Protein production (β-galactosidase) from a baculovirus vector inSpodoptera frugiperda andTrichpolusia ni cells in suspension culture

Protein production capabilities ofTrichpolusia ni (TN 368) cells andSpodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells were compared in GTC100 medium in suspension culture using as a vector a genetically engineeredAutographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. TN 368 produces more -galactosidase than Sf9, on a per cell basis (2.2×10⁵ and 1.7×10⁵ units/ 10⁶ cells¹ respectively). In growth experiments serum-free medium supported a higher maximum Sf9 cell density (4±1×10⁶ cells/ml) than the serum- based media (1.5±5×10⁶ cells/ml in GTC100 and 2±1×10⁶ cells/ml in TNM-FH). However, using a cell density of 5×0⁵ cells/ml, the productivity per cell varied, from a low of 4.5×10⁴ units in EX-CELL-400 medium to a high of 7.6×10⁴ units in TNM-FH. The TN 368 cells were twice a large as Sf9 cells and appeared to be more shear sensitive than Sf9 cells.     

Growth limitation in hybridoma cell cultures: The role of inhibitory or toxic metabolites

Hybridoma cells usually grow to fairly low cell densities in batch cultures (1–3×10⁶ cells/ml). The reason for this is either that essential nutritional components of the medium are consumed, or that the cells produce some kind of inhibitory or toxic metabolite. This investigation presents evidence for the latter. Spent medium from cultures of hybridoma cells did not support growth of cells at lower cell densities (1–3×10⁵ cells/ml). The ability to support cell growth could not be restored by adding additional serum, energy sources (glucose, pyruvate) or L-glutamine. Furthermore, the consumption of amino acids could not account for this growth inhibition. On the contrary, the spent medium contained a substance that inhibited cell growth. This substance or metabolite was found in a fraction eluted from a gel filtration column when spent medium was applied to the column. This substance was found in the spent medium from all hybridoma and myeloma cell lines that were tested. The molecular weight of the substance was about 5 kD. Spent medium from two hybridoma cell lines also contained a substance that was eluted in the same fraction as albumin (67 kD). It is likely that this (or these) substance(s) is responsible for the growth limitation in hybridoma cell cultures.Abbreviations PBS phosphate buffered saline     

On-line measurement of hybridoma growth by culture fluorescence

Summary Fluorescence measurement of viable hybridoma cell cultures provides a convenient method for monitoring the progress of a batch culture. It is shown that cell concentration changes as low as 35,000 cells/ml during initial stages of growth can be measured reliably. This sensitivity, however, decreases to 2 × 10⁶ cells/ml at cell concentration greater than 2 × 10⁶ cells/ml. The culture fluorescence of hybridoma culture is a characteristic property of the cell and the medium used. Consequently, processes in which the medium composition and cell lines are invariant, a direct on-line estimate of viable cell count can be made using the method investigated in this paper.     

Factors influencing protoplast isolation from Coffea arabica cells

Cultured plant cells such as Coffea arabica L. cells, accumulate low concentration of secondary metabolites. One way to obtain high-producing plant cell cultures is to prepare single cell clones by using protoplast systems. Identification of limiting factors should facilitate the development of an isolation procedure that can generate adequate yields of intact and viable protoplasts Coffea arabica L. suspension cells. The most suitable conditions for protoplasting were as follows: 6 g of fresh tissue were plasmolysed in 100 ml of K ₃ salts (Nagy & Maliga 1976) containing 0.5 M sucrose for 1 h at 24°C. Then, 1 g of preplasmolysed cells were incubated in 10 ml of cellulase R10 (1%), macerozyme R10 (0.8%) and driselase (0.5%) in preplasmolysis medium. The protoplasts were collected and purified after 15 h of lytic reaction in the dark, at 28°C. More than 75% and 95% of the cells were converted into protoplasts when 5 and 8 day-old suspensions respectively were used for the release step. A number of viable protoplasts ranging from 3.5×10⁶ to 4.6×10⁶ P g^-1 fresh weight was obtained corresponding to an increase by a factor 10 to 15 of the protoplast yield obtained by Acuna & De Pena (1991).Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylamino purine - BSA Bovine Serum Albumin - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - FDA fluorescein diacetate - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - NAA naphthalene acetic acid - PI propidium iodide - PCV Packed Cell Volume - fw fresh weight     

Detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium by impedance measurement of electrode capacitance and medium resistance

