Transgenic Plants Develop Enzymes

Applied Genetics News, April, 1999

ProdiGene, Inc. (College Station, TX) and Genencor International, Inc. have expanded their collaboration to develop enzyme products utilizing transgenic plants. Under an existing agreement announced in 1997, Genencor had the option of developing additional enzymes. Genencor has exercised this option and has agreed to fund the development of additional products with ProdiGene.

ProdiGene uses transgenic plants to economically manufacture active and complex recombinant proteins. Plant seeds provide a convenient storage form for recombinant proteins and scale-up is as simple as planting more seeds. The seeds, themselves, can be used as the delivery system for the proteins, or the proteins can be extracted for use in other ways. Raw material costs for recombinant proteins are below the cost of other recombinant systems. The alliance combines ProdiGene's expertise in producing recombinant proteins in transgenic plants with Genencor's enzyme technologies. Genencor is a 50-50 joint venture between Eastman Chemical Co. (100 North Eastman Rd., Kingsport, TN 37660; Tel: 423/229-2000, Fax: 423/229-8280) and Cultor, Ltd. (Helsinki, Finland). It is one of the world's largest manufacturers of enzymes, employing over 1000 people. "The results of our strategic alliance with Genencor have exceeded our expectations," says Robert Dose, executive vice president for ProdiGene.