Synthesis of an HIV-1 Tat transduction domain-rotavirus enterotoxin fusion protein in transgenic potato

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Abstract
A DNA fragment encoding a 12-amino acid (aa) HIV-1 Tat transduction peptide fused to a 90-aa murine rotavirus NSP4 enterotoxin protein (Tat-NSP490) was transferred to Solanum tuberosum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The fusion gene was detected in the genomic DNA of transformed plant leaf tissues by PCR DNA amplification. The Tat-NSP490 fusion protein was identified in transformed tuber extracts by immunoblot analysis using anti-NSP490 and anti-Tat as the primary antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that the Tat-NSP490 fusion protein made up to 0.0015% of the total soluble tuber protein. The synthesis of Tat-NSP490 fusion protein in transformed potato tuber tissues demonstrates the feasibility of plant cell delivery of the HIV-1 Tat transduction domain as a carrier for non-specific targeting of fused antigens to the mucosal immune system.