Three-electrode electrochemical impedance technique was investigated for detection of Salmonella typhimurium by monitoring the growth of bacteria in selenite cystine (SC) broth supplemented with trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride (TMAO.HCl) and mannitol (M). The change in the system impedance during the growth of bacteria was studied using frequency spectral scanning. It was found that the impedance at low frequencies (<10 kHz) mainly came from the double-charged layer capacitance, reflecting the changes at the electrode interface and the adsorption on the electrode surface. While at high frequencies (>10 kHz), the system impedance mainly depended on the medium resistance. The adsorption of bacteria on the electrode surface was detected by measuring low frequency impedance, and verified with Faradic impedance spectroscopy. Enumeration of S. typhimurium using a low frequency (1 Hz) capacitance measurement and a high frequency (1 MHz) resistance measurement were compared. The detection times were determined for quantitative analysis based on the growth curves of bacteria referring to either the medium resistance or electrode capacitance. The regression equations for the detection times (t(d), h) and the initial cell number (N, cells.ml(-1)) were t(d)=-1.24logN+13.4 with R(2)=0.98 and t(d)=-1.40logN+14.46 with R(2)=0.97 for the medium resistance and electrode capacitance methods, respectively.     

High cell density suspension culture of mammalian anchorage independent cells: Oxygen transfer by gas sparging and defoaming with a hydrophobic net

Gas sparging directly into the culture-broth is not done in cell culture, except when the gas flow rate is very small, because much foaming occurs.During screening of defoaming methods, foam was observed to be broken up effectively when it made contact with a net fabricated from hydrophobic materials. Providing a highly efficient oxygen supply to suspension culture was tried using the new defoaming method. In a 5 1 reactor equipped with the foam-eliminating net fabricated with polysiloxane, oxygen was transferred at 21 mmole/l·h equivalent to an about forty-fold higher rate than in conventional surface aeration. This was equivalent to a consumption rate of 1×10⁸ cells/ml, even at a low oxygen gas flow rate of 0.1 cm/s corresponding to a fourth of the gas flow rate when foam leaked through the net.Perfusion culture of rat ascites hepatoma cell JTC-1 was successfully carried out in the 51 scale culture system with the net and a hydrophobic membrane for cell filtration. The viable cell concentration reached 2.7×10⁷ cells/ml after twenty-seven days, in spite of the nutrient-deficient condition of the lower medium exchange rate, that is, a working volume a day, and viability was maintained at more than 90%. In a 1.21 scale culture of mouse-mouse hybridoma cell STK-1, viable cell concentration reached 4×10⁷ cells/ml. These results showed that oxygen transfer by gas sparging with defoaming was useful for high density suspension culture. A foam-breaking mechanism was proposed.Abbreviations Eagle's MEM Eagle's minimal essential medium - Dulbecco's modified Eagle MEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle minimal essential medium     

High cell density perfusion culture of mouse-human hybridomas

Summary Five mouse-human hybridomas, H2, H3, V1, V2 and V6 cells secreting anti-virus human monoclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) were cultured in serum-free media at high density in a settling perfusion culture vessel with an inner cell sedimentation zone. The H2, H3 and V6 cells reached a density of 10⁷ cells/ml in 0.5% (w/v) BSA-ITES-eRDF (see Materials and methods). The H2 cells reached only 6.8 × 10⁶ cells/ml in the absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), but the addition of 0.2% (w/v) Pluronic F68 increased the maximum cell density to 1.1 × 10⁷ cells/ml, which was the same level as in BSA including medium. On the other hand, Pluronic F68 showed no stimulative effect on the growth of H2 cells in static culture. Pluronic F68 also increased the maximum cell density of V2 cells from 4.6 × 10⁶ cells/ml to 6.9 × 10⁶ cells/ml even in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) BSA.     

A low-cost chemically defined protein free medium for a recombinant CHO cell line producing prothrombin

A chemically defined protein free medium, DF6S, was developed for the cultivation of a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO2DS) producing human prothrombin in suspension batch culture. DF6S was formulated by optimizing DME/F12 with amino acids and supplementing the optimized DME/F12 with aurintricarboxylic acid, ethanolamine, ferric sulfate, Pluronic F68, putrescine and sodium pyruvate. From a seeding density of 2.3 × 10⁵ cells ml^–1, CHO2DS cells grown in suspension in DF6S medium reached a maximal cell density of 1.92 × 10⁶ cells ml^–1 with an accumulated prothrombin concentration of 16.7 mg l^–1 after 6 days in culture.     

