Comparison of plant-based expression platforms for the heterologous production of geraniol

We compared the ability of different plant-based expression platforms to produce geraniol, a key metabolite in the monoterpenoid branch of the terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis pathway. A geraniol synthase gene isolated from Valeriana officinalis (VoGES) was stably expressed in different tobacco systems. Intact plants were grown in vitro and in the greenhouse and were used to generate cell suspension and hairy root cultures. VoGES was also transiently expressed in N. benthamiana. The highest geraniol content was produced by intact transgenic plants grown in vitro (48 μg/g fresh weight, fw), followed by the transient expression system (27 μg/g fw), transgenic plants under hydroponic conditions in the greenhouse and cell suspension cultures (16 μg/g fw), and finally hairy root cultures (9 μg/g fw). Differences in biomass production and the duration of cultivation resulted in a spectrum of geraniol productivities. Cell suspension cultures achieved a geraniol production rate of 1.8 μg/g fresh biomass per day, whereas transient expression produced 5.9 μg/g fresh biomass per day (if cultivation prior to agroinfiltration is ignored) or 0.5 μg/g fresh biomass per day (if cultivation prior to agroinfiltration is included). The superior productivity, strict process control and simple handling procedures available for transgenic cell suspension cultures suggest that cells are the most promising system for further optimization and ultimately for the scaled-up production of geraniol.     

蜡质芽孢杆菌AR156发酵培养基及发酵条件的优化

对前期筛选得到的在田间试验中防治根结线虫效果较好的蜡质芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)AR156,通过单因素筛选及正交试验的方法进行了发酵培养基优化,得到的最佳配比为:麦芽糖0.25%,玉米粉0.5%,黄豆粉0.5%,胰蛋白胨0.5%,CaCl2·2H2O0.05%,MnSO4·H2O0.05%,K2HPO40.1%。同时对实验室摇瓶条件下液体发酵的主要影响因子温度、转速、初始pH值等进行实验探讨,确定了最佳培养条件:初始pH值7.0,装液量200mL/L,接种量5%,发酵温度28℃,转速200r/min,发酵时间48h。优化后芽孢产量为1.03×109CFU/mL,芽孢生成率在97%以上,明显高于初始发酵培养基发酵结果。     

Framework for the rapid optimization of soluble protein expression in Escherichia coli combining microscale experiments and statistical experimental design

A major bottleneck in drug discovery is the production of soluble human recombinant protein in sufficient quantities for analysis. This problem is compounded by the complex relationship between protein yield and the large number of variables which affect it. Here, we describe a generic framework for the rapid identification and optimization of factors affecting soluble protein yield in microwell plate fermentations as a prelude to the predictive and reliable scaleup of optimized culture conditions. Recombinant expression of firefly luciferase in Escherichia coli was used as a model system. Two rounds of statistical design of experiments (DoE) were employed to first screen (D-optimal design) and then optimize (central composite face design) the yield of soluble protein. Biological variables from the initial screening experiments included medium type and growth and induction conditions. To provide insight into the impact of the engineering environment on cell growth and expression, plate geometry, shaking speed, and liquid fill volume were included as factors since these strongly influence oxygen transfer into the wells. Compared to standard reference conditions, both the screening and optimization designs gave up to 3-fold increases in the soluble protein yield, i.e., a 9-fold increase overall. In general the highest protein yields were obtained when cells were induced at a relatively low biomass concentration and then allowed to grow slowly up to a high final biomass concentration, >8 g.L-1. Consideration and analysis of the model results showed 6 of the original 10 variables to be important at the screening stage and 3 after optimization. The latter included the microwell plate shaking speeds pre- and postinduction, indicating the importance of oxygen transfer into the microwells and identifying this as a critical parameter for subsequent scale translation studies. The optimization process, also known as response surface methodology (RSM), predicted there to be a distinct optimum set of conditions for protein expression which could be verified experimentally. This work provides a generic approach to protein expression optimization in which both biological and engineering variables are investigated from the initial screening stage. The application of DoE reduces the total number of experiments needed to be performed, while experimentation at the microwell scale increases experimental throughput and reduces cost.     

