Production of bovine interferon-gamma in transgenic tobacco plants

The inbreed line of Nicotiana tabacum L. plants harboring a heterologous gene of bovine interferon-gamma sIFNG under the control of constitutive 35S CaMV promoter was created by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. The transformation of leaf discs yielded six independent transgenic plants (T-0 generation). All six transformants demonstrated presence of sIFNG insertion and had a normal phenotype. Self-pollination of T-0 plants provided six transgenic families. All families but one inherited sIFNG insertion in T-1 progeny and were used for subsequent selection. Offsprings of selfing were tested for the presence and expression of sIFNG gene and the synthesis of bovine interferon-gamma protein. We identified homozygous sIFNG plant of Inter311.2 family in T-1 generation, which was laid the founder of the inbreed line of transgenic sIFNG tobacco. The line demonstrated stable inheritance and expression of the transgene insertion and presence of a heterologous interferon-gamma protein in the plant tissue up to the fourth generation of transgenic plants tested. Antiviral and immunomodulatory activities of plant-produced interferon-gamma upon bovine cell cultures and laboratory animals (mice) were observed. Created tobacco plants may be used as the bioreactors for production of bovine interferon-gamma for veterinary.