An improved chemically defined culture medium for strain L mouse cells based on growth responses to graded levels of nutrients including iron and zinc ions

Nutritional factors were evaluated for effects on growth of mouse fibroblast cells in suspension in a chemically defined medium. Quantitative requirements for each of the essential amino acids, choline, inorganic phosphate, iron, and zinc were established. An improved chemically defined medium was formulated on the basis of the findings yielding populations of L cells in excess of 5 × 10⁶ per ml without nutrient replenishment. When spent medium was replaced periodically, yields approaching 30 × 10⁶ cells per ml were attained. The efficiency of utilization of most amino acids in the new medium appears to be 2- to 3-fold better than results reported by others.     

Callus and suspension cultures for biomass production ofCynara cardunculus (Compositae)

Summary Friable calli, obtained from hypocotyl and leaf segments ofCynara cardunculus, were used for the production of cell suspension cultures in liquid Gamborg B₅ medium supplemented as for callus obtention. The low inoculum cell suspension cultures (6.9×10⁴ cells.ml^–1) presented a td=136.8 hours while those obtained with a high inoculum (15.6×10⁴ cells.ml^–1) reached a td=33.6 hours.     

A method for isolating large numbers of viable disaggregated cells from various human tissues for cell culture establishment

Summary A method is described for the isolation of large numbers of viable disaggregated cells from human tissues. This method combined the mechanical action of a Stomacher Model 80 Lab Blender, 0.1 mg/ml trypsin or 0.5 mg/ml collagenase, and 0.1 mM [ethylene bis(oxyethylenenitrolo)]-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Tissue (0.2 to 1.0 g) obtained from human fetal intestine, kidney, liver, lung, and skin were separately minced into approximately 1-mm³ pieces. The pieces were placed in a sterile bag containing 60 ml of calcium- magnesium-free phosphate buffered saline, the appropriate enzyme (0.1 mg/ml trypsin or 0.5 mg/ml collagenase) plus 0.1 mM EGTA, and 0.1% methylcellulose. The bag was then placed into the blender and mixed at a low speed for 3 to 20 min at room temperature. After a single cell suspension was observed by phase contrast microscopy, 10 ml of bovine calf serum was added to the cell suspension to inactivate the proteolytic enzymes. At this time 130 ml of cold Hanks' balanced salts solution containing 5% bovine calf serum was added and the entire cell suspension passed through a tissue sieve (100 mesh, 140 μm) and the cells collected by centrifugation. These cells were then resuspended into the appropriate culture medium. In comparison to other methods for establishment of cell cultures from human tissues, the method described requires shorter incubation times with relatively low concentrations of proteolytic enzymes, and yields two- to three-fold greater number of cells per tissue with 86 to 93% viability. Also, depending on the cell type, 50 to 75% of the isolated cells attached to the culture vessel within 24 h. Variation of the time and concentration of digestive enzymes can be used to select different cell types for culture. This work was supported by research grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (ES3101) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D. C. (R810146).     

The isolation and culture of protoplasts from an embryogenic cell suspension culture of Picea glauca (moench) voss

Conditions were standardized for the isolation and culture of protoplasts from an embryogenic cell suspension culture of Picea glauca. A combination of 0.5% Cellulase R-10, 0.25% Macerozyme, 0.25% Driselase, 0.25% Rhozyme HP-150 with 0.5M mannitol and 5 mM CaCl₂.2H₂O produced an average of 4.5 × 10⁶ protoplasts per gram fresh weight of cells. Of the several protoplast culture media tested, von Arnold and Eriksson and Kao and Michayluk (KM8P) media best supported mitotic divisions of protoplasts. A density of 10⁵ protoplasts per ml and the addition of 5 mM glutamine to the culture medium was necessary to induce sustained divisions and microcallus formation. Microcalli grew into subculturable callus using a nurse culture technique.Abbreviations BAP benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid - FDA fluorescein diacetate NRCC No. 27937     

Scale-up of the adenovirus expression system for the production of recombinant protein in human 293S cells

Human 293S cells, a cell line adapted to suspension culture, were grown to 5×10⁶ cells/mL in batch with calcium-free DMEM. These cells, infected with new constructions of adenovirus vectors, yielded as much as 10 to 20% recombinant protein with respect to the total cellular protein content. Until recently, high specific productivity of recombinant protein was limited to low cell density infected cultures of no more than 5×10⁵ cells/mL. In this paper, we show with a model protein, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1C how high product yield can be maintained at high cell densities of 2×10⁶ cells/mL by a medium replacement strategy. This allows the production of as much as 90 mg/L of active recombinant protein per culture volume. Analysis of key limiting/inhibiting medium components showed that glucose addition along with pH control can yield the same productivity as a medium replacement strategy at high cell density in calcium-free DMEM. Finally, the above results were reproduced in 3L bioreactor suspension culture thereby establishing the scalability of this expression system. The process we developed is used routinely with the same success for the production of various recombinant proteins and viruses.Abbreviations CFDMEM calcium-free DMEM - CS bovine calf serum - hpi hours post-infection - J+ enriched Joklik medium - MLP major late promoter - MOI multiplicity of infection (# of infectious viral particle/cell) - q specific consumption rate (mole/cell.h) - pfu plaque forming unit (# of infectious viral particle) - Y yield (g/E6 cells or mole/cell)     

