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Manipulation of mRNA translation elongation influences the fragmentation of a biotherapeutic Fc‐fusion protein produced in CHO cells

Knight, Tanya J., Povey, Jane F., Vito, Davide, Mohindra, Atul, Jaques, Colin M., Smales, C. Mark (2022) Manipulation of mRNA translation elongation influences the fragmentation of a biotherapeutic Fc‐fusion protein produced in CHO cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 119 (12). pp. 3408-3420. ISSN 0006-3592. E-ISSN 1097-0290. (doi:10.1002/bit.28230) (KAR id:98242)

Abstract

Mammalian cells, particularly Chinese hamster ovary cells, are the dominant system for the production of protein-based biotherapeutics, however, product degradation, particularly of Fc-fusion proteins, is sometimes observed that impacts the quality of the protein generated. Here, we identify the site of fragmentation of a model immunoglobulin G1 Fc-fusion protein, show that the observed clipping and aggregation are decreased by reduced temperature culturing, that the fragmentation/clipping is intracellular, and that reduced clipping at a lower temperature (<37°C) relates to mesenger RNA (mRNA) translation elongation. We subsequently show that reduced fragmentation can be achieved at 37°C by addition of chemical reagents that slow translation elongation. We then modified mRNA translation elongation speeds by designing different transcript sequences for the Fc-fusion protein based on alternative codon usage and improved the product yield at 37°C, and the ratio of intact to a fragmented product. Our data suggest that rapid elongation results in misfolding that decreases product fidelity, generating a region susceptible to degradation/proteolysis, whilst the slowing of mRNA translation improves the folding, reducing susceptibility to fragmentation. Manipulation of mRNA translation and/or the target Fc-fusion transcript is, therefore, an approach that can be applied to potentially reduce fragmentation of clipping-prone Fc-fusion proteins.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/bit.28230
Additional information: For the purpose of open access, the author(s) has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising.
Uncontrolled keywords: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells; clipping; Fc-fusion protein; fragmentation, mRNA translation elongation
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH581.2 Cell Biology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Funders: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (https://ror.org/00cwqg982)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 28 Nov 2022 10:36 UTC
Last Modified: 23 Aug 2024 14:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/98242 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Povey, Jane F..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Vito, Davide.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Smales, C. Mark.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2762-4724
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