Ultra-deep next generation mitochondrial genome sequencing reveals widespread heteroplasmy in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Recent sequencing of the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell and Chinese hamster genomes has dramatically advanced our ability to understand the biology of these mammalian cell factories. In this study, we focus on the powerhouse of the CHO cell, the mitochondrion. Utilizing a high-resolution next generation sequencing approach we sequenced the Chinese hamster mitochondrial genome for the first time and surveyed the mutational landscape of CHO cell mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Depths of coverage ranging from ~3,319X to 8,056X enabled accurate identification of low frequency mutations (>1%), revealing that mtDNA heteroplasmy is widespread in CHO cells. A total of 197 variants at 130 individual nucleotide positions were identified across a panel of 22 cell lines with 81% of variants occurring at an allele frequency of between 1% and 99%. 89% of the heteroplasmic mutations identified were cell line specific with the majority of shared heteroplasmic SNPs and INDELs detected in clones from 2 cell line development projects originating from the same host cell line. The frequency of common predicted loss of function mutations varied significantly amongst the clones indicating that heteroplasmic mtDNA variation could lead to a continuous range of phenotypes and play a role in cell to cell, production run to production run and indeed clone to clone variation in CHO cell metabolism. Experiments that integrate mtDNA sequencing with metabolic flux analysis and metabolomics have the potential to improve cell line selection and enhance CHO cell metabolic phenotypes for biopharmaceutical manufacturing through rational mitochondrial genome engineering.     

Aberrant DNA methylation imprints in aborted bovine clones

Genomic imprinting plays a very important role during development and its abnormality may heavily undermine the developmental potential of bovine embryos. Because of limited resources of the cow genome, bovine genomic imprinting, both in normal development and in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning, is not well documented. DNA methylation is thought to be a major factor for the establishment of genomic imprinting. In our study, we determined the methylation status of differential methylated regions (DMRs) of four imprinted genes in four spontaneously aborted SCNT-cloned fetuses (AF). Firstly, abnormal methylation imprints were observed in each individual to different extents. In particular, Peg3 and MAOA were either seriously demethylated or showed aberrant methylation patterns in four aborted clones we tested, but Xist and Peg10 exhibited relatively better maintained methylation status in AF1 and AF4. Secondly, two aborted fetuses, AF2 and AF3 exhibited severe aberrant methylation imprints of four imprinted genes. Finally, MAOA showed strong heterogeneous methylation patterns of its DMR in normal somatic adult tissue, but largely variable methylation levels and relatively homogeneous methylation patterns in aborted cloned fetuses. Our data indicate that the aborted cloned fetuses exhibited abnormal methylation imprints, to different extent, in aborted clones, which partially account for the higher abortion and developmental abnormalities during bovine cloning.     

Comprehensive genome and epigenome characterization of CHO cells in response to evolutionary pressures and over time

The most striking characteristic of CHO cells is their adaptability, which enables efficient production of proteins as well as growth under a variety of culture conditions, but also results in genomic and phenotypic instability. To investigate the relative contribution of genomic and epigenetic modifications towards phenotype evolution, comprehensive genome and epigenome data are presented for six related CHO cell lines, both in response to perturbations (different culture conditions and media as well as selection of a specific phenotype with increased transient productivity) and in steady state (prolonged time in culture under constant conditions). Clear transitions were observed in DNA‐methylation patterns upon each perturbation, while few changes occurred over time under constant conditions. Only minor DNA‐methylation changes were observed between exponential and stationary growth phase; however, throughout a batch culture the histone modification pattern underwent continuous adaptation. Variation in genome sequence between the six cell lines on the level of SNPs, InDels, and structural variants is high, both upon perturbation and under constant conditions over time. The here presented comprehensive resource may open the door to improved control and manipulation of gene expression during industrial bioprocesses based on epigenetic mechanisms. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2241–2253. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Random epigenetic modulation of CHO cells by repeated knockdown of DNA methyltransferases increases population diversity and enables sorting of cells with higher production capacities

