Characterization of Complex Systems Using the Design of Experiments Approach: Transient Protein Expression in Tobacco as a Case Study

The overall goal of the following experiment is to generate predictive models for transient expression of proteins in plant leaves. This is achieved by setting up an experimental design to identify the most important parameters for transient expression and quantify their impact on protein accumulation. As a second step, genes are cloned and transferred into agro bacteria, which are then injected into leaves resulting in transient protein expression.

Next leaf samples are analyzed in order to determine protein expression levels. Results are obtained that show the pattern of transient protein expression levels in leaves of different ages and for different incubation conditions based on a design of experiment model evaluation. The main advantage of this technique over existing methods like one factor at a time, is that interactions between different parameters like leave age or positional leaf can be detected and quantified.