PRODUCTION OF PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS BY ACCUMULATION IN PLANTENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM-DERIVED PROTEIN BODIES

摘要

A nucleic acid molecule is disclosed as containing a first nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes .gamma.-zein protein, or a fragment thereof capable of directing and retaining a protein towards t he endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of a plant cell; a second nucleic acid sequence containing a nucleotide sequence that encodes an amino acid sequence that is specifically cleavable by enzymatic or chemical means; and a third nucleic acid sequence containing the nucleotide sequence that encodes a peptide or protein of interest. Methods of using this nucleic acid molecule for transforming host plant cells and producing the peptide or protein of intere st are also disclosed.