A novel structured kinetic modeling approach for the analysis of plasmid instability in recombinant bacterial cultures

The instantaneous specific growth rate of a recombinant bacterial culture is directly calculated using a simple structured kinetic modeling approach. Foreign plasmid replication and foreign protein expression represent metabolic burdens to the host cell. The individual effects of these plasmid-mediated activities on the growth rate of plasmid-bearing cells are estimated separately. The dynamic and steady state simulations of the model equations show remarkable agreement with widely observed experimental trends in plasmid copy number and foreign protein content. The model provides an important tool for understanding and controlling plasmid instability in recombinant bacterial fermentations. The modeling framework employed here is suitable for studying the metabolism and growth of a variety of microbial cultures.     

Impact of targeted vector design on Co/E1 plasmid replication

The demands for recombinant proteins, in addition to plasmid DNA, for therapeutic use are steadily increasing. Bacterial fermentation processes have long been and still are the major tool for production of these molecules. The key objective of process optimization is to attain a high yield of the required quality, which is determined, to a large extent, by plasmid replication rates, metabolic capacity and the properties of the specific gene construct. When high copy number plasmids are used, the metabolic capacity of the host cell is often overstrained and efficient protein production is impaired. The plasmid copy number is the key parameter in the exploitation of the host cell, and can be maximized by optimal control of the flux ratios between biosynthesis of host cell proteins and recombinant proteins.     

Evaluating metabolic stress and plasmid stability in plasmid DNA production by Escherichia coli

In the context of recombinant DNA technology, the development of feasible and high-yielding plasmid DNA production processes has regained attention as more evidence for its efficacy as vectors for gene therapy and DNA vaccination arise. When producing plasmid DNA in Escherichia coli, a number of biological restraints, triggered by plasmid maintenance and replication as well as culture conditions are responsible for limiting final biomass and product yields. This termed "metabolic burden" can also cause detrimental effects on plasmid stability and quality, since the cell machinery is no longer capable of maintaining an active metabolism towards plasmid synthesis and the stress responses elicited by plasmid maintenance can also cause increased plasmid instability. The optimization of plasmid DNA production bioprocesses is still hindered by the lack of information on the host metabolic responses as well as information on plasmid instability. Therefore, systematic and on-line approaches are required not only to characterise this "metabolic burden" and plasmid stability but also for the design of appropriate metabolic engineering and culture strategies. The monitoring tools described to date rapidly evolve from laborious, off-line and at-line monitoring to online monitoring, at a time-scale that enables researchers to solve these bioprocessing problems as they occur. This review highlights major E. coli biological alterations caused by plasmid maintenance and replication, possible causes for plasmid instability and discusses the ability of currently employed bioprocess monitoring techniques to provide information in order to circumvent metabolic burden and plasmid instability, pointing out the possible evolution of these methods towards online bioprocess monitoring.     

Metabolic profiling of recombinant Escherichia coli cultivations based on high‐throughput FT‐MIR spectroscopic analysis

Escherichia coli is one of the most used host microorganism for the production of recombinant products, such as heterologous proteins and plasmids. However, genetic, physiological and environmental factors influence the plasmid replication and cloned gene expression in a highly complex way. To control and optimize the recombinant expression system performance, it is very important to understand this complexity. Therefore, the development of rapid, highly sensitive and economic analytical methodologies, which enable the simultaneous characterization of the heterologous product synthesis and physiologic cell behavior under a variety of culture conditions, is highly desirable. For that, the metabolic profile of recombinant E. coli cultures producing the pVAX‐lacZ plasmid model was analyzed by rapid, economic and high‐throughput Fourier Transform Mid‐Infrared (FT‐MIR) spectroscopy. The main goal of the present work is to show as the simultaneous multivariate data analysis by principal component analysis (PCA) and direct spectral analysis could represent a very interesting tool to monitor E. coli culture processes and acquire relevant information according to current quality regulatory guidelines. While PCA allowed capturing the energetic metabolic state of the cell, e.g. by identifying different C‐sources consumption phases, direct FT‐MIR spectral analysis allowed obtaining valuable biochemical and metabolic information along the cell culture, e.g. lipids, RNA, protein synthesis and turnover metabolism. The information achieved by spectral multivariate data and direct spectral analyses complement each other and may contribute to understand the complex interrelationships between the recombinant cell metabolism and the bioprocess environment towards more economic and robust processes design according to Quality by Design framework. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:285–298, 2017     

Genetically engineering mammalian cell lines for increased viability and productivity

The generation of new host cell lines for the production of foreign proteins can be achieved by cell engineering. This approach can be used to enhance the cell's ability to produce proteins that are properly processed and secreted at elevated levels and consequently can increase the overall productivity of an expression system. One potential target for cell engineering is the modification of the cell's protein folding capacity. The appropriate folding, assembly, localization and secretion of newly synthesized proteins is dependent upon the action of a group of proteins known as molecular chaperones. Improving the host cell's chaperoning capacity might increase the yield of properly folded recombinant proteins by preventing the formation of insoluble aggregates. Another potentially beneficial cell engineering goal is the inhibition of physiological cell death. The productivity of genetically engineered cells is dependent upon the maintenance of high levels of cell viability throughout the bioprocess period. Fluctuations in a cell's environment can trigger a deliberate form of cell death known as apoptosis. The proteins that mediate this self-destruction are currently being characterized. Regulating the expression of these death genes by cellular engineering could limit the loss of productivity that results from the physiological death of the recombinant cell line.     

Cellular plasmid content and cloned-gene expression: some useful equations

Cellular plasmid content determines the yield of closed-gene product, affects plasmid replication, and influences the behavior of the culture by dictating the extent of metabolic burden on the host cell and plasmid segregation at cell division. Hence, it is a variable of primary importance in the study of recombinant cell cultures. In this article, equations are developed to enable the conversion of experimental determinations of cellular plasmid content into theoretically important units. The importance of different units in characterizing plasmid effect on cell response is highlighted. Also, equations that relate cellular plasmid content to cloned-gene expression are developed and successfully tested on several sets of data from literature.     

Development of small high-copy-number plasmid vectors for gene expression in Caulobacter crescentus

Caulobacter crescentus is a bacterium with a distinctive life cycle and so it is studied as a cell development model. In addition, we have adapted this bacterium for recombinant protein production and display based on the crystalline surface protein (S)-layer and its C-terminal secretion signal. We report here the development of small, high-copy-number plasmid vectors and methods for producing an obligate expression host. The vectors are based on a narrow-host-range colE1-replicon-based plasmid commonly used in Escherichia coli, to which was added the replication origin of the IncQ plasmid RSF1010. C. crescentus strains were modified to enable plasmid replication by introduction of the RSF1010 repBAC genes at the recA locus. The small (4.0-4.5 kb) plasmids were in high copy numbers in both C. crescentus and E. coli and amenable to rapid methods for plasmid isolation and DNA sequencing. The method for introducing repBAC is suitable for other C. crescentus strains or any bacterium with an adequately homologous recA gene. Application of the vector for protein expression, based on the type I secretion system of the S-layer protein, when compared to constructs in broad-host-range plasmids, resulted in reduced time and steps required from clone construction to recombinant protein recovery and increased protein yield.     

人ANKRD49基因真核表达载体的构建及其功能的初步研究和RNA干扰靶点的鉴定

目的: 克隆人ANKRD49基因并构建其真核表达重组体,利用构建成功的ANKRD49真核表达重组体对其进行功能的初步研究,并筛选和鉴定其RNA干扰靶点. 方法: 提取人肺腺癌细胞株A549总RNA,逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)对ANKRD49进行扩增,扩增产物与真核表达载体p3×Flag-CMV-14同时进行双酶切,酶切产物连接后转化入感受态细胞Top10,阳性重组质粒p3×Flag-CMV-14/ANKRD49经菌液PCR、双酶切和测序鉴定正确后,用脂质体法(Lipofectamine^TM 2000)转染人胚肾细胞(HEK 293T),免疫印迹(Immunoblotting)和免疫荧光技术检测表达产物.免疫荧光法检测ANKRD49在宿主细胞内的定位.MTT法检测ANKRD49对宿主细胞的增殖作用.设计并合成针对人ANKRD49基因的RNA干扰靶点序列,与p3×Flag-CMV-14/ANKRD49共转染HEK 293T细胞后,Immunoblotting鉴定ANKRD49的RNA干扰靶点. 结果: RT-PCR结果显示,从A549细胞中扩增出约720 bp的片段.菌液PCR、双酶切及测序结果显示重组质粒p3×Flag-CMV-14/ANKRD49构建成功且序列正确.免疫荧光和Immunoblotting结果显示,在转染p3×Flag-CMV-14/ANKRD49的细胞中有ANKRD49的表达,蛋白质相对分子质量(Mr)约为27kDa,而转染空质粒组未见表达.MTT结果显示,ANKRD49对细胞增殖没有影响.共转染实验结果显示,1号和4号RNA干扰序列可以有效降低人ANKRD49的表达. 结论: 成功构建了真核表达重组体p3×Flag-CMV-14/ANKRD49,该蛋白质位于细胞核,不参与细胞增殖;同时鉴定出该基因的2个有效干扰靶点,为进一步研究其功能奠定了基础.     

Milligram scale production of potent recombinant small interfering RNAs in Escherichia coli

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are invaluable research tools for studying gene functions in mammalian cells. siRNAs are mainly produced by chemical synthesis or by enzymatic digestion of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced in vitro. Recently, bacterial cells, engineered with ectopic plant viral siRNA binding protein p19, have enabled the production of “recombinant” siRNAs (pro‐siRNAs). Here, we describe an optimized methodology for the production of milligram amount of highly potent recombinant pro‐siRNAs from Escherichia coli cells. We first optimized bacterial culture medium and tested new designs of pro‐siRNA production plasmid. Through the exploration of multiple pro‐siRNA related factors, including the expression of p19 protein, (dsRNA) generation method, and the level of RNase III, we developed an optimal pro‐siRNA production plasmid. Together with a high–cell density fed‐batch fermentation method in a bioreactor, we have achieved a yield of ~10 mg purified pro‐siRNA per liter of bacterial culture. The pro‐siRNAs produced by the optimized method can achieve high efficiency of gene silencing when used at low nanomolar concentrations. This new method enables fast, economical, and renewable production of pure and highly potent bioengineered pro‐siRNAs at the milligram level. Our study also provides important insights into the strategies for optimizing the production of RNA products in bacteria, which is an under‐explored field.     

Plasmid DNA fermentation strategies: influence on plasmid stability and cell physiology

In order to provide sufficient pharmaceutical-grade plasmid DNA material, it is essential to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the bioprocesses involved; so, the development of protocols and techniques that allow a fast monitoring of process performance is a valuable tool for bioprocess design. Regarding plasmid DNA production, the metabolic stress of the host strain as well as plasmid stability have been identified as two of the key parameters that greatly influence plasmid DNA yields. The present work describes the impact of batch and fed-batch fermentations using different C/N ratios and different feeding profiles on cell physiology and plasmid stability, investigating the potential of these two monitoring techniques as valuable tools for bioprocess development and design. The results obtained in batch fermentations showed that plasmid copy number values suffered a pronounced increase at the end of almost all fermentation conditions tested. Regarding fed-batch fermentations, the strategies with exponential feeding profiles, in contrast with those with constant feeding, showed higher biomass and plasmid yields, the maximum values obtained for these two parameters being 95.64 OD₆₀₀ and 344.3 mg plasmid DNA (pDNA)/L, respectively, when using an exponential feed rate of 0.2 h⁻¹. Despite the results obtained, cell physiology and plasmid stability monitoring revealed that, although higher pDNA overall yields were obtained, this fermentation exhibited lower plasmid stability and percentage of viable cells. In conclusion, this study allowed clarifying the bioprocess performance based on cell physiology and plasmid stability assessment, allowing improvement of the overall process and not only plasmid DNA yield and cell growth.     

Examination of a plasmid‐based reverse genetics system for human astrovirus

A plasmid‐based reverse genetics system for human astrovirus type 1 (HAstV1) is examined. Upon transfection into 293T cells, the plasmid vector, which harbors a HAstV1 expression cassette, expressed astroviral RNA that appeared to be capable of viral RNA replication, as indicated by the production of subgenomic RNA and capsid protein expression irrespective of the heterologous 5′ ends of the transcribed RNA. Particles infectious to Caco‐2 cells were made in this system; however, their infectivity was much lower than would be expected from the amount of particles apparently produced. Using Huh‐7 cells as the transfection host with the aim of improving viral capsid processing for virion maturation partially restored the efficiency of infectious particle formation. Our results support the possibility that the DNA transfection process induces a cellular response that targets late, but not early, stages of HAstV1 infection.     

RnhP is a plasmid‐borne RNase HI that contributes to genome maintenance in the ancestral strain Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610

RNA‐DNA hybrids form throughout the chromosome during normal growth and under stress conditions. When left unresolved, RNA‐DNA hybrids can slow replication fork progression, cause DNA breaks, and increase mutagenesis. To remove hybrids, all organisms use ribonuclease H (RNase H) to specifically degrade the RNA portion. Here we show that, in addition to chromosomally encoded RNase HII and RNase HIII, Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610 encodes a previously uncharacterized RNase HI protein, RnhP, on the endogenous plasmid pBS32. Like other RNase HI enzymes, RnhP incises Okazaki fragments, ribopatches, and a complementary RNA‐DNA hybrid. We show that while chromosomally encoded RNase HIII is required for pBS32 hyper‐replication, RnhP compensates for the loss of RNase HIII activity on the chromosome. Consequently, loss of RnhP and RNase HIII impairs bacterial growth. We show that the decreased growth rate can be explained by laggard replication fork progression near the terminus region of the right replichore, resulting in SOS induction and inhibition of cell division. We conclude that all three functional RNase H enzymes are present in B. subtilis NCIB 3610 and that the plasmid‐encoded RNase HI contributes to chromosome stability, while the chromosomally encoded RNase HIII is important for chromosome stability and plasmid hyper‐replication.     

Requirements for Rapid Plasmid ColE1 Copy Number Adjustments: A Mathematical Model of Inhibition Modes and RNA Turnover Rates

The random distribution of ColE1 plasmids between the daughter cells at cell division introduces large copy number variations. Statistic variation associated with limited copy number in single cells also causes fluctuations to emerge spontaneously during the cell cycle. Efficient replication control out of steady state is therefore important to tame such stochastic effects of small numbers. In the present model, the dynamic features of copy number control are divided into two parts: first, how sharply the replication frequency per plasmid responds to changes in the concentration of the plasmid-coded inhibitor, RNA I, and second, how tightly RNA I and plasmid concentrations are coupled. Single (hyperbolic)- and multiple (exponential)-step inhibition mechanisms are compared out of steady state and it is shown how the response in replication frequency depends on the mode of inhibition. For both mechanisms, sensitivity of inhibition is “bought” at the expense of a rapid turnover of a replication preprimer, RNA II. Conventional, single-step, inhibition kinetics gives a sloppy replication control even at high RNA II turnover rates, whereas multiple-step inhibition has the potential of working with unlimited precision. When plasmid concentration changes rapidly, RNA I must be degraded rapidly to be “up to date” with the change. Adjustment to steady state is drastically impaired when the turnover rate constants of RNA I decrease below certain thresholds, but is basically unaffected for a corresponding increase. Several features of copy number control that are shown to be crucial for the understanding of ColE1-type plasmids still remain to be experimentally characterized. It is shown how steady-state properties reflect dynamics at the heart of regulation and therefore can be used to discriminate between fundamentally different copy number control mechanisms. The experimental tests of the predictions made require carefully planned assays, and some suggestions for suitable experiments arise naturally from the present work. It is also discussed how the presence of the Rom protein may affect dynamic qualities of copy number control.     

口蹄疫病毒3D基因的克隆表达及功能分析

利用RT-PCR技术扩增了口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)编码RNA依赖的RNA聚合酶的3D基因,并将其克隆到原核表达质粒载体pET-28a( )中。3D基因经测序确认后在大肠杆菌BL-21中表达,表达产物纯化的目的蛋白进行Western-blotting检测,获得分子量约55KDa的单一3D基因表达产物。利用RNA体外复制体系和荧光定量PCR技术,证明纯化的3D基因表达产物RNA依赖的RNA聚合酶具有较高的酶活性,可以在体外从头合成FMDVRNA,且主要以引物依赖的方式合成病毒基因组。     

25 years of recombinant proteins from reactor-grown cells - Where do we go from here?

The purpose of this review is to describe the current status and to highlight several emerging trends in the manufacture of recombinant therapeutic proteins in cultivated mammalian cells, focusing on Chinese hamster ovary cells as the major production host. Over the past 25 years, specific and volumetric productivities for recombinant cell lines have increased about 20-fold as the result of improvements in media and bioprocess design. Future yield increases are expected to come from further developments in gene delivery and genetic selection for more efficient recovery of high-producing cell lines and in high-throughput cultivation systems to simplify medium design and bioprocess development. Other emerging trends in protein manufacturing that are discussed include the use of disposal bioreactors and transient gene expression. We specifically highlight current research in our own laboratories.