can be easily configured to emit specific red wavelengths (600-700 nm) and replaced if needed, providing a cost-effective solution for achieving high red light content without complex lighting systems
3Productivity
If protein expression level is increased, then production efficiency improves, but purification cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the light wavelength parameter to red light (600-700 nm) composition of at least 50% of total light energy, the patent achieves enhanced protein expression levels in plants. This results in higher protein concentration in the plant material, which reduces the volume of biomass that needs to be processed during purification, thereby lowering purification costs despite the increased expression levels
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly increases protein expression efficiency and concentration in plants, reducing purification costs and improving production efficiency while maintaining high growth rates.
Implementation Method 1
by using a plant cultivated under conditions where light within the wavelength region of 600 nm to 700 nm ('so-called red light'
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a useful protein using a plant of the present invention comprises the steps of:cultivating the plant (cultivation step);infecting the cultivated plant with Agrobacterium having a polynucleotide encoding the useful protein (infection step); andallowing the infected plant to express the useful protein (expression step); wherein, in at least part of the cultivation step, the plant is cultivated under lighting conditions where the ratio of the light energy within the wavelength region of 600 nm to 700 nm to the light energy within the wavelength region of 400 nm to 800 nm is not less than 50%.