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells produce a large share of today's biopharmaceuticals. Still, the generation of satisfactory producer cell lines is a tedious undertaking. Recently, it was found that CHO cells, when exposed to new environmental conditions, modify their epigenome, suggesting that cells adapt their gene expression pattern to handle new challenges. The major aim of the present study was to employ artificially induced, random changes in the DNA-methylation pattern of CHO cells to diversify cell populations and consequently increase the finding of cell lines with improved cellular characteristics. To achieve this, DNA methyltransferases and/or the ten-eleven translocation enzymes were downregulated by RNA interference over a time span of ∼16 days. Methylation analysis of the resulting cell pools revealed that the knockdown of DNA methyltransferases was highly effective in randomly demethylating the genome. The same approach, when applied to stable CHO producer cells resulted in (a) an increased productivity diversity in the cell population, and (b) a higher number of outliers within the population, which resulted in higher specific productivity and titer in the sorted cells. These findings suggest that epigenetics play a previously underestimated, but actually important role in defining the overall cellular behavior of production clones.     

CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene knockout for DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a in CHO cells displays enhanced transgenic expression and long‐term stability

CHO cells are the preferred host for the production of complex pharmaceutical proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry, and genome engineering of CHO cells would benefit product yield and stability. Here, we demonstrated the efficacy of a Dnmt3a‐deficient CHO cell line created by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology through gene disruptions in Dnmt3a, which encode the proteins involved in DNA methyltransferases. The transgenes, which were driven by the 2 commonly used CMV and EF1α promoters, were evaluated for their expression level and stability. The methylation levels of CpG sites in the promoter regions and the global DNA were compared in the transfected cells. The Dnmt3a‐deficent CHO cell line based on Dnmt3a KO displayed an enhanced long‐term stability of transgene expression under the control of the CMV promoter in transfected cells in over 60 passages. Under the CMV promoter, the Dnmt3a‐deficent cell line with a high transgene expression displayed a low methylation rate in the promoter region and global DNA. Under the EF1α promoter, the Dnmt3a‐deficient and normal cell lines with low transgene expression exhibited high DNA methylation rates. These findings provide insight into cell line modification and design for improved recombinant protein production in CHO and other mammalian cells.     

DNA Methylation and Epigenotypes

The science of epigenetics is the study of all those mechanisms that control the unfolding of the genetic program for development and determine the phenotypes of differentiated cells. The pattern of gene expression in each of these cells is called the epigenotype. The best known and most thoroughly studied epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, which provides a basis both for the switching of gene activities, and the maintenance of stable phenotypes. The human epigenome project is the determination of the pattern of DNA methylation in multiple cell types. Some methylation sites, such as those in repeated genetic elements, are likely to be the same in all cell types, but genes with specialized functions will have distinct patterns of DNA methylation. Another project for the future is the study of the reprogramming of the genome in gametogenesis and early development. Much is already known about the de novo methylation of tumor suppressor genes in cancer cells, but the significance of epigenetic defects during ageing and in some familial diseases remains to be determined.     

Aberrant DNA methylation in 5'regions of DNA methyltransferase genes in aborted bovine clones

High rate of abortion and developmental abnormalities is thought to be closely associated with inefficient epigenetic reprogramming of the transplanted nuclei during bovine cloning.It is known that one of the important mechanisms for epigenetic reprogramming is DNA methylation.DNA methylation is established and maintained by DNA methyltransferases(DNMTs),therefore,it is postulated that the inefficient epigenetic reprogramming of transplanted nuclei may be due to abnormal expression of DNMTs.Since DNA methylation can strongly inhibit gene expression,aberrant DNA methylation of DNMT genes may disturb gene expression.But presently,it is not clear whether the methylation abnormality of DNMT genes is related to developmental failure of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos.In our study,we analyzed methylation patterns of the 5' regions of four DNMT genes including Dnmt3a,Dnmt3b,Dnmtl and Dnmt2 in four aborted bovine clones.Using bisulfite sequencing method,we found that 3 out of 4 aborted bovine clones(AF1,AF2 and AF3)showed either hypermethylation or hypomethylation in the 5' regions of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b.indicating that Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b genes are not properly reprogrammed.However,the individual AF4 exhibited similar methylation level and pattern to age-matched in vitro fertilized (IVF)fetuses.Besides,we found that tle 5'regions of Dnmtl and Dnmt2 were nearly completely unmethylated in all normal adults.IVF fetuses,sperm and aborted clones.Together,our results suggest that the aberrant methylation of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b 5' regions is probably associated with the high abortion of bovine clones.     

