A simulation model for heterologous protein production in transgenic lettuce

Abstract

A simulation model was developed for heterologous protein production in transgenic lettuce. The model focused on. the time course of fresh weight and heterologous protein of each leaf. The total amount of heterologous protein in a head of lettuce was expressed by the summation of all amounts of heterologous protein in all leaves. Soluble rather than heterologous protein concentration was used due to the unavailability of the transgenic lettuce producing specific heterologous protein. The parameters of the model were decided based on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. 'Greenwave') grown in the plant factory at Osaka Prefecture University. The first simulation reproduced the time course of soluble protein production in a head of lettuce grown under conventional environmental conditions. In the second simulation, protein production at 15°C and 25°C was simulated to investigate the effect of the model parameters on protein production. The results indicated the existence of an optimum cultivation cycle and the advantages and disadvantages of protein production at low and high temperature.