Growth of Fish Cell Lines on Microcarriers

Microcarrier beads were evaluated as substrates for the propagation of five anchorage-dependent fish cell lines. Growth of rainbow trout gonad (RTG-2) and Atlantic salmon cells was limited on microcarriers maintained in suspension. However, stationary microcarriers were suitable substrates for the growth of RTG-2, AS, Chinook salmon embryo (CHSE-214), and fathead minnow cells. Cell yields ranged from 2 × 10⁶ to 2.9 × 10⁶ cells per ml, representing 7- to 10-fold increases over the initial cell concentrations. The yield of new RTG-2 cells per unit volume of growth medium was 2.8 times greater in microcarrier cultures than in standard monolayer cultures. Northern pike cells failed to grow on microcarriers. Yields of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus propagated in microcarrier cultures of RTG-2 cells were more than twice the yields in standard monolayer cultures. The greater economy of microcarrier cultures in terms of growth vessel and medium requirements holds great promise for the large-scale production of anchorage-dependent fish cell cultures and fish viruses.     

Establishment of embryogenic callus and high protoplast yielding suspension cultures of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids)

For 18 sugarcane cultivars, four distinct callus types developed on leaf explant tissue cultured on modified MS medium, but only Type 3 (embryogenic) and Type 4 (organogenic) were capable of plant regeneration. Cell suspension cultures were initiated from embryogenic callus incubated in a liquid medium. In stage one the callus adapted to the liquid medium. In stage two a heterogeneous cell suspension culture formed in 14 cultivars after five to eight weeks of culture. In stage three a homogeneous cell suspension culture was developed in six cultivars after 10 to 14 weeks by selective subculturing to increase the proportion of actively dividing cells from the heterogeneous cell suspension culture. Plants were regenerated from cell aggregates in heterogeneous cell suspension cultures for up to 148 days of culture but plants could not be regenerated from homogeneous cell suspension cultures. High yields of protoplasts were obtained from homogeneous cell suspension cultures (3.4 to 5.2 × 10⁶ protoplasts per gram fresh weight of cells [gfwt^-1]) compared to heterogeneous cell suspension cultures (0.1 × 10⁶ protoplasts gfwt^-1). Higher yields of protoplasts were obtained from homogeneous cell suspension cultures for cultivars Q63 and Q96 after regenerating callus from the cell suspension cultures, then recycling this callus to liquid medium (S-cell suspension cultures). This process increased protoplast yield to 9.4 × 10⁶ protoplasts gfwt^-1. Protoplasts isolated from S-cell suspension cultures were regenerated to callus and recycled to produce SP-cell suspension cultures yielding 6.4 to 13.2 × 10⁶ protoplasts gfwt^-1. This recycling of callus to produce S-cell suspension cultures allowed protoplasts to be isolated for the first time from cell lines of cultivars Q110 and Q138.     

Stimulation of monoclonal antibody production by human-human hybridoma cells with an elevated concentration of potassium or sodium phosphate in serum-free medium

Potassium or sodium phosphate was found to stimulate the production of human monoclonal antibody by human-human hybridoma HB4C5. The addition of 15 mM Na-phosphate (pH 7.4) into serum-free culture medium increased the antibody production up to 4-fold, when seeded at cell density of 1×10⁵ cells/ml in dishes. At the higher cell density of 5×10⁵ cells/ml, K-phosphate was more effective than Na-phosphate, at the same concentration. In large-scale continuous culture, the addition of 10 mM Na-phosphate into serum-free culture medium stimulated antibody production by HB4C5 cells 6-fold.     

紫茉莉悬浮细胞培养体系的建立

为建立紫茉莉(Mirabilis jalapa L.)悬浮细胞培养体系,以紫茉莉无菌苗叶片诱导的愈伤组织为材料,筛选紫茉莉悬浮细胞的适宜培养体系。结果表明,紫茉莉愈伤组织在MS+2,4-D 1 mg L-1+KT 0.5 mg L-1的液体培养基中悬浮继代培养3~4次,能得到稳定的悬浮细胞系。培养基的pH值为5.5~5.9,蔗糖浓度为30 g L-1更适合悬浮细胞的生长。紫茉莉悬浮细胞的生长曲线大致呈S型。最佳继代培养时间是10 d,培养液的体积为40 mL时,接种量为7.5 mL,可以较好地保持悬浮细胞系。1 L培养液中可提取分泌蛋白(0.42±0.15) g。这些有助于对悬浮细胞提取分泌蛋白的研究。     

Dielectric spectroscopy of single human erythrocytes at physiological ionic strength: dispersion of the cytoplasm.