甘草细胞放大培养中搅拌式反应器操作策略优化

为获得甘草细胞在反应器中放大培养的最佳条件,在建立稳定的甘草细胞搅拌式生物反应器放大培养体系的基础上,分别以单因素和正交实验获得的数据为样本,以细胞净增长生物量为考察指标,运用BP神经网络耦合遗传算法对反应器操作策略进行优化。结果表明,接种量6.4%、摇床转速89r/min、通气速率0.1vvm是甘草细胞进行反应器培养的最优条件;与传统的正交实验方法相比,这种基于神经网络耦合遗传算法的优化方法使反应器中细胞生物量的积累提高了6.9%。     

Bioreactor culture of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and effects of nitrogen source, inoculum size, and conditioned medium on biomass production

We report the successful culture of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) suspension cells in a bioreactor. In vitro propagation of this perennial monocotyledonous tree is an important part of the oil palm industry's approach to clonal propagation of high-yielding accessions. During culture of oil palm cells in a batch bioreactor, nutrients and extracellular metabolites were monitored, and kinetic parameters and nutrient-to-biomass conversion yields were calculated. The biomass increased approximately 3.5-fold per month, consistent with values reported for shake flask cultures. Although the carbon source was completely depleted by the end of the run, nitrogen sources remained in large excess and the sugar-to-biomass conversion yield remained low. Linear growth indicated that the cells were limited. The results obtained from the bioreactor runs indicated that we should be able to improve biomass production by carrying out optimization studies. Therefore, we initiated multi-factorial analyses using response surface experimental designs to investigate the effects of different nitrogen sources, as well as inoculum size and conditioned medium, on biomass production in flask cultures. Whereas glutamine does not have a significant effect on biomass production, ammonia has a positive effect up to an optimum concentration. Both inoculum density and conditioned medium have positive, synergistic effects on biomass production.     

Optimization of cell growth and bacoside-A production in suspension cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacopa monnieri</Emphasis> (L.) Wettst. using response surface methodology

Plant secondary metabolites have emerged as potential raw materials, which are used in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, and cosmetic industries. Bacoside-A, a secondary metabolite produced by Bacopa monnieri, is known for its memory-facilitating properties. In recent years, various strategies have been developed to enhance biomass accumulation and synthesis of secondary compounds in cultures. In the present investigation, various factors affecting the production of biomass and bacoside-A in the cell suspension cultures of B. monnieri were optimized using the statistical experimental design approach. Preliminary screening by Plackett–Burman’s design revealed that among the tested factors, glucose, KNO₃, KH₂PO₄, and inoculum density significantly influenced cell growth and bacoside-A production. Furthermore, using response surface methodology (RSM), glucose, KNO₃, and KH₂PO₄ at a concentration of 5.67, 0.313, and 0.29%, respectively, and an inoculum density of 0.66% in basal MS medium were found to be optimal for cell growth and bacoside-A production. After optimization, the biomass yield increased about twofold (from 5.52 to 12.58 g L^?1 fresh cell weight) and bacoside-A production about 1.7-fold (5.56 to 9.84 mg g^?1 dry weight). The present study results show the successful application of RSM to enhance the production of biomass and accumulation of bacoside-A content in cell suspension cultures of B. monnieri.     

Attachment, spreading and growth of VERO cells on microcarriers for the optimization of large scale cultures

The VERO cell attachment, spreading and growth were measured as a function of the substrate and temperature used for cell cultivation, the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS) in the medium and the initial cell inoculum used for cultivation on MCs. The data show that the cell attachment kinetics were comparable at RT or 37v°C, a higher rate of cell attachment occurred to MCs and the presence of FCS inhibited the cell attachment to glass or plastic but not to MCs. The cell spreading, in general higher at 37v°C, was dependent on the presence of FCS, comparable on glass or plastic substrate and lower on MCs. The spread of VERO cells over MCs was fully dependent on the presence of FCS and decreases progressively with a delayed addition of FCS into the medium. The cell detachment by trypsin was slower from MCs and the cells recovered showed lower viability and reattachment. Better results of detachment, viability and reattachment were obtained by treatment with the trypsin at pH of 8 instead of 7. The lower was the number of cells/MC for the initial inoculum, the higher was the percent of unoccupied MCs (with 1 cell/MC we had 35.6% of unoccupied MCs), which were shown to remain uncovered during the whole period of culture. With an initial inoculum of 4, 6 and 8 VERO cells/MC, respectively 46%, 76% and 83% of the MCs were totally covered by cells after 7 days, the cultures showing at this time, respectively, 5.1 2 10⁵, 8.8 2 10⁵ and 1.8 2 10⁶ cells/ml, which represented a biomass production of respectively 8.5x, 9.7x and 15.5x. When compared to 175 cm² T-flasks, using the same amount of medium, a VERO cell culture on 2 mg/ml of MCs offers about 10 times more available surface for cell growth and allowed the obtention of 7 times more cells. The optimization procedures concerning initial steps of VERO cell cultures, such as the attachment, spreading and growth as a function of parameters like initial cell inoculum and medium supplementation are of special interest mainly due to the perspective of a large use of VERO cell cultures for human viral vaccine production.     

多拷贝毕赤酵母重组菌表达GCL摇瓶优化和高密度发酵

目的:构建高效表达白地霉脂肪酶的毕赤酵母重组菌株,并对筛选得到的菌株进行摇瓶发酵条件优化和分批补料高密度发酵工艺研究。方法:将诱导型表达载体pPIC9K-gcl电转化至毕赤酵母GS115。通过橄榄油-罗丹明B平板和摇瓶发酵筛选高脂肪酶活力的重组菌株,运用基于TaqMan探针的实时荧光定量PCR 法确定其拷贝数,并对菌株进行摇瓶发酵条件优化。在此基础上,研究重组菌在3L 发酵罐中的高密度发酵工艺。结果:筛选得到一株具有3 个白地霉脂肪酶基因拷贝的菌株GS115/pPIC9K-gcl 78#,初始酶活力为220 U/ml。当摇瓶发酵条件为甲醇诱导96 h,每24 h甲醇添加量1 %,接种量2 %,培养基初始pH 7.0,500 ml摇瓶装液量50 ml,甲醇诱导温度25℃ 时酶活力达735 U/ml。3L 发酵罐高密度发酵176.5 h,酶活力达到3360 U/ml,总蛋白含量达到4.30 g/L,且发酵过程中细胞活性一直保持在96 % 以上。结论:基因拷贝数与重组菌株的产酶水平呈正相关,摇瓶优化可显著提高重组菌株的产酶能力,为白地霉脂肪酶的工业化生产奠定了技术基础。     

Optimal nitrogen supply as a key to increased and sustained production of a monoclonal full‐size antibody in BY‐2 suspension culture

Plant cell cultures have been used as expression hosts for recombinant proteins for over two decades. The quality of plant cell culture‐produced proteins such as full‐size monoclonal antibodies has been shown to be excellent in terms of protein folding and binding activity, but the productivity and yield fell short of what was achieved using mammalian cell culture, in which the key to gram‐per‐liter expression levels was strain selection and medium/process optimization. We carried out an extensive media analysis and optimization for the production of the full‐size human anti‐HIV antibody 2G12 in N. tabacum cv. BY‐2. Nitrogen source and availability was found to be one key factor for the volumetric productivity of plant cell cultures. Increased amounts of nitrate in the culture medium had a dramatic impact on protein yields, resulting in a 10–20‐fold increase in product accumulation through a combination of enhanced secretion and higher stability. The results were scalable from shake flasks to stirred‐tank bioreactors, where the maximum yield per cultivation volume was 8 mg L^?1 over 7 days. During the stationary phase, antibody levels were 150‐fold higher in nitrogen‐enriched medium compared to standard medium. The enhanced medium appeared not to affect antibody quality and activity, as determined by Western blots, surface plasmon resonance binding assays and N‐glycan analysis. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 278–289. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

不同因素对岩黄连悬浮细胞生长的影响

目的:建立一个快速生长的岩黄连悬浮细胞培养体系。方法:研究了接种量、基本培养基、初始pH值、不同碳源对岩黄连悬浮细胞生长的影响。结果:合适的接种量是7.5~10%(FW),接种量过少会抑制细胞生长;B5和MS基本培养基均适合岩黄连细胞的生长;最佳初始培养基pH值为6.0,此时获得的细胞生物量最高;岩黄连悬浮细胞培养的生长周期为24d,最大生物量出现在第18d,达到14.1g/l(DW);蔗糖比葡萄糖更有利于岩黄连细胞的生长,添加60g/l蔗糖所获得的生物量最高,达到18.5g/l(DW)。     

Optimization of medium composition for improving biomass production of Lactobacillus plantarum Pi06 using the Taguchi array design and the Box-Behnken method

An immune-enhancing strain, Lactobacillus plantarum Pi06, isolated from a healthy infant was used for biomass production following optimization of the medium in shake-flask culture. Preliminary studies showed that commercial MRS medium and cultivation under static conditions generated higher biomass production than four other tested media with or without a shaking condition. The selected medium composition, consisting of glucose, yeast extract, soy peptone, ammonium citrate, and corn steep liquor, was further optimized using a systematic method that integrated the Taguchi array design and the Box-Behnken method. The response effects of these factors were first investigated using Taguchi design under an L ₁₆ (4⁵) array. The suggested medium composition, derived from Statistica 7.1 using the Taguchi design, was applied to cultivate cells and a biomass of 7.16 g dry cell weight (DCW)/L was obtained. Response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken method for the three response variables of glucose, yeast extract, and corn steep liquor was then used to further increase the biomass level to 8.94 g DCW/L. The resulting optimum medium consisted of 35 g/L glucose, 35 g/L yeast extract, and 40 mL/L corn steep liquor. Compared with the initial medium, the biomass yield was improved from 4.31 to 8.94 g DCW/L, an enhancement of approximately 107%.     

K88大肠杆菌菌毛蛋白发酵工艺条件优化研究

分别采用LB培养基、牛肉膏蛋白胨培养基、强化营养培养基、玉米浆培养基对大肠杆菌K88进行发酵培养,选出最适于大肠杆菌K88生长的玉米浆培养基;采用正交实验对玉米浆培养基的C／N、K2HPO4／KH2PO4、Mg^2＋的配比进行优化,筛选最适于大肠杆菌K88生长的营养配比;研究生长曲线、接种量以及菌体和菌毛生产量的相关性,根据实验结果优化发酵培养条件,确定菌种的最佳发酵工艺,以收获最多的K88菌毛蛋白。研究表明,K88大肠杆菌在玉米浆培养基C／N、K2HP04／KH2PO4的配比分别为5／11、1／1,Mg^2＋为0．1g/mL,pH值为7．2,转速为200r／min,接种量为4．5％的条件下发酵26个小时,菌体和菌毛生产量均达到高峰,同时得出菌毛蛋白产生量和菌体量成正相关。     

Bioprocessing of differentiated plant in vitro systems

Plant cells contain a wide range of interesting secondary metabolites, which are used as natural pigments and flavoring agents in foods and cosmetics as well as phyto‐pharmaceutical products. However, conventional industrial extraction from whole plants or parts of them is limited due to environmental and geographical issues. The production of secondary metabolites from in vitro cultures can be considered as alternative to classical technologies and allows a year‐round cultivation in the bioreactor under optimal conditions with constant high‐level quality and quantity. Compared to plant cell suspensions, differentiated plant in vitro systems offer the advantage that they are genetically stable. Moreover, the separation of the biomass from culture medium after fermentation is much easier. Nevertheless, several investigations in the literature described that differentiated plant in vitro systems are instable concerning the yield of the target metabolites, especially in submerged cultivations. Other major problems are associated with the challenges of cultivation conditions and bioreactor design as well as upscaling of the process. This article reviews bioreactor designs for cultivation of differentiated plant in vitro systems, secondary metabolite production in different bioreactor systems as well as aspects of process control, management, and modeling and gives perspectives for future cultivation methods.     

Development of bioreactors for the culture of surface immobilized plant cells

The scaleup of the technique of plant cell surface immobilization was performed successfully in specifically designed laboratory size bioreactors. The immobilizing matrix was formed into a vertically wound spiral providing for a high immobilizing area-to-volume ratio (0.8-1.2 cm(-1)). A modified airlift and a mechanically stirred vessel delivered a best bioreactor performance characterized by low biomass frothing and highly efficient plant cell attachment and retention (>/=96%). The growth of Catharanthus roseus cells investigated in these bioreactors was found not to be mass transfer limited. It required mild mixing and aeration levels (k(L)a approximately 10-15 h(-1)). The biomass formation pattern of surface immobilized plant cells generally exhibited a linear growth phase followed by a stationary phase characterized by the presence of residual carbohydrates in the medium, contrary to suspension cultures. This behavior was found to depend on the plant cell type and/or line cultured, as well as on the inoculum age. The space restriction and unidirectional growth of the SIPC biofilm combined with the limited availability of essential intracellular nutrients rapidly accumulated from the medium by the stationary phase inoculated plant cells all likely contributed to the culture behavior.     

An extracellular macromolecular complex from the surface of soybean suspension cultures

A cell-free, insoluble cell wall fraction is described which floats on the surface of suspension cultures of Glycine max L. Merrill var. Acme cells. Its accumulation is governed by both the shaking speed and the medium volume, a shaking speed of 110 to 120 revolutions per minute with a medium volume of about 100 to 120 milliliters in a 250-milliliter flask being optimal. Various factors which could control the accumulation of the complex were tested and are discussed, and scanning electron micrographs of the complex being released from the cell surface are presented.     

