In the heart of Wenzhou University, Guangdong Yu and his team have been quietly revolutionizing the way we think about skincare and skin repair. Their latest breakthrough, published in the journal ‘Frontiers in Plant Science’ (which translates to ‘Plant Science Frontiers’), involves a novel approach to enhancing the penetration and efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) using a transdermal peptide and the humble Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant often used in plant biology research.
Imagine a world where skincare products could repair damaged skin barriers more effectively and safely. This is the promise of the research led by Yu, an associate professor at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. The team has successfully expressed a fusion protein combining EGF and a transdermal peptide (TDP1) in Arabidopsis thaliana. This fusion protein, TDP1-EGF, has shown remarkable potential in enhancing skin barrier repair.
The journey began with the cloning of the TDP1 and EGF genes into a plant expression vector. The resulting plasmid was then introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana using the floral dip method. Positive clones were identified through PCR, and high-expression strains were selected using Western-blot analysis and ELISA. The team then obtained homozygous plants through self-pollination, setting the stage for their groundbreaking experiments.
One of the standout features of this research is the use of Arabidopsis thaliana as an expression system. “This system offers the advantages of being devoid of toxicity from endogenous plant substances, making it both safe and suitable for scalable production of the recombinant protein,” Yu explained. This is a significant step forward, as it addresses some of the challenges associated with the penetration and safety of EGF.
The yield of the TDP1-EGF fusion protein expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana accounted for 0.0166% of the total soluble protein. While this might seem modest, the biological efficacy of the TDP1-EGF fusion protein surpassed that of EGF alone in ameliorating epidermal barrier damage in a murine skin injury model. This was evidenced by enhanced transdermal activity in the Franz diffusion cell assay and improved skin repair in various tests.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. For the skincare industry, this could mean more effective and safer products for consumers. For the agricultural sector, it opens up new avenues for molecular farming, where plants are used to produce pharmaceuticals and other valuable compounds. This could lead to more sustainable and cost-effective production methods.
Yu’s work is not just about creating better skincare products; it’s about pioneering a new approach to molecular farming. “This research establishes a foundation for the application of molecular farming in skin health,” Yu stated. This could revolutionize the way we think about plant-based production of therapeutic proteins, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly.
As we look to the future, the potential applications of this research are vast. From enhanced skincare products to innovative approaches in molecular farming, the work of Guangdong Yu and his team is paving the way for a new era in plant-based biotechnology. The journey from lab to market is never straightforward, but with the promising results seen so far, the future looks bright for this groundbreaking research.