MERITS OF SECRETION OF HETEROLOGOUS PROTEINS FROM INDUSTRIAL MICROORGANISMS

The heterologous expression of proteins is without doubt one of the mo st fascinating applications of the recombinant DNA technique. Despite clear successes many attemps to produce a certain protein in a heterol ogous host cell have met with technical difficulties. Secretion from c ells has been used as a solution to overcome the intracellular formati on of inactive protein. Microorganisms with a history of use in the fe rmentation industry exhibit clear advantages over the frequently used Escherichia coli as host cells for secreted products. Interleukin-3, c hymosin and phytase are examples of commercial products that are produ ced efficiently with the aid of industrial microorganisms.