Non-invasive methods for determination of cellular growth inPodophyllum hexandrum suspension cultures

Culture conductivity and on-line NADH fluorescence were used to measure cellular growth in plant cell suspension cultures ofPodophyllum hexandrum. An inverse correlation between dry cell weight and medium conductivity was observed during shake flask cultivation. A linear relationship between dry cell weight and culture NADH fluorescence was obtained during the exponential phase of batch cultivation in a bioreactor under the pH stat (pH 6) conditions. It was observed that conductivity measurement were suitable for biomass characterisation under highly dynamic uncontrolled shake flask cultivation conditions. However, if the acid/alkali feeding is done for pH control the conductivity measurement could not be applied. On the other hand the NADH fluorescence measurement allowed online-in situ biomass monitoring of rather heterogenous plant cell suspension cultures in bioreactor even under the most desirable pH stat conditions.     

Xylanase production in solid state fermentation by Aspergillus niger mutant using statistical experimental designs

The initial moisture content, cultivation time, inoculum size and concentration of basal medium were optimized in solid state fermentation (SSF) for the production of xylanase by an Aspergillus niger mutant using statistical experimental designs. The cultivation time and concentration of basal medium were the most important factors affecting xylanase activity. An inoculum size of 5 x 10(5) spores/g, initial moisture content of 65%, cultivation time of 5 days and 10 times concentration of basal medium containing 50 times concentration of corn steep liquor were optimum for xylanase production in SSF. Under the optimized conditions, the activity and productivity of xylanase obtained after 5 days of fermentation were 5,071 IU/g of rice straw and 14,790 IU l(-1) h(-1), respectively. The xylanase activity predicted by a polynomial model was 5,484 IU/g of rice straw.     

Optimization of the Medium and Cultivation Conditions of Penicillium roquefortii f39 Producing the Diketopiperazine Alkaloid Roquefortine

We optimized the medium for cultivation of Penicillium roquefortii f39, a producer of roquefortine. In this medium, the roquefortine yield increased 1.5–2-fold. An increase in roquefortine content was associated with high biomass yield, but not with an increase in biosynthetic activity of the mycelium. Direct correlation was found between extracellular roquefortine concentration and the amount of the inoculum. The use of sucrose in the inoculum medium allowed us to increase the concentration of roquefortine during fermentation to 90 mg/l.     

Uricase production by a recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hansenula polymorpha</Emphasis> strain harboring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida utilis</Emphasis> uricase gene

Uricase is an important medical enzyme which can be used to determine urate in clinical analysis, to therapy gout, hyperuricemia, and tumor lysis syndrome. Uricase of Candida utilis was successfully expressed in Hansenula polymorpha under the control of methanol oxidase promoter using Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor signal peptide as the secretory sequence. Recombinant H. polymorpha MU200 with the highest extracellular uricase production was characterized with three copies of expression cassette and selected for process optimization for the production of recombinant enzyme. Among the parameters investigated in shaking flask cultures, the pH value of medium and inoculum size had great influence on the recombinant uricase production. The maximum extracellular uricase yield of 2.6 U/ml was obtained in shaking flask culture. The yield of recombinant uricase was significantly improved by the combined use of a high cell-density cultivation technique and a pH control strategy of switching culture pH from 5.5 to 6.5 in the induction phase. After induction for 58 h, the production of recombinant uricase reached 52.3 U/ml (about 2.1 g/l of protein) extracellularly and 60.3 U/ml (about 2.4 g/l) intracellularly in fed-batch fermentation, which are much higher than those expressed in other expression systems. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the heterologous expression of uricase in H. polymorpha.     

Chemical-physical characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoates recovered by means of a simplified method from cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halomonas campaniensis</Emphasis>

In this study we suggest a simplified and effective method to directly recover polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from humid biomass of Halomonas campaniensis with no pre-treatment steps. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was directly added to dispersed biomass of cultured micro-organism (w/w ratio: 1) in distilled water followed by shaking, heat treatment, and washing steps. The purity of the recovered PHAs synthesized by H. campaniensis was over 95%, regardless of the cell concentrations and the best yield was 12% (w/w) of the cell wet weight when the micro-organism was cultivated in a glucose-based medium or a glucose/propionate-based medium. MS spectroscopy and ¹H, ¹³C-NMR analysis were used to chemically characterize the PHAs; their thermal characteristics were obtained using a differential scanning calorimeter and the average viscosity molecular weight was assessed through specific viscosity measurements. Due to its ease and velocity, our simplified method is suitable for the detection and recovery of PHAs from humid biomasses with high yield and purity. The method, which is quick and at low environmental impact, is very valuable for the simultaneous testing of cultures grown with different inducers for PHAs having particular chemical/physical characteristics.