Comparative recombinant protein production of eight insect cell lines

Summary A recombinantAutographa californica baculovirus expressing secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) gene was used to evaluate the expression of a secreted glycoprotein in eight insect cell lines derived fromSpodoptera frugiperda, Trichoplusia ni, Mamestra brassicae andEstigmene acrea. Because cell density was found to influence protein production, SEAP production was evaluated at optimal cell densities for each cell line on both a per cell and per milliliter basis. On a per cell basis, theT. ni-derived BTI-TN-5B1-4 cells produced a minimum of 20-fold more SEAP than theS. frugiperda-derived Sf9 or Sf21 cell lines and a minimum of 9-fold more than any of the other cell lines growing in serum-containing medium. On a per milliliter basis, BTI-TN-5B1-4 cells produced a minimum of fivefold more SEAP than any of the other cell lines tested. Using cell lines that were adapted to serum-free medium, SEAP yields were the same or better than their counterparts in serum-containing medium. At 3 days postinoculation, extracellular SEAP activity ranged from 59 to 85% of total SEAP activity with cell lines grown in serum-free and serum-containing media.     

Investigation of reduced serum and serum-free media for the cultivation of insect cells (Bm5) and the production of baculovirus (BmNPV)

An experimental study has been carried out to investigate the effectivenes of several reduced serum and serum-free media for the cultivation of an ovarian cell line, Bm5, of the lepidopteran insect Bombyx mori. Bm5 cell were successfully adapted to grow in a medium containing 5% serum and a serum-free medium (EX-CELL 400). On the other hand, this cell line could not be adapted to grow in several other media suggested in the literature, including IPL-41 + 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS), SF-900, and a serum-free medium (ISFM). Furthermore, a comparative study was conducted to determine the production levels of B. mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) in Bm5 cells cultured in three different medium formulations. The production levels of BmNPV in adapted Bm5 cells grown in a 5% serum-supplemented medium and a serum-free medium (EX-CELL 400) were comparable to those obtained in Bm5 cells grown 10% serum-supplemented medium. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Quantification of cell culture factors affecting recombinant protein yields in baculovirus-infected insect cells

An experimental study was undertaken to quantify the effects of infection cell density, medium condition, and surface aeration on recombinant protein yields in insect cells. In the absence of surface aeration and fresh medium, insect cells generated higher product yields (on a per cell basis) when infected with recombinant baculovirus at low cell densities, LCD (3 x 10(5)-4 x 10(5) cells/mL), than at high cell densities, HCD (>0.9 x 10(6) cells/mL), for two distinct baculovirus types. Surface aeration of a HCD culture infected in spent medium improved beta-glactosidase yields 5-fold over the nonaerated case. Surface aeration and medium replenishment improved beta-galactosidase yields of a HCD culture by 20-fold (compared to a 1.6-fold improvement for a LCD culture), resulting in cultures with productivties that were independent of the cell density at infection.     

Weaning of three hybridoma cell lines to serum free low protein medium

A general weaning procedure is described which allowed a range of hybridomas to be weaned readily off serum without loss of antibody production. Initial work was carried out with one cell line only (SPO1 cells) and one serum substitute containing a final protein concentration of 40 mg l^-1. The SPO1 cells were first adapted to a range of readily available basal media and then weaned off serum by a range of protocols. From this work an optimal weaning protocol and basal medium for weaning were determined. These were then used to wean the SPO1 cells and two other cell lines off serum with a second, protein free, serum substitute with varying concentrations of defined proteins added. All three cell lines investigated were readily weaned off serum by this protocol at protein concentrations as low as 1 mg l^-1. No loss of antibody production was observed with any of the cell lines. The weaning procedure outlined is both simple and rapid and has been successfully adopted in our laboratory by relatively inexperienced cell culture technicians.     

Modelling the growth and protein production by insect cells following infection by a recombinant baculovirus in suspension culture

A mathematical model has been developed to describe the growth and infection of insect cells by recombinant baculoviruses. The model parameters were determined from a series of independent experiments involving batch suspension culture. The profiles generated by the model for cell growth, virus production and protein production agree with those observed in experiments. Presently, the model simulates only systems where cells are not growth-limited. The model is useful in aiding the design and optimization of large-scale systems for production of biological insecticides as well as recombinant proteins and in delineating those areas which are limiting the process and require further, more fundamental, investigation.     

