Microarray Analysis of Metabolically Engineered NS0 Cell Lines Producing Chimeric Antibody

Abstract

Large scale gene expression provides a powerful approach to the characterisation of cells transcriptional state. Thousand of genes can be monitored in single experiments generating an unprecedented volume of data. In animal cell technology, this information can be used to assign functions to previously unassociated genes, identify potential process variable targets and generate snapshots of transcriptional activity in response to any environmental factor or cellular trigger. We have used a mouse array representing 15000 genes to assess the expression profile of mouse myeloma cell line NS0 and GS-NS0 producing chimeric antibody. Comparisons of gene profiles were also made with proliferation-controlled (over-expressing p21^CIP1) and apoptosis resistant (over-expressing bcl-2) cell lines. There were 19 genes up regulated and 32 genes down regulated in the apoptosis resistant cell line compared to the parental producing cell line. As for the proliferation-controlled cell line, 54 and 147 genes were up and down regulated respectively. Gene ontology was used to understand the biological relevance of differences in gene expression data. Distinct expression signatures, indicative of observed differences in physiology and productivity between the cell lines, were identified. Our study highlights the potential of microarray technology for the analysis recombinant cell lines as affected by product expression, genetic modification and environmental conditions.