Usually dielectrophoretic and electrorotation measurements are carried out at low ionic strength to reduce electrolysis and heat production. Such problems are minimized in microelectrode chambers. In a planar ultramicroelectrode chamber fabricated by semiconductor technology, we were able to measure the dielectric properties of human red blood cells in the frequency range from 2 kHz to 200 MHz up to physiological ion concentrations. At low ionic strength, red cells exhibit a typical electrorotation spectrum with an antifield rotation peak at low frequencies and a cofield rotation peak at higher ones. With increasing medium conductivity, both electrorotational peaks shift toward higher frequencies. The cofield peak becomes antifield for conductivities higher than 0.5 S/m. Because the polarizability of the external medium at these ionic strengths becomes similar to that of the cytoplasm, properties can be measured more sensitively. The critical dielectrophoretic frequencies were also determined. From our measurements, in the wide conductivity range from 2 mS/m to 1.5 S/m we propose a single-shell erythrocyte model. This pictures the cell as an oblate spheroid with a long semiaxis of 3.3 microns and an axial ratio of 1:2. Its membrane exhibits a capacitance of 0.997 x 10(-2) F/m2 and a specific conductance of 480 S/m2. The cytoplasmic parameters, a conductivity of 0.4 S/m at a dielectric constant of 212, disperse around 15 MHz to become 0.535 S/m and 50, respectively. We attribute this cytoplasmic dispersion to hemoglobin and cytoplasmic ion properties. In electrorotation measurements at about 60 MHz, an unexpectedly low rotation speed was observed. Around 180 MHz, the speed increased dramatically. By analysis of the electric chamber circuit properties, we were able to show that these effects are not due to cell polarization but are instead caused by a dramatic increase in the chamber field strength around 180 MHz. Although the chamber exhibits a resonance around 180 MHz, the harmonic content of the square-topped driving signals generates distortions of electrorotational spectra at far lower frequencies. Possible technological applications of chamber resonances are mentioned.     

Efficient plant regeneration from protoplasts isolated from embryogenic suspension cultures of Cyclamen persicum Mill.

A protocol for plant regeneration from protoplasts has been developed, and then successfully applied to different genotypes of Cyclamen persicum Mill. Protoplasts were isolated from embryogenic suspension cultures by enzymatic digestion in 2% cellulase R10 and 0.5% macerozyme R10. Yields obtained varied between 1 and 5 × 10⁵ protoplasts per gram fresh mass depending on the genotype. Protoplasts were immobilized in alginate films, which promoted proper cell wall regeneration. The highest cell division frequencies were found in modified Kao and Michayluk (1975, Planta 126:105–110) medium containing the same types and concentrations of plant growth regulators that were applied for suspension culture (2.0 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.8 mg l⁻¹ 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)purine). Cell division was recorded for all 11 tested genotypes in frequencies of up to 12% and 18% after 7 and 14 days, respectively. However, cell division frequency varied strongly between different genotypes. After 4–6 weeks calluses were released from the alginate films and further cultured on hormone-containing medium for continued growth or transferred to hormone-free medium for regeneration of somatic embryos. Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis succeeded in 9 out of the 11 genotypes under investigation. Up to now protoplast-derived plants from four genotypes have been successfully transferred to soil.     

Isolation of L-ethionine resistant cell lines in Vigna sinensis L. after mutagen treatment

Chemical mutagenesis was employed for the isolation of variant cell lines resistant to L-Ethionine (L-Eth) in Vigna sinensis L. We have measured cell survival after treatment of Vigna sinensis cell suspensions with different mutagens: Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), N-methyl-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) and Acridine Orange (AO). NTG was more toxic than EMS and AO.L-Eth resistant colonies were isolated by plating on selective medium after NTG treatment. The frequencies of appearance of resistant cells of MS-3 media supplemented with 20 g/ml L-Eth were 1.3 × 10^-6 to 1.8 × 10^-5. The highest number of L-Eth resistant calli were recorded in cells treated with 10 g/ml NTG. Few resistant colonies also appeared spontaneously from non-mutagenized cultures with a frequency of 2.9 × 10^-7 to 5.7 × 10^-7. However, a number of isolated colonies were discarded after successive retesting. The number of resistant calli dropped from 204 to 22 during successive retests. The significance of these observations has also been discussed.