DNA methylation errors in cloned mice disappear with advancement of aging

Cloned animals have various health problems. Aberrant DNA methylation is a possible cause of the problems. Restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) that enabled us to analyze more than 1,000 CpG islands simultaneously demonstrated that all cloned newborns had aberrant DNA methylation. To study whether this aberration persists throughout the life of cloned individuals, we examined genome-wide DNA methylation status of newborn (19.5 dpc, n=2), adult (8-11 months old, n=3), and aged (23-27 months old, n=4) cloned mice using kidney cells as representatives. In the adult and aged groups, cloning was repeated using cumulus cells of the adult founder clone of each group as nucleus donor. Two newborn clones had three with aberrantly methylated loci, which is consistent with previous reports that all cloned newborns had DNA methylation aberrations. Interestingly, we could detect only one aberrantly methylated locus in two of the three adult clones in mid-age and none of four senescent clones, indicating that errors in DNA methylation disappear with advancement of animals' aging.     

Differential differences in methylation status of putative imprinted genes among cloned swine genomes

DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification in the mammalian genome that regulates crucial aspects of gene function. Mammalian cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) often results in gestational or neonatal failure with only a small proportion of manipulated embryos producing live births. Many of the embryos that survive to term later succumb to a variety of abnormalities that are likely due to inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming. Aberrant methylation patterns of imprinted genes in cloned cattle and mice have been elucidated, but few reports have analyzed the cloned pig genome. Four surviving cloned sows that were created by ear fibroblast nuclear transfer, each with a different life span and multiple organ defects, such as heart defects and bone growth delay, were used as epigenetic study materials. First, we identified four putative differential methylation regions (DMR) of imprinted genes in the wild-type pig genome, including two maternally imprinted loci (INS and IGF2) and two paternally imprinted loci (H19 and IGF2R). Aberrant DNA methylation, either hypermethylation or hypomethylation, commonly appeared in H19 (45% of imprinted loci hypermethylated vs. 30% hypomethylated), IGF2 (40% vs. 0%), INS (50% vs. 5%), and IGF2R (15% vs. 45%) in multiple tissues from these four cloned sows compared with wild-type pigs. Our data suggest that aberrant epigenetic modifications occur frequently in the genome of cloned swine. Even with successful production of cloned swine that avoid prenatal or postnatal death, the perturbation of methylation in imprinted genes still exists, which may be one of reason for their adult pathologies and short life. Understanding the aberrant pattern of gene imprinting would permit improvements in future cloning techniques.     

A New Tool for the Rapid Cloning of Amplified and Hypermethylated Human DNA Sequences from Restriction Landmark Genome Scanning Gels

Restriction landmark genome scanning (RLGS) is an effective genome-scanning technique capable of identifying DNA amplification and aberrant DNA methylation. Previously published methods for the cloning of human DNA fragments from RLGS gels have been successful only for high-copy-number fragments (repetitive elements or DNA amplifications). We present here the first technique capable of efficiently cloning single-copy human DNA fragments ("spots") identified in RLGS profiles. This technique takes advantage of a plasmid-based, human genomic DNA, NotI/EcoRV boundary library. The library is arrayed in microtiter plates. When clones from a single plate are pooled and mixed with genomic DNA, the resultant RLGS gel is a normal profile with a defined set of spots showing enhanced intensity for that particular plate. This was performed for a set of 32 plates as well as their pooled rows and columns. Thus, we have mapped individual RLGS spots to exact plate, row, and column addresses in the library and have thereby obtained immediate access to these clones. The feasibility of the technique is demonstrated in examples of cloning methylated DNA fragments identified in human breast tumor and testicular tumor RLGS profiles and in the cloning of an amplified DNA fragment identified in a human medulloblastoma RLGS profile.     

