Deposition of Foreign Proteins in Plant Vacuoles: A Unique Characteristic of Plant-Based Platforms

Abstract

The global demand for biological and industrial enzymes is growing driven by the increasing world population and the expansion of their biotechnological applications. To be active and soluble, many of these proteins require post-translational modifications that are typical of the secretory pathway. Accordingly, in most expression systems, these proteins are introduced in the endomembrane system and finish their way in the extracellular space. However, vacuolar deposition is an alternative final destination in plant cells. Compartments specialized in the storage of enormous amounts of proteins are unique in plant cells