Dictyostelium discoideum —a promising expression system for the production of eukaryotic proteins

Abstract

In general, four different expression systems, namely, bacterial, yeast, baculovirus, and mammalian, are widely used for the overproduction of biochemical enzymes and therapeutic proteins. Clearly, bacterial expression systems offer ease of maneuver ability with respect to large‐scale production of recom binant proteins, while, a baculovirus expression system ensures proper protein modifications, processing, and refolding of complex proteins. Despite these advan tages, mammalian cells remain the preferred host for many eukaryotic proteins of pharmaceutical impor tance, particularly, those requiring post‐translational modifications. Recently, the single‐celled slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum ( Dd ), has emerged as a prom ising eukaryotic host for the expression of a variety of heterologous recombinant eukaryotic proteins. This organism possesses the complex cellular machinery required for orchestrating post‐translational modifica tions similar to the one observed in higher eukaryotes. This review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of Dictyostelium as an alternate system compared to other well‐established expression systems. The key lessons learned from the expression of human recombinant pro teins in this system are reviewed. Also, the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges associated with industrial scale production of proteins in Dd expression system are discussed.— Arya, R., Bhattacharya, A., Saini, K. S. Dictyostelium discoideum —a promising expression system for the production of eukaryotic proteins. FASEB J. 22, 4055–4066 (2008)