Compositions and methods for producing marker free biopharmaceutical proteins in the plastids of edible plants are disclosed. Also provided are methods for oral administration of such proteins to subjects in need thereof for the treatment of disease.

Enzyme containing compositions and methods are disclosed which are useful for treating cellulosic materials, such as textiles. Also provided are transgenic plants expressing one or more enzymes and compositions comprising crude extracts obtained therefrom useful for the treatment of foodstuffs which are suitable for human consumption after treatment.

Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols. Furthermore, combination of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) augmented the beneficial effects against cardio-pulmonary pathophysiology induced by MCT administration.

Experiments have also been performed which indicate that this approach is also suitable for the treatment or inhibition of experimental uveitis and autoimmune uveoretinitis These studies provide proof-of-concept for a novel low-cost oral ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) delivery system using transplastomic technology for pulmonary and ocular disease therapeutics.

Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for performing cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS). The disclosed compositions, methods, and kits include or utilize components prepared from plant plastids or extracts thereof. The compositions, methods, and kits may be used for in vitro protein synthesis and prototyping of genetic expression in plants and are suitable for automation.

This invention relates to systems, methods, and devices for inducing andlor repressing the expression of proteins. More particularly, the invention relates to systems, methods, and devices for inducing andlor repressing the expression of proteins in plastids. An exemplary embodiment involves the regulation of the expression of proteins involved in hydrogen production to stimulate the production of hydrogen gas using the methods, systems, and devices described herein.

A method of transforming a mitochondrion of a plant cell to express a nitrogenase enzyme includes exposing the plant cell to a mitochondrial-targeting nanocarrier polypeptide and one or more nucleic acids encoding the nitrogenase enzyme. The one or more genes encoding the nitrogenase enzyme can be one or more Klebsiella nif genes. The method can be used to generate plants which have the capability of fixing atmospheric elemental nitrogen.

Disclosed herein are a suite of genetic tools suitable for engineering both the nucleus and chloroplast in diverse microalgae.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating Type II diabetes. The compositions comprise plant expressed Exendin 4. Particularly exemplified are plant derived compositions that include a CTB-EX4 conjugate that is bioencapsulated in chloroplasts.

The present disclosure provides for growing algae with an exogenous organic carbon source as the primary carbon source, in light, dark or limited light conditions. Also provided are expression cassettes for expression of a recombinant protein in an algae species grown in dark or limited light conditions.

Compositions and methods for plastid transformation and regeneration or development of transplastomic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds are provided. Target sequences for plastid transformation, together with defined sequences of a first homology arm and a second homology arm are provided for the production of recombinant plastid transformation constructs that target specific sites within the plastid genome for transformation, together with methods of using such constructs.