重组人可溶性PDGFRβ/Fc在昆虫细胞Sf9中的表达

【目的】利用昆虫细胞Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统表达血小板源性生长因子受体β (PDGFRβ)链膜外区与人IgG Fc片段的可溶性受体融合蛋白sPDGFRβ/Fc,并检测重组蛋白的特异性和生物活性。【方法】采用Bac-to-Bac系统,构建重组转移质粒pFastbac-sPDGFRβ/Fc,转化到含穿梭载体Bacmid的感受态细胞DH10Bac中,使目的基因与杆状病毒基因组DNA发生位点特异性重组,获得重组病毒DNA,将其通过脂质体转染昆虫细胞Sf9获得重组病毒。将该重组病毒感染Sf9无血清细胞系,在Sf9细胞中表达sPDGFRβ/Fc,对表达产物进行Western blotting检测和Protein A亲合层析纯化,并进一步通过MTT法检测获得的重组蛋白生物学活性。【结果】重组病毒感染Sf9细胞后,经Western blotting分析,能检测到一条分子量约为97 kDa的特异性条带,与目的蛋白大小相符。通过Protein A亲和层析,获得了纯度达75％以上,表达量为1 μg/mL细胞培养上清的重组融合蛋白,MTT结果显示该重组融合蛋白sPDGFRβ/Fc具有抑制PDGF刺激的Balb/c 3T3细胞增殖的能力。【结论】具有生物活性的重组可溶性受体融合蛋白sPDGFRβ/Fc可在昆虫细胞中成功地得到表达。     

Characterization of yeastolate fractions that promote insect cell growth and recombinant protein production

Yeastolate is effective in promoting growth of insect cell and enhancing production of recombinant protein, thus it is a key component in formulating serum-free medium for insect cell culture. However, yeastolate is a complex mixture and identification of the constituents responsible for cell growth promotion has not yet been achieved. This study used sequential ethanol precipitation to fractionate yeastolate ultrafiltrate (YUF) into six fractions (F1–F6). Fractions were characterized and evaluated for their growth promoting activities. Fraction F1 was obtained by 65% ethanol precipitation. When supplemented to IPL-41 medium at a concentration of 1 g L⁻¹, fraction F1 showed 71% Sf-9 cell growth improvement and 22% β-galactosidase production enhancement over YUF (at 1 g L⁻¹ in IPL-41 medium). However, the superiority of F1 over YUF on promoting cell growth gradually diminished as its concentration in IPL-41 medium increased. At 4 g L⁻¹, the relative activity of F1 was 93% whereas YUF was 100% at the same concentration. At 1 g L⁻¹, four other fractions (F2–F5) precipitated with higher ethanol concentrations and F6, the final supernatant, showed growth promoting activities ranging from 32 to 80% as compared to YUF (100%). Interestingly, a synergistic effect on promoting cell growth was observed when F6 was supplemented in IPL-41 medium in presence of high concentrations of F1 (>3 g L⁻¹). The results suggest that ethanol precipitation was a practical method to fractionate growth-promoting components from YUF, but more than one components contributed to the optimum growth of Sf-9 cells. Further fractionation, isolation and identification of individual active components would be needed to better understand the role of these components on the cell metabolism.     

N-glycosylation of a baculovirus-expressed recombinant glycoprotein in three insect cell lines

Summary The capacity of two Trichoplusia ni (TN-368 and BTI-Tn-5bl-4) and a Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF-21A) cell lines to glycosylate recombinant, baculovirus-encoded, secreted, placental alkaline phosphatase was compared. The alkaline phosphatase from serum-containing, cell culture medium was purified by phosphate affinity column chromatography. The N-linked oligosaccharides were released from the purified protein with PNGase F and analyzed by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. The majority of oligosaccharide structures produced by the three cell lines contained two or three mannose residues, with and without core fucosylation, but there were structures containing up to seven mannose residues. The oligosaccharides that were qualitatively or quantitatively different between the cell lines were sequenced with glycosidase digestions. The S. frugiperda cells produced more fucosylated oligosaccharides than either of the T. ni cell lines. The smallest oligosaccharide produced by S. frugiperda cells was branched trimannose. In contrast, both T. ni cell lines produced predominantly dimannose and linear trimannose structures devoid of α 1–3-linked mannose.     

