Abstract
In this study we compare the cellular control of recombinant human IgG~4~ monoclonal antibody (Mab) synthesis in different CHO cell lines. Based on comprehensive empirical analyses of mRNA and polypeptide synthetic intermediates we constructed cell lineโspecific mathematical models of recombinant Mab manufacture in seven GSโCHO cell lines varying in specific production rate (qMab) over 350โfold. This comparative analysis revealed that control of qMab involved both genetic construct and cell lineโspecific factors. With respect to the former, all cell lines exhibited excess production of light chain (LC) mRNA and polypeptide relative to heavy chain (HC) mediated by more rapid LC transcription and enhanced LC mRNA stability. Downstream of this, cell lines differed markedly in their relative rates of recombinant mRNA translation, Mab assembly and secretion although HC mRNA abundance and the rate of HC translation generally exerted most control over qMabโthe latter being directly proportional to qMab. This study shows that (i) cell lines capable of high qMab exceed a threshold functional competency in all synthetic processes, (ii) the majority of cells in parental and transfected cell populations are functionally limited and (iii) cell engineering strategies to increase Mab production should be cell line specific. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;106: 938โ951. ยฉ 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.