Direct Cloning of Yeast Genes from an Ordered Set of Lambda Clones in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae by Recombination in Vivo

We describe a technique that facilitates the isolation of yeast genes that are difficult to clone. This technique utilizes a plasmid vector that rescues lambda clones as yeast centromere plasmids. The source of these lambda clones is a set of clones whose location in the yeast genome has been determined by L. Riles et al. in 1993. The Esherichia coli-yeast shuttle plasmid carries URA3, ARS4 and CEN6, and contains DNA fragments from the lambda vector that flank the cloned yeast insert. When yeast is cotransformed with linearized plasmid and lambda clone DNA, Ura(+) transformants are obtained by a recombination event between the lambda clone and the plasmid vector that generates an autonomously replicating plasmid containing the cloned yeast DNA sequences. Genes whose genetic map positions are known can easily be identified and recovered in this plasmid by testing only those lambda clones that map to the relevant region of the yeast genome for their ability to complement the mutant phenotype. This technique facilitates the isolation of yeast genes that resist cloning either because (1) they are underrepresented in yeast genomic libraries amplified in E. coli, (2) they provide phenotypes that are too marginal to allow selection of the gene by genetic complementation or (3) they provide phenotypes that are laborious to score. We demonstrate the utility of this technique by isolating three genes, GAL83, SSN2 and MAK7, each of which presents one of these problems for cloning.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of novel junctions near an unstable integrated plasmid in human cells

Characterization of human cell clones containing a promoterless selectable gene (neo), integrated at various locations in the genome, demonstrated that one of the integration sites had a high rate of spontaneous tandem duplications. Other investigators have suggested that specific sequences, such as short repeats, found near an integration site, could be responsible for this kind of instability. To learn more about this process, we sequenced the DNA at the recombination site in two independently derived subclones, and compared these sequences with those found in the parental cell DNA. The results demonstrate that specific sequences are not required at the recombination site. In one G418-resistant subclone, recombination occurred between an Alu retroposon in the cellular DNA and integrated pBR322 sequences sharing 3 bp of similarity at the recombination site. In the other subclone, recombination occurred between single-copy cellular DNA and integrated simian virus 40 sequences sharing a single bp of similarity at the recombination site. This heterogeneity at the recombination site indicates a general enhancement of the rate of recombination within the entire region, with little if any sequence specificity or similarity required.     

Utilizing targeted integration CHO pools to potentially accelerate the GMP manufacturing of monoclonal and bispecific antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are effective therapeutic agents against many acute infectious diseases including COVID-19, Ebola, RSV, Clostridium difficile, and Anthrax. mAbs can therefore help combat a future pandemic. Unfortunately, mAb development typically takes years, limiting its potential to save lives during a pandemic. Therefore “pandemic mAb” timelines need to be shortened. One acceleration tool is “deferred cloning” and leverages new Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) technology based on targeted gene integration (TI). CHO pools, instead of CHO clones, can be used for Phase I/II clinical material production. A final CHO clone (producing the mAb with a similar product quality profile and preferably with a higher titer) can then be used for Phase III trials and commercial manufacturing. This substitution reduces timelines by ~3 months. We evaluated our novel CHO TI platform to enable deferred cloning. We created four unique CHO pools expressing three unique mAbs (mAb1, mAb2, and mAb3), and a bispecific mAb (BsAb1). We then performed single-cell cloning for mAb1 and mAb2, identifying three high-expressing clones from each pool. CHO pools and clones were inoculated side-by-side in ambr15 bioreactors. CHO pools yielded mAb titers as high as 10.4 g/L (mAb3) and 7.1 g/L (BsAb1). Subcloning yielded CHO clones expressing higher titers relative to the CHO pools while yielding similar product quality profiles. Finally, we showed that CHO TI pools were stable by performing a 3-month cell aging study. In summary, our CHO TI platform can increase the speed to clinic for a future “pandemic mAb.”     

Functional heterogeneity and heritability in CHO cell populations

In this study, we address the hypothesis that it is possible to exploit genetic/functional variation in parental Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell populations to isolate clonal derivatives that exhibit superior, heritable attributes for biomanufacturing—new parental cell lines which are inherently more “fit for purpose.” One‐hundred and ninety‐nine CHOK1SV clones were isolated from a donor CHOK1SV parental population by limiting dilution cloning and microplate image analysis, followed by primary analysis of variation in cell‐specific proliferation rate during extended deep‐well microplate suspension culture of individual clones to accelerate genetic drift in isolated cultures. A subset of 100 clones were comparatively evaluated for transient production of a recombinant monoclonal antibody (Mab) and green fluorescent protein following transfection of a plasmid vector encoding both genes. The heritability of both cell‐specific proliferation rate and Mab production was further assessed using a subset of 23 clones varying in functional capability that were subjected to cell culture regimes involving both cryopreservation and extended sub‐culture. These data showed that whilst differences in transient Mab production capability were not heritable per se, clones exhibiting heritable variation in specific proliferation rate, endocytotic transfectability and N‐glycan processing were identified. Finally, for clonal populations most “evolved” by extended sub‐culture in vitro we investigated the relationship between cellular protein biomass content, specific proliferation rate and cell surface N‐glycosylation. Rapid‐specific proliferation rate was inversely correlated to CHO cell size and protein content, and positively correlated to cell surface glycan content, although substantial clone‐specific variation in ability to accumulate cell biomass was evident. Taken together, our data reveal the dynamic nature of the CHO cell functional genome and the potential to evolve and isolate CHO cell variants with improved functional properties in vitro. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 260–274. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Slashing the timelines: Opting to generate high‐titer clonal lines faster via viability‐based single cell sorting

