The multiplicity of hairy root cultures: Prolific possibilities

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) 2011-03, Vol.180 (3), p.439-446
• Main Authors: Ono, Nadia N., Tian, Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrobacterium; Agrobacterium rhizogenes; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Plant; Hairy roots; Humans; Mycorrhizae; Phytochemical; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Proteins - biosynthesis; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plant Roots - microbiology; Plant secondary metabolism; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Plants - microbiology; Recombinant protein; Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis; Signal Transduction; Tissue Culture Techniques - methods
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2010.11.012

▶ Recent studies using elicitors, culture condition modeling, and transgenic hairy root cultures have led to improved phytochemical production in many species. ▶ The optimization of bioreactors and engineered extra-cellular secretion to the culture medium continues to enhance recombinant protein production and extraction. ▶ Biosynthetic, regulatory, and transporter genes involved in secondary metabolism have been identified and their functions explored in hairy root cultures. ▶ Hairy root cultures continue to burgeon as a diverse tool for various applications. Hairy root cultures (HRCs), induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes infection, have been established from a wide variety of plant species. HRCs accumulate phytochemicals to levels comparable to that of intact plants and are usually stable in their biosynthetic capacity. When optimized for liquid cultures, hairy roots can be grown in industrial-scale bioreactors providing a convenient, abundant and sustainable source of phytochemicals. Due to their ease of propagation and growth in confined environments, HRCs have also been used in recent years in the synthesis of recombinant therapeutic proteins, especially those that have been challenging to express in bacteria, yeast and mammalian expression systems. Although phytochemicals are recognized for their important roles in plant and human health, large gaps still exist in understanding how phytochemicals (in particular, secondary/specialized metabolites) are synthesized in plants. This review presents recent developments and findings in phytochemical and recombinant protein production, as well as new revelations in gene discovery and biochemical pathway elucidation, by the utilization of HRCs. Although many challenges still exist for industrial applications of HRCs, the immediate future of this diverse system, especially for the bench-side scientists, is still found to be promising and abounding in possibilities.