OPTIMUM INFECTION CONDITIONS FOR RECOMBINANT PROTEIN-PRODUCTION IN INSECT-CELL (BM5) SUSPENSION-CULTURE

The baculovirus/insect cell expression system is an efficient and prac tical method for the production of many active therapeutic proteins on a large scale. The advantages of suspension cultures have been demons trated with the study of a baculovirus/insect cell (BmNPV/Bm5) express ion system for the production of recombinant chloramphenicol acetyltra nsferase (CAT), a model heterologous protein. Key infection parameters such as infection time and multiplicity of infection were examined sy stematically for the maximization of protein production. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the development of possible medium replenishmen t strategies, which were necessary to achieve higher volumetric protei n production from the infection of high-density cell cultures without sacrificing specific protein productivity. The highest protein product ion was achieved with the infection of suspended cells in the mid to l ate exponential growth phase.