Maximization of recombinant protein yield in the insect cell/baculovirus system by one-time addition of nutrients to high-density batch cultures

Suspension cultures of Sf-9 cells at different stages of growth were infected with a recombinant baculovirus expressing -galactosidase, using a range of multiplicities of infection (MOI) of 0.05 to 50. Following infection, the cells were resuspended either in the medium in which they had been grown or in fresh medium. Specific -galactosidase yields were not markedly affected by either MOI or medium change in cultures infected in early exponential phase (3×10⁶ cells mL^–1). In cultures infected at later growth stages, -galactosidase yields could only be maintained by medium replacement. The possibility that this requirement for medium replacement is due either to the accumulation of an inhibitory byproduct or nutrient limitation was examined. Alanine, a major byproduct of cultured insect cell metabolism, did not significantly reduce recombinant protein yield when added to infected cultures in concentrations of up to 40 mM. Following a factorial design, various nutrient concentrates were added alone or in combination to cultures infected in late exponential phase. Additions that included both yeastolate ultrafiltrate and an amino acid mixture restored specific -galactosidase yields to levels observed at earlier growth stages or in late stages with medium replacement; the addition of these concentrates, by permitting production at higher cell density, led to increases in the volumetric yield of recombinant protein. Together or separately, the concentrates when added to uninfected late exponential phase cultures, lead to a doubling of the maximum total cell protein level normally supported by unamended medium.     

Effect of lipids on insect cell growth and expression of recombinant proteins in serum-free medium

The lipid emulsion components of a serum-free insect cell medium were varied and evaluated for effects on cell growth and recombinant protein expression. The growth of High-Five^TM cells was significantly affected by polyol Pluronic F-68 and Tween-80, but not by lipids. Pluronic was essential for cell growth, while Tween-80 was required to achieve maximum cell densities. A dose response effect was observed for Tween-80 with optimal cell growth at a concentration of 25 mg/l. Cholesterol had a minor effect on cell growth, but was essential for the expression of recombinant proteins. The expression of -galactosidase (-gal) was directly affected by cholesterol with optimal expression at a concentration of 5.4 mg/l. Vitamin E, important as an antioxidant to stabilize lipids, did not directly affect recombinant protein expression. Although lipids were not required for cell growth, the presence of lipids were required during the cell growth phase in order to achieve efficient infection with baculovirus. These studies help to define the important components, and range of concentrations, for lipid emulsions which can effectively replace serum in insect cell culture.Abbreviations -gal galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.23) - Sf-9 Spodoptera frugiperda - High-5 Trichoplusia ni 5Bl-4     

Culture in the rotating-wall vessel affects recombinant protein production capability of two insect cell lines in different manners

Summary The production of recombinant secreted alkaline phosphatase protein in virally infected insect cells was studied in shaker flask and high aspect rotating-wall vessel (HARV) culture. Two commonly used cell lines, Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 (Sf-9) and a nonaggregating isolate of the Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (Tn-5B1-4) cell line, Trichoplusia ni Tn-5B1-4-NA (TN-5B1-4-NA), were used and monitored for 120-h postinfection. Different responses to culture in the HARV were seen in the two cell lines. While the Sf-9 cell line was able to produce slightly greater amounts of recombinant protein in the HARV than in shaker flask controls, the Tn-5B1-4-NA cell line produced significantly lesser amounts in the HARV than in the shaker flasks. Both cell lines exhibited longer life spans and longer periods of protein production in HARV culture than in shaker flask culture, presumably due to lower levels of shear encountered in the HARV. The important difference was in the protein production rate responses of the two cell lines. While the protein production rates of Sf-9 cells were comparable in both HARV and shaker flask cultures, the protein production rates of Tn-5B1-4-NA cells were much lower in HARV culture than in shaker flask cultures. The conclusion is drawn that cell line-specific adaptation to the HARV strongly influences recombinant protein production.     

