The needs for purified proteins in modern medicine, research and industrial
application are immense and production of proteins using recombinant technology
offers solutions; proteins are used in simple laboratory experiments like protein-protein
and protein-DNA interactions and in diagnostic, therapeutic and industrial applications.
Some examples of the application of purified recombinant proteins for the treatment of
diseases include clotting factors (Factor VIII and IX) for the treatment of hemophilia,
insulin-dependent diabetes, and adenosine deaminase for severely compromised
immune disease. Recently, human monoclonal antibodies, like anti-tumor necrosis
factor-α (Adalimumab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Repatha
(proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 or PCSK9) inhibitor antibody for the
treatment of and reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and
revascularization of coronary artery diseases, are produced using protein
overexpression methodology described in this chapter. Use of recombinant protein
technologies has enabled industries to produce proteins of human significance at a
tremendous pace. Production of therapeutic proteins at large scale for millions of
individuals to treat diseases is one of the essential needs of mankind. From simple
proteins like albumin, growth factors, cytokines, viral vaccines and human monoclonal
antibodies, all are being produced utilizing the recombinant protein expression
technology and purification processes, whether in a laboratory or biopharming scale in
microorganisms, animals and/or plants. This chapter summarizes various recombinant
expression systems and their pharmaceutical applications.
Keywords: Adenovirus Expression System, Baculovirus-Mediated Expression System,
Biopharming, CHO Expression System, Eukaryotic Expression System, Gene of Interest,
History of Biopharming, Mammalian Expression System, Possible Contaminants in
Expression Systems, Prokaryotic Expression System, Protein Expression System,
Recombinant Proteins, Shuttle Vector, Vaccinia Virus Expression System, Yeast
Expression System.
