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. 1994 Nov;106(3):977–981. doi: 10.1104/pp.106.3.977

Expression of a human lactoferrin cDNA in tobacco cells produces antibacterial protein(s).

A Mitra 1, Z Zhang 1
PMCID: PMC159621  PMID: 7824662

Abstract

A suspension tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cell line was transformed to express human lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein. The transgenic calli produced a protein that was significantly smaller than the full-length lactoferrin protein. Total protein extracts made from transgenic tobacco callus exhibited much higher antibacterial activity than commercially available purified lactoferrin as determined by the decrease of colony-forming units when tested with four phytopathogenic species of bacteria. Introduction of the lactoferrin gene in crop plants may provide resistance against phytopathogenic bacteria.

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Selected References

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