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line development (CLD) is a long and laborious process, which requires up to 5 ? 6 months in order to generate and bank CHO lines capable of stably expressing therapeutic molecules. Additionally, single cell cloning of these production lines is also necessary to confirm clonality of the production lines. Here we introduce the utilization of viability staining dye in combination with flow cytometer to isolate high titer clones from a pool of selected cells and single cell deposit them into the wells of culture plates. Our data suggests that a stringent selection procedure along with viability dye staining and flow cytometry‐based sorting can be used to isolate high expressing clones with titers comparable to that of traditional CLD methods. This approach not only requires less labor and consumables, but it also shortens CLD timelines by at least 3 weeks. Furthermore, single cell deposition of selected cells by a flow sorter can be regarded as an additional clonality assurance factor that in combination with Day 0 imaging can ensure clonality of the production lines. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:198–207, 2016     

Role of Ku80-dependent end-joining in delayed genomic instability in mammalian cells surviving ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation induces delayed destabilization of the genome in the progenies of surviving cells. This phenomenon, which is called radiation-induced genomic instability, is manifested by delayed induction of radiation effects, such as cell death, chromosome aberration, and mutation in the progeny of cells surviving radiation exposure. Previously, there was a report showing that delayed cell death was absent in Ku80-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, however, the mechanism of their defect has not been determined. We found that delayed induction of DNA double strand breaks and chromosomal breaks were intact in Ku80-deficient cells surviving X-irradiation, whereas there was no sign for the production of chromosome bridges between divided daughter cells. Moreover, delayed induction of dicentric chromosomes was significantly compromised in those cells compared to the wild-type CHO cells. Reintroduction of the human Ku86 gene complimented the defective DNA repair and recovered delayed induction of dicentric chromosomes and delayed cell death, indicating that defective Ku80-dependent dicentric induction was the cause of the absence of delayed cell death. Since DNA-PKcs-defective cells showed delayed phenotypes, Ku80-dependent illegitimate rejoining is involved in delayed impairment of the integrity of the genome in radiation-survived cells.     

Heterogeneity and randomness of DNA methylation patterns in human embryonic stem cells

DNA methylation has been proposed to be important in many biological processes and is the subject of intense study. Traditional bisulfite genomic sequencing allows detailed high-resolution methylation pattern analysis of each molecule with haplotype information across a few hundred bases at each locus, but lacks the capacity to gather voluminous data. Although recent technological developments are aimed at assessing DNA methylation patterns in a high-throughput manner across the genome, the haplotype information cannot be accurately assembled when the sequencing reads are short or when each hybridization target only includes one or two cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites. Whether a distinct and nonrandom DNA methylation pattern is present at a given locus is difficult to discern without the haplotype information, and the DNA methylation patterns are much less apparent because the data are often obtained only as methylation frequencies at each CpG site with some of these methods. It would facilitate the interpretation of data obtained from high-throughput bisulfite sequencing if the loci with nonrandom DNA methylation patterns could be distinguished from those that are randomly methylated. In this study, we carried out traditional genomic bisulfite sequencing using the normal diploid human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines, and utilized Hamming distance analysis to evaluate the existence of a distinct and nonrandom DNA methylation pattern at each locus studied. Our findings suggest that Hamming distance is a simple, quick, and useful tool to identify loci with nonrandom DNA methylation patterns and may be utilized to discern links between biological changes and DNA methylation patterns in the high-throughput bisulfite sequencing data sets.