Biomedical subjects

Michael L Shuler

Publications and source records attributed to Michael L Shuler.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

The effect of ajmalicine spiking and resin addition timing on the production of indole alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus cell cultures.

The potential for the feedback inhibition of indole alkaloid synthesis was investigated by spiking suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus with 0, 9, or 18 mg/L ajmalicine on day 0. The production of ajmalicine, catharanthine, and serpentine were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition was transient as the exogenous ajmalicine was ultimately either metabolized in the medium or within the cell. The addition of neutral resin has previously been shown to enhance ajmalicine production. To minimize product inhibition and product metabolism, Amberlite XAD-7 resin was added to immobilized cultures of C. roseus starting on either day 0, 5, or 15, and fresh resin was exchanged for spent resin every 5 days. The addition of resin did not decrease the viability of the culture. Growth was reduced only in cultures with resin added on day 0. Alkaloid production was enhanced to different extents by the timing of resin addition, suggesting that feedback inhibition or product metabolism was present throughout the culture period. Ajmalicine recovery was nearly 100% when the resin was added initially either on day 0 or day 5. Ajmalicine recovery was reduced to 55% when the resin was added later in the culture period starting on day 15, presumably because of resin saturation or the inaccessibility of alkaloids trapped in the vacuole. Delaying the addition of XAD-7 resin until 5 days after the start of the culture resulted in the highest improvement in ajmalicine production, i.e approximately 70% and also resulted in the complete recovery of ajmalicine from the cell.

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMed2002

The effect of various substrates on cell attachment and differentiation of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes.

The influence of extracellular matrix (Matrigel), collagen, and polylysine substrates on cell attachment and differentiation in 3T3-F442A preadipocytes was investigated. In comparison to an uncoated-polystyrene substrate, a concentrated Matrigel substrate (100 microg/cm2) markedly increased intracellular lipid level by about 30%, whereas a lower density Matrigel (10 microg/cm2) accelerated the differentiation rate but did not increase the amount of lipid 21 days after addition of adipogenic factors. Preadipocytes on the collagen surface differentiated less extensively than cells on the polystyrene. Polylysine did not effectively support attachment for either differentiated or undifferentiated cells. These results suggest that Matrigel provides the most suitable environment for both cell adhesion and differentiation for 3T3-F442A cells. This is in contrast to a previous report that extracellular matrix (from corneal endothelial cells) was detrimental to differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2002

Effect of oxide formation mechanisms on lead adsorption by biogenic manganese (hydr)oxides, iron (hydr)oxides, and their mixtures.

The effects of iron and manganese (hydr)oxide formation processes on the trace metal adsorption properties of these metal (hydr)oxides and their mixtures was investigated by measuring lead adsorption by iron and manganese (hydr)oxides prepared by a variety of methods. Amorphous iron (hydr)oxide formed by fast precipitation at pH 7.5 exhibited greater Pb adsorption (gamma(max) = 50 mmol of Pb/mol of Fe at pH 6.0) than iron (hydr)oxide formed by slow, diffusion-controlled oxidation of Fe(II) at pH 4.5-7.0 or goethite. Biogenic manganese(III/IV) (hydr)oxide prepared by enzymatic oxidation of Mn(II) by the bacterium Leptothrix discophora SS-1 adsorbed five times more Pb (per mole of Mn) than an abiotic manganese (hydr)oxide prepared by oxidation of Mn(II) with permanganate, and 500-5000 times more Pb than pyrolusite oxides (betaMnO2). X-ray crystallography indicated that biogenic manganese (hydr)oxide and iron (hydr)oxide were predominantly amorphous or poorly crystalline and their X-ray diffraction patterns were not significantly affected by the presence of the other (hydr)oxide during formation. When iron and manganese (hydr)oxides were mixed after formation, or for Mn biologically oxidized with iron(III) (hydr)oxide present, observed Pb adsorption was similar to that expected for the mixture based on Langmuir parameters for the individual (hydr)oxides. These results indicate that interactions in iron/manganese (hydr)oxide mixtures related to the formation process and sequence of formation such as site masking, alterations in specific surface area, or changes in crystalline structure either did not occur or had a negligible effect on Pb adsorption by the mixtures.

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prediction of naphthalene bioaccumulation using an adipocyte cell line model.

A long-term goal of this research is to develop an in vitro model to study the metabolism, distribution, and fate of chemicals or pharmaceuticals in animals and humans. An important component of such a system is an in vitro model to study bioaccumulation of specific chemicals in adipose tissue. Due to the difficulties in maintaining primary adipocytes in culture and conducting reproducible experiments, transformed adipocyte cell lines have been used as an alternative. In this paper, several rodent preadipocyte cell lines (3T3-L1, 3T3-F442A, and TA1 cells) that differentiate into adipocytes when exposed to the appropriate stimuli are tested as an investigative tool to study naphthalene accumulation. The in vitro model is tested by comparison of its performance to that of primary adipocytes. All the experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that naphthalene accumulation is primarily dependent on the level of intracellular lipid. Furthermore, the level of naphthalene bioaccumulation is linearly correlated with the amount of triglyceride content with the slope of 37.7 +/- 0.5 microg of naphthalene/(mg of triglyceride). Indomethacin/dexamethasone/insulin are shown to be more effective in promoting preadipocyte differentiation than methylisobutylxanthine/dexamethasone/insulin. Additionally, external factors, such as the presence of albumin and serum in the medium, affect the cellular naphthalene uptake by decreasing the amount of naphthalene transported into fat cells. Among the three cell lines tested, 3T3-L1 adipocytes accumulated the highest intracellular lipid and, hence, yielded the highest level of naphthalene accumulation. Its ability to accumulate naphthalene is comparable to that of primary adipocytes. The 3T3-L1 adipocyte model is appropriate for studying the bioaccumulation of xenobiotics that are aromatic hydrocarbons.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors important in the extraction, stability and in vitro assembly of the hepatitis B surface antigen derived from recombinant plant systems.

The expression of vaccine antigens in edible plant material together with their delivery by the oral route constitutes a powerful paradigm, with the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of vaccine production and administration, in addition to improving distribution and patient compliance. These products will be subject to many of the same regulations applied to current injectable vaccines, so reliable methods to quantify antigen and ensure stability in crude plant extracts are required. As a model system the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was expressed in soybean and tobacco cell cultures. This complex antigen consists of membrane-associated small surface antigen proteins (p24(s)), disulfide cross-linked to yield dimers and higher multimers. Although the total p24(s) extracted from plant cells was relatively unaffected by detergent concentration, the quantification of antigenically reactive product depended strongly on the ratio of detergent to cell concentration. Furthermore, 1-20% w/v sodium ascorbate improved the measured levels of monoclonal-reactive antigen 4- to 12-fold. Detergent also influenced antigen stability in cell lysates stored at 4 degrees C; under optimum conditions stability was maintained for at least 1 month, whereas excess detergent rendered the antigen susceptible to proteolytic degradation. This proteolysis could be counteracted by the addition of skim milk or its protein component, which stabilized antigenically reactive p24(s) for up to 2 months. The immunologically relevant epitopes of HBsAg are critically dependent on disulfide bonding. By altering the sodium ascorbate concentration or buffer pH the proportion of HBsAg displaying the monoclonal reactive epitopes was increased between 8- and 20-fold. In addition, under certain conditions the dimerized p24(s) could be converted to oligomeric aggregates, resembling the form of the serum-derived antigen. These simple in vitro manipulations, compatible with the goal of a minimally processed oral vaccine, may prove valuable in increasing the immunogenicity of the plant-derived antigen.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of culture conditions on the degree of sialylation of a recombinant glycoprotein expressed in insect cells.

Secreted human placental alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) was produced in a nonengineered Trichoplusia ni insect cell line, Tn-4s, using a recombinant Autographa californica baculovirus expression vector. The effect of culture conditions on SEAP specific yield and glycosylation was studied. When cultured in the high aspect ratio vessel (HARV) or in tissue culture flasks (T-flasks), baculovirus-infected Tn-4s cells produced high levels of SEAP (13 and 23 U/10(6) cells, respectively; 4 days postinfection), but in those conditions SEAP possessed only high mannose, paucimannosidic, and hybrid structures. In spinner flasks, lower SEAP yields were obtained (<4 U/10(6) cells, 3 days postinfection), but in such cultures, sialylation of SEAP could be achieved. Several spinner-flask culture conditions were tested and resulted in different SEAP specific yields and levels of sialylation. The highest level of sialylation (9%) was obtained in the culture with the lowest agitation rate and lowest yield (1.2 U/10(6) cells), suggesting a limiting capacity of the Tn-4s cells to process glycoproteins to sialylation. High specific yield, low passage number Tn5B1-4 cells did not produce SEAP with complex glycosylation when cultured in a low agitation rate spinner-flask. On the basis of these results, we propose that the Golgi apparatus has a limited capacity for processing proteins to complex glycosylation and sialylation and that this capacity is easily overwhelmed by high levels of foreign protein productivity. Selected media additives such as Pluronic F-68, dextran sulfate (MW 12 500) and a lipids premix did not allow improvement of the specific yield of sialylated SEAP when supplemented to spinner-flask cultures.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Integration of cell culture and microfabrication technology.

Recent progress in cell culture and microfabrication technologies has contributed to the development of cell-based biosensors for the functional characterization and detection of drugs, pathogens, toxicants, and odorants. The cell-based biosensors are composed of two transducers, where the primary transducer is cellular and the secondary transducer is typically electrical. Advances in gene manipulation and cell culture techniques have contributed to the development of the cell as a transducer, while microfabrication techniques have been applied to the development of integrating the cell with the second transducer. Cellular patterning using microfabrication techniques is essential for cell-based biosensors, cell culture analogues, tissue engineering, and fundamental studies of cell biology. The photolithographic technique is highly developed and has been widely used for patterning cells. Recently, a set of alternative techniques, largely based on soft lithoghraphy, has been developed for biological applications. Those techniques include microcontact printing, microfluidic patterning using microchannels, and laminar flow patterning. A classical metallic stencil patterning method has been improved by employing a rubber-like stencil. These cellular micropatterning techniques have been usefully employed to understand questions in fundamental cell biology, especially cellular interactions with various materials and other cells. Using these micropatterning tecchniques and insights into the interaction of cellular biology with surfaces, a wide array of biosensors have been developed. In this manuscript examples of cell-based biosensors are described. Neurons have a great potential for use in a cell-based biosensor because they are electrically excitable cells, from which electrical signals are generated with the binding of detecting molecules. Consequently, the electrical signals generated in the cell can be determined in a noninvasive manner. A microphysiometer is a device to detect functional responses from cells by measuring the change of extracellular pH. The main application of the microphysiometer is the analysis of functional responses of cells upon receptor stimulation. Development of a microscale cell culture analogue system, an in vitro animal or human surrogate, is another promising area using cell culture and microfabrication technologies. Such devices are potentially very useful in the fields of toxicology and drug testing because they may increase the accuracy of in vitro predictions, simplify testing procedures, and reduce the cost of such tests, allowing many more tests to be done with a limited set of resources.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Novel insect cell line capable of complex N-glycosylation and sialylation of recombinant proteins.

Paucimannose or oligomannose structures are usually attached to glycoproteins produced by insect cells, while mammalian glycoproteins usually have complex glycans. The lack of complex glycosylation has limited the use of the insect cell baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS), despite its high productivity and versatility. The availability of cell lines capable of complex glycosylation can overcome such a problem and potentially increase the utility of BEVS. In this work the capability of two novel cell lines, one from Pseudaletia unipuncta (A7S) and one from Danaus plexippus (DpN1), to produce and glycosylate a recombinant protein (secreted human placental alkaline phosphatase, SeAP) was assessed. SeAP produced by Tn5B1-4 cells at a low passage number (<200) was utilized for comparison. The optimal conditions for the production of SeAP by DpN1 cells were defined, and the glycosylation profiles of SeAP produced by the cell lines were quantitatively determined. Both the A7S and the DpN1 cells produced lower concentrations of SeAP than the Tn5B1-4 cells. Less than 5% of the glycans attached to SeAP produced by the Tn5B1-4 cells had complex forms. Glycans attached to SeAP from A7S cells contained 4% hybrid and 8% complex forms. Galactosylated biantennary structures were identified. Glycans attached to SeAP produced by the DpN1 cell line had 6% hybrid and 26% complex forms. Of the complex forms in SeAP from DpN1, 13% were identified as sialylated glycans. The galactosyltransferase activity of the three cell lines was measured and correlated to their ability to produce complex forms. Even though neither novel cell line produced as much recombinant protein as the Tn5B1-4 cells, the glycosylation of SeAP expressed by both cell lines was more complete. These novel cell lines represent interesting alternatives for the production of complex glycosylated proteins utilizing the BEVS.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Alterations in Taxol production in plant cell culture via manipulation of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase pathway.

One approach to increasing secondary metabolite production in plant cell culture is to manipulate metabolic pathways to utilize more resources toward production of one desired compound or class of compounds, such as diverting carbon flux from competing secondary pathways. Since phenylalanine provides both the phenylisoserine side chain and the benzoyl moiety at C-2 of Taxol, we speculated that blockage of the phenylpropanoid pathway might divert phenylalanine into Taxol biosynthesis. We used specific enzyme inhibitors to target the first enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), the critical control point for conversion of L-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid. Cinnamic acid acted quickly in reducing PAL activity by 40-50%, without affecting total protein levels, but it generally inhibited the taxane pathway, reducing Taxol by 90% of control levels. Of the taxanes produced, 13-acetyl-9-dihydro-baccatin III and 9-dihydrobaccatin III doubled as a percentage of total taxanes in C93AD and CO93P cells treated with 0.20 and 0.25 mM cinnamic acid, when all other taxanes were lowered. The PAL inhibitor alpha-aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) almost entirely shut down Taxol production at both 0.5 and 1.5 mM, whereas L-alpha-aminooxy-beta-phenylpropionic acid (AOPP) had the opposite effect, slightly enhancing Taxol production at 1 microM but having no effect at 10 microM. The discrepancy in the effectiveness of AOA and AOPP and the lack of effect with addition of phenylalanine or benzoic acid derivatives further indicates that the impact of cinnamic acid on Taxol is related not to its effect on PAL but rather to a specific effect on the taxane pathway. On the basis of these results, a less direct route for inhibiting the phenylpropanoid pathway may be required to avoid unwanted side effects and potentially enhance Taxol production.

Cinnamates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Production of a sialylated N-linked glycoprotein in insect cells: role of glycosidases and effect of harvest time on glycosylation.

Using a nonengineered Trichoplusia ni insect cell line, Tn-4s, infected with an Autographa californica recombinant baculovirus, 20% sialylation of human secreted placental alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) was observed. In contrast to this level of sialylation, intermediate complex forms with terminal galactose or N-acetylglucosamine were found in low proportions (<3% and <1%, respectively). We tested whether time of harvest or degradation of intermediate complex forms is responsible for this distribution of glycoforms. Spinner-flask cultures were infected with the SEAP baculovirus expression vector, and the cultures were harvested 48, 72, and 96 h post-infection. Structural analysis revealed that the glycoform distribution of SEAP was very similar at the different times of harvest, indicating that the cellular machinery was not significantly affected by the progress of infection and that the glycoforms obtained were stable. High levels of beta-galactosidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activity were detected throughout infection. In contrast, sialidase activity was below detection level both in cell extracts and in supernatants. These levels of glycosidases activities raise the possibility that intermediate complex glycoforms may be degraded while sialylated forms should not experience significant degradation in this cell line. However, culture in the presence of extracellular beta-galactosidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase inhibitors did not significantly improve glycosylation, suggesting that extracellular degradation processes are not taking place. Instead, results suggest that the intracellular machinery of the Tn-4s cells tends to either shunt the glycans to paucimannosidic forms or drive them completely to sialylation.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The design and fabrication of three-chamber microscale cell culture analog devices with integrated dissolved oxygen sensors.

Whole animal testing is an essential part in evaluating the toxicological and pharmacological profiles of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, but these experiments are expensive and cumbersome. A cell culture analog (CCA) system, when used in conjunction with a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model, provides an in vitro supplement to animal studies and the possibility of a human surrogate for predicting human response in clinical trials. A PBPK model mathematically simulates animal metabolism by modeling the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination kinetics of a chemical in interconnected tissue compartments. A CCA uses mammalian cells cultured in interconnected chambers to physically represent the corresponding PBPK. These compartments are connected by recirculating tissue culture medium that acts as a blood surrogate. The purpose of this article is to describe the design and basic operation of the microscale manifestation of such a system. Microscale CCAs offer the potential for inexpensive, relatively high throughput evaluation of chemicals while minimizing demand for reagents and cells. Using microfabrication technology, a three-chamber ("lung"-"liver"-"other") microscale cell culture analog (microCCA) device was fabricated on a 1 in. (2.54 cm) square silicon chip. With a design flow rate of 1.76 microL/min, this microCCA device achieves approximate physiological liquid-to-cell ratio and hydrodynamic shear stress while replicating the liquid residence time parameters in the PBPK model. A dissolved oxygen sensor based on collision quenching of a fluorescent ruthenium complex by oxygen molecules was integrated into the system, demonstrating the potential to integrate real-time sensors into such devices.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a microscale cell culture analog to probe naphthalene toxicity.

Prediction of human response to drugs or chemicals is difficult as a result of the complexity of living organisms. We describe an in vitro model that can realistically and inexpensively study the adsorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and potential toxicity (ADMET) of chemicals. A microscale cell culture analog (microCCA) is a physical replica of the physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model. Such a microfabricated device consists of a fluidic network of channels to mimic the circulatory system and chambers containing cultured mammalian cells representing key functions of animal "organ" systems. This paper describes the application of a two-cell system, four-chamber microCCA ("lung"-"liver"-"other tissue"-"fat") device for proof-of-concept study using naphthalene as a model toxicant. Naphthalene is converted into reactive metabolites (i.e., 1,2-naphthalenediol and 1,2-naphthoquinone) in the "liver" compartment, which then circulate to the "lung" depleting glutathione (GSH) in lung cells. Such microfabricated in vitro devices are potential human surrogates for testing chemicals and pharmaceutics for toxicity and efficacy.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Incorporation of 3T3-L1 cells to mimic bioaccumulation in a microscale cell culture analog device for toxicity studies.

Deficiencies in the early ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity) information on drug candidates extract a significant economic penalty on pharmaceutical firms. We have developed a microscale cell culture analog (microCCA) device that can potentially provide better, faster, and more efficient prediction of human and animal responses to a wide range of chemicals. The system described in this paper is a simple four-chamber microCCA ("lung"-"liver"-"fat"-"other tissue") designed on the basis of a physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model of a rat. Cultures of L2, HepG2/C3A, and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were selected to mimic the key functions of the lung, liver, and fat compartments, respectively. Here, we have demonstrated the application of the microCCA system to study bioaccumulation, distribution, and toxicity of selected compounds. Results from the bioaccumulation study reveal that hydrophobic compounds such as fluoranthene preferentially accumulated in the fat chamber. Only a small amount of fluoranthene was observed in the liver and lung chambers. In addition, the presence of the differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the microCCA device significantly reduced naphthalene and naphthoquinone-induced glutathione (GSH) depletion. These findings suggest the potential utilization of the microCCA system to assess ADMET characteristics of the compound of interest prior to animal or human trials.

3T3-L1 Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of subculture and elicitation on instability of taxol production in Taxus sp. suspension cultures.

The production of secondary metabolites through plant cell suspension cultures is challenging because the level and pattern of production is often unstable and unpredictable. To investigate the factors affecting instability of secondary metabolite production, high Taxol (paclitaxel)-producing Taxus cultures induced by methyl jasmonate elicitation and their low Taxol-producing counterparts were compared with respect to growth and Taxol production kinetics. With Taxus subcultures we observe alternating states of high and low productivity. Parental cultures and their subcultures from five different cell lines were used to test whether a high-producing culture grows more slowly or dies more rapidly than a low-producing one. These cell lines were of three types: (1) Taxol-producing with and without methyl jasmonate, (2) Taxol-producing only upon elicitation, and (3) nonproducing. High-producing cultures show growth inhibition upon subculture, whereas nonproducing elicited cultures show little growth inhibition. Thus, growth inhibition is primarily due to Taxol or taxane accumulation and not a direct result of methyl jasmonate treatment. Through media exchange between high- and low-producing cultures, it appears that culture components generated by cells alter culture properties. To assess variability as a function of culture lineage, two groups of replicate cultures were generated either with a mixing of the parental flasks or segregation of parental flasks at each subculture. Although parental culture mixing did not reduce flask-to-flask variation, the production level of Taxol in subcultures resulting from mixing inocula was sustained at a higher level relative to segregated subcultures. The results are consistent with the possibility of cell signaling within the population that can induce Taxol production.

Acetates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Glycosylation profiles of the human colorectal cancer A33 antigen naturally expressed in the human colorectal cancer cell line SW1222 and expressed as recombinant protein in different insect cell lines.

The A33 antigen is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed in human gastrointestinal epithelium and in 95% of colorectal cancers. We have compared the N-linked glycosylation profile of A33 antigen naturally expressed in a human colorectal cancer cell line with recombinant human A33 antigen (rA33) produced in insect cell culture using the baculovirus expression vector. N-Linked glycans were enzymatically released from the protein, and glycan composition was analyzed by HPLC. In three insect cell lines tested (Sf-21, Tn5B1-4, and Tn-4s), glycosylation of rA33 was dominated by high mannose structures (M5Gn2 to M9Gn2; 78-95% of total N-linked glycans), with M8Gn2 being the single most abundant glycoform. A33 antigen naturally expressed in the SW1222 human colon cancer cell line (A33) also possessed a high abundance of high mannose glycans (72%). No complex glycosylation was detected on rA33 expressed in insect cells. Natural A33 was galactosylated to a small extent (6%). These results illustrate a case of similar glycosylation of a glycoprotein between a recombinant version produced in insect cell culture and its counterpart naturally expressed in human cell culture.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship of viability and apoptosis to taxol production in Taxus sp. suspension cultures elicited with methyl jasmonate.

