Effects of soy peptone-supplemented medium on CHO-320 cells

Michiels, Jean-François [UCL] barbau, J. [UCL] Sart, Sébastien [UCL] Agathos, Spiros N. [UCL] Schneider, Yves-Jacques [UCL]

(eng) A strong tendency is currently emerging to remove not only serum but also any product of animal origin from animal cell culture media during production of biopharmaceuticals. The cell line CHO-320 producing human γ-interferon was cultivated in a serum- and protein-free medium supplemented with a soy peptone (Hy-Soy®, Kerry). Although the addition of this plant peptone to the culture medium resulted in a decreased cell growth, an increase of recombinant protein production was observed. Experiments were conducted to elucidate how the peptone contributes to an increased protein production. Results related to transcription activation, protein glycosylation, apoptotic cell death and protein stability suggested that none of these mechanisms could explain the peptone effect. That soy peptone increases protein translation or improves protein secretion is suggested.