Host cells comprising a recombinant casein protein and a recombinant kinase protein

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions and methods for producing milk proteins, which allow for safe, sustainable and humane production of milk proteins for commercial use, such as use in food compositions. The disclosure further teaches methods of increasing the production/accumulation of casein proteins in host cells by co-expressing a kinase capable of phosphorylating the casein protein. Specifically, the disclosure provides host cells comprising a heterologous casein protein and a heterologous casein. Stable transgenic plants expressing heterologous caseins and heterologous kinase proteins are also provided. In some embodiments, the heterologous casein proteins of the disclosure are contained within fusion proteins comprising at least first protein and a second protein, wherein at least one of the first protein and the second protein is a milk protein, or fragment thereof. The disclosure also provides methods for producing the recombinant fusions proteins, and food compositions comprising the same.