Taxus cuspidata P991 in plant cell suspension culture is capable of producing the important anticancer agent Taxol (paclitaxel) and related taxanes. High-level production is obtained by elicitation with methyl jasmonate, but successful elicitation leads to loss of cell viability that cannot be recovered by subculture. Here, we test whether the loss of viability is due to a direct effect of methyl jasmonate. Upon subculture, the reduced viability continued in methyl jasmonate elicited cultures, but not in nonelicited control cultures. The growth reduction in elicited T. cuspidata P991 suspension cultures was evaluated by viability reduction measurements using phenosafranin and fluorescein diacetate. The viability reduction does not appear to be related to apoptosis based on DNA laddering analysis because it occurred very late (at day 35) in the culture period. DNA laddering was also found only after day 28 in T. canadensis C93AD (a Taxol-producing cell line) elicited with methyl jasmonate, implying that apoptosis is not the major death mechanism after elicitation. As compared to Taxol-producing cell lines, the viability of a nonproducing cell line, T. canadensis CO93D, was not severely affected by methyl jasmonate, indicating that methyl jasmonate itself is not the primary factor for viability reduction. Based on Northern analysis of taxadiene synthase mRNA from both elicited and nonelicited T. cuspidata P991, methyl jasmonate directly induces the production of this enzyme, which is the first committed step in the biosynthetic pathway for Taxol. As a result, both viability reduction and growth reduction appear related to a high production level of Taxol (and related taxanes) upon methyl jasmonate elicitation, rather than to the direct effect of methyl jasmonate.

Acetates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of Mut+ and MutS Pichia pastoris phenotypes for high level extracellular scFv expression under feedback control of the methanol concentration.

Extracellular secretion of over 4 g x L(-1) of the A33 scFv antibody fragment was achieved in Pichia pastoris at the 10 L bioreactor scale using minimal medium and feedback control of the methanol concentration. Since methanol acts as both inducer and carbon source, its close regulation is a crucial factor in achieving optimal fermentation conditions. The antibody fragment production levels of both Mut+ and MutS phenotypes were compared in a bioreactor under closed-loop PID control of the methanol level. As expected, the MutS phenotype has a growth rate lower than that of the Mut+ (0.37 vs 1.05 d(-1)) when growing under methanol. However, protein productivity and cell yield on substrate are almost double that of the Mut+ (18.2 vs 9.3 mg A33 sc per gram of methanol). Induction at wet cell weight of 350 g x L(-1) for the MutS also has a positive effect on the final product concentration. Both Mut+ and MutS phenotypes reach a maximum biomass density around 450 g x L(-1) wet cell weight, independent of methanol concentration, reactor scale, or induction density. This reactor configuration allows for reproducible fermentation schemes with different Pichia pastoris phenotypes with AOX promoters, without prior knowledge of the culture growth parameters.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Production, secretion, and stability of human secreted alkaline phosphatase in tobacco NT1 cell suspension cultures.

Tobacco NT1 cell suspension cultures secreting active human secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) were generated for the first time as a model system to study recombinant protein production, secretion, and stability in plant cell cultures. The SEAP gene encodes a secreted form of the human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). During batch culture, the highest level of active SEAP in the culture medium (0.4 U/mL, corresponding to approximately 27 mg/L) was observed at the end of the exponential growth phase. Although the level of active SEAP decreased during the stationary phase, the activity loss did not appear to be due to SEAP degradation (based on Western blots) but due to SEAP denaturation. The protein-stabilizing agents polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP) and bacitracin were added extracellularly to test for their ability to reduce the loss of SEAP activity during the stationary phase. Bacitracin (100 mg/L) was the most effective treatment at sustaining activity levels for up to 17 days post-subculture. Commercially available human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) was used to probe the mechanism of SEAP deactivation. Experiments with PLAP in sterile and conditioned medium corroborated the denaturation of SEAP by factors generated by cell growth and not due to simple proteolysis. We also show for the first time that the factors promoting activity loss are heat labile at 95 degrees C but not at 70 degrees C, and they are not inactivated after a 5 day incubation period under normal culture conditions (27 degrees C). In addition, there were no significant changes in pH or redox potential when comparing sterile and cell-free conditioned medium during PLAP incubation, indicating that these factors were unimportant.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