Expression and purification of a recombinant Fip-fve protein from Flammulina velutipes in baculovirus-infected insect cells

Aims: To develop an efficient and facile expression system supply of high purity and stable activity of rFip-fve for oral administration, medicinal study and applications. Methods and Results: A recombinant virus that contained the chimera gene, encoding a bombyxin signal peptide sequence fused to a Fip-fve-6His sequence, was constructed. The rFip-fve was purified from the supernatant of the infected Sf21 cells using a nickel-chelated affinity column, and was verified by Western blot and MALDI-MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry) analyses. Results showed that a glycosylated mature rFip-fve was produced and secreted into the infected cell supernatant. The immunomodulatory activity of rFip-fve was evaluated by measuring the amount of interleukin-2 released from murine splenocytes. Conclusions: A reliable scheme to express and purify active rFip-fve in a baculovirus/insect cell system for medicinal applications and genetic study is a feasible means of solving potential problems related to the production and activity of rFip-fve protein. Significance and Impact of the Study: The rFip-fve expressed in insect cells was processed and modified in a manner more similar to that of its native counterpart than that in bacterial cells. Therefore, the potential applications of rFip-fve that is generated in Sf21 cells can be more effectively evaluated that produced in Escherichia coli.     

Sex hormones affect the production of recombinant Factor IX in CHO and HEK-293 cell lines

Recombinant human Factor IX (rFIX) was cloned in a mammalian expression vector and transfected into CHO and HEK-293. Treatment with 10⁻⁹ M methyl testosterone increased rFIX production by 30–50% in CHO and HEK clones. However, 10⁻⁹ M 17β-oestradiol increased production of rFIX by ~50% in CHO-F7 clone and decreased production by 48% and 37% in CHO-F8 and HEK-F2-6, respectively. Progesterone treatment inhibited rFIX production in both cell lines. Production of rFIX can thus be increased by sex hormone treatment and therefore used to enhance biotechnological production in mammalian cells.     

Optimization of colorectal cancer vaccine candidate protein GA733‐Fc expression in a baculovirus–insect cell system

The baculovirus–insect cell expression system has been used to produce functional recombinant proteins. The antigen GA733 is a cell‐surface glycoprotein highly expressed on most human colorectal carcinoma cells. Conditions for the expression of GA733 fused to the human immunoglobulin IgG Fc fragment (GA733‐Fc) were optimized in the baculovirus expression system. Several variable factors were adjusted to optimize expression, including the cell line (Sf9 and High Five), multiplicity of infection (MOI) value (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 3), post‐infection time (48, 72 and 96 h) and harvested sample (cell culture media (CM) or cell lysate (CL)). In addition, two pFastBac Dual vectors carrying the GA733‐Fc gene were constructed to express GA733‐Fc with or without an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention sequence KDEL and used to generate recombinant baculoviruses. Western blot showed that expression depended on the conditions used to express the recombinant proteins. The protein production level and secretion capability differed in each cell line. In Sf9 cells, the highest expression in the CM and CL was obtained with GA733‐Fc at 96 h post‐infection at 0.1 MOI and with GA733‐FcK at 96 h post‐infection at 3 MOI, respectively. In High Five cells, the highest expression in the CM and CL was obtained with GA733‐Fc at 48 h post‐infection at 1 MOI and with GA733‐FcK at 48 h post‐infection at 3 MOI, respectively. These results suggest that the MOI value, post‐infection time and subcellular localization affect expression, and that these conditions can be modified to optimize protein expression in the baculovirus–insect cell system.     

Optimisation of protein expression and establishment of the Wave Bioreactor for Baculovirus/insect cell culture

As the interest of research is beginning to shift from genomicsto proteomics the number of proteins to be expressed is rapidlyincreasing. To do so, well-established, high-level expressionsystems and rapid, cost-effective production means are needed. For addressing the latter, a novel cultivation system for recombinant cells, the Wave Bioreactor has recently becomeavailable. We describe the set-up and the optimisation of parameters essential for successful operation and growth of insect cells to high cell densities in the Wave Bioreactor. According to our experience, the Cellbag system comparesvery favorably to conventional cultivation vessels such as bioreactors and roller cultures with respect to simplicity ofoperation and cost. Additionally, we developed a rapid and simple protocol for assessing expression and production conditions for the Baculovirus/insect cell system applicable to many different genes/proteins. Important parameters like MOI,TOI, peak cell density (PCD) and expression levels are determinedin pre-experiments on small scale to achieve optimal expressionof a given protein. These conditions are subsequently transformedand applied to large scale cultures grown in nutrient-supplemented medium in the Wave Bioreactor.     

蛋白激酶D1催化结构域在昆虫细胞/杆状病毒表达系统内的表达、纯化和活性测定

蛋白激酶D(Protein kinase D,PKD)是一种新的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族和甘油二酯(Diacylglycerol,DAG)受体,参与细胞内多种生理生化过程。为获得高纯度的PKD1的催化结构域(PKD1-cat)用于晶体学结构的研究,将带有GST标签的PKD1-cat基因克隆到杆状病毒转移载体pFastBac1中,构建了重组质粒。将重组质粒转化到含穿梭载体Bacmid的DH10Bac感受态细胞中,转座后获得了含目的基因GST-PKD1-cat的重组Bacmid。重组Bacmid DNA转染Sf9昆虫细胞后,获得重组杆状病毒并扩毒。将毒种以5 PFU/cell的感染复数感染悬浮培养的T.ni昆虫细胞,SDS-PAGE和Western blotting检测表达产物。结果显示,表达产物在分子量约68 kDa处有一特异条带可与GST单克隆抗体发生反应。经谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶亲和层析纯化和PreScission Protease切除GST标签后,得到了纯度很高的分子量约42 kDa的目的蛋白PKD1-cat。体外PKD激酶活性实验结果显示,随着PKD1-cat浓度的增加,激酶活性增高。这些结果显示截短的重组PKD1-cat有很高的催化活性和纯度,为采用核磁共振或晶体学方法解析PKD1-cat的三维结构奠定了基础。     

四个达摩凤蝶新孵幼虫细胞系的建立及其生物学特性

【目的】建立达摩凤蝶 Papilio demoleus Linnaeus新孵幼虫细胞系,并对其生物学特性进行研究。【方法】使用改良配方的Grace培养基并辅以20%胎牛血清,通过原代和传代培养建立达摩凤蝶新孵幼虫细胞系。通过显微观察、细胞活力分析、核型分析和分子鉴定,获得4个新建细胞系的生物学特性数据。使用Bac-To-Bac杆状病毒表达系统构建重组分泌型碱性磷酸酶杆状病毒(AcMNPV-SEAP)。使用有限稀释法测定达摩凤蝶细胞系对AcMNPV-SEAP的半数组织培养感染剂量(TCID₅₀), 比较达摩凤蝶细胞系对AcMNPV-SEAP的敏感性。【结果】建立了4个贴壁生长的达摩凤蝶新孵幼虫细胞系(RIRI-PaDe-1, RIRI-PaDe-2, RIRI-PaDe-3及RIRI-PaDe-4),且均传至60代以上。形态学方面,细胞系RIRI-PaDe-1和RIRI-PaDe-4较为相近,均由圆形、梭形以及多边形细胞组成,细胞系RIRI-PaDe-2主要为圆形细胞,而RIRI-PaDe-3主要为类似表皮细胞和纤维状细胞。细胞增殖动力学方面,4个细胞系的群体倍增时间分别为69.77, 67.42, 81.48及65.43 h。核型分析显示4个细胞系染色体数量均呈正态分布,其中RIRI-PaDe-2, RIRI-PaDe-3以及RIRI-PaDe-4的染色体数目分布区间比较接近,在45~97条之间,RIRI-PaDe-1的染色体条数相比偏少,在36~90条之间。通过比对4个达摩凤蝶细胞系和虫卵的细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I(COI)基因序列,证明4个新建细胞系来源于达摩凤蝶组织。比较4个细胞系对AcMNPV-SEAP敏感性发现RIRI-PaDe-3对此病毒较为敏感,可作为重组杆状病毒表达的宿主。【结论】虽然4个新建达摩凤蝶细胞系的来源相同,具有相同的遗传背景,但其生物学特征仍有明显差异,具有进一步研究的价值。