Molecular Biology - Protein Expression - Mammalian Protein Expression

UCOE Expression Technology

Ubiquitous Chromatin Opening Element (UCOE) technology gives major improvements in gene expression in stably transfected mammalian cells through effects on the structure of chromatin. UCOE technology prevents transgene silencing and gives consistent, stable and high-level gene expression irrespective of the chromosomal integration site. UCOE technology expression elements are small DNA elements (isolated from around house-keeping genes, which need to be active most of the time) which create a transcriptionally active open chromatin environment around an integrated transgene, maximizing its potential to be transcribed into protein irrespective of the position of the transgene in the chromosome.

Rapid small-scale production of a monoclonal antibody

This figure shows 3x10⁷ CHO-S cells transfected with 90 μg of an antibody expression plasmid either with or without a UCOE™, drug selection was applied and once sufficient cell number was generated, cells were seeded at a cell density that would allow growth to 10 L. On day 16 a small non-feed addition was made to a proportion of the cultures (+opti). A fraction of the cells were grown and the data shown are an extrapolation of the yield if 10 L of culture had been generated.

Benefits

Rapid: Grams of protein in < 30 days
Boosts: Expression levels up to 20-fold higher than conventional vectors without UCOE technology
Stable: Pools of cells stable > 130 generations
High yield: gram quantities of protein
Easy to use: Small DNA elements, capable of making two protein chains per plasmid, e.g., antibodies
Versatile: Antibodies, EPO, GPCRs, Enzymes, Cytokines, etc., expressed
Compatible: Enhances industry standard platforms, e.g., CHO cells, CMV promoters, etc.
Serum-free: Protein-free media used throughout
Scaleable: Up to 100 L in shake flasks and fermentors
Reproducible: Stably-transfected pools can be frozen, providing working stocks for further production without the need for re-transfection
Transferable: UCOE-containing vectors are also suitable for large-scale manufacture

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