title: Efficient expression of recombinant human monoclonal antibodies in Drosophila S2 cells.
abstract: We have explored the Drosophila S2 cell line for expression of Ig molecules isolated as Fab or scFv cDNA from phage-displayed libraries. We present a series of vectors for inducible expression and secretion of human Ig heavy (HC) and light chains (LC), both on separate plasmids and in combination constructs. Both HC (tested as human gamma(1)) and LC (human kappa) could be expressed separately and were secreted into the medium, confirming previous reports. When the combination vector carrying both the HC and LC cDNA, as well as when the HC and LC vectors were co-transfected, complete IgG1 was found in the medium. Transient transfection resulted in production levels of 0.5-1 mg/l. Stable cell lines could be established within 2-3 weeks. After 10-12 days of expression from such cell lines, Ig molecules accumulated and the medium contained typically 5-35 mg/l of IgG1. The IgG in these preparations was purified to more than 90% purity on protein G columns. Binding characteristics for IgG of the same clone expressed in S2 cells or mammalian cells were indistinguishable. The main advantages with this system compared to mammalian expression were its robustness and the much faster establishment of stable, high level producing cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine at Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drakenberg
authors.forename: Kathrin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hopmann
authors.forename: Alexej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Fayezeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yari
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinkula
authors.forename: Mats A A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014162:Transfection; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus