Abstract
In this report, we compare two different expression systems: baculovirus/Sf9 and stable recombinantDrosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cell lines. The construction of a recombinant S2 cell line is simple and quick, and in batch fermentations the cells have a doubling time of 20 hours until reaching a plateau density of 20 million cells/ml. Protein expression is driven by theDrosophila Metallothionein promoter which is tightly regulated. When expressed in S2 cells, the extracellular domain of human VCAM, an adhesion molecule, is indistinguishable from the same protein produced by baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. Additionally, we present data on the expression of a seven trans-membrane protein, the dopamine D4 receptor, which has been successfully expressed in both systems. The receptor integrates correctly in the S2 membrane, binds [3H]spiperone with high affinity and exhibits pharmacological characteristics identical to that of the receptor expressed in Sf9 and mammalian cells. The general implications for large scale production of recombinant proteins are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cavegn C, Young J, Bertrand M and Bernard AR (1994)Drosophila cell lines as hosts for recombinant protein expression. in: Berthold W (ed.) Animal Cell Technology, products for today, prospects for tomorrow. In press. Butterworth-Heineman, Oxford.
Culp JS, Johansen H, Hellmig B, Beck J, Matthews TJ, Delers A and Rosenberg M (1991) Regulated expression allows high level production and secretion of HIV-1 gp 120 envelope glycoprotein inDrosophila Schneider cells. Bio/Technology 9: 173–177.
Johansen H, Van der Straten A, Sweet RI, Otto E, Maroni G and Rosenberg M (1989) Regulated expression at high copy number allows production of a growth inhibitory oncogene product inDrosophila Schneider cells. Genes and Development 3: 882–889.
Maroni G, Otto E and Latowski-Perry D (1986) Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of a metallothionein gene ofDrosophila. Genetics 112: 493–504.
Mills A, Allet B, Bernard A, Chabert C, Brandt E, Cavegn C, Chollet A and Kawashima E (1993) Expression and characterization of human D4 dopamine receptors in baculovirus infected insect cells. FEBS Lett. 320: 130–134.
Mount SM and Rubin GM (1985) Complete nucleotide sequence of theDrosophila transposable element copia: homology between copia and retroviral proteins. Mol. Cell. Biol. 5: 1630–1638.
Olsen MK, Rockenbach SK, Fischer HD, Hoogerheide, G and Tomich CSC (1992) Stable production of an analog of human tissue plasminogen activator from culturedDrosophila cells. Cytotechnology 10: 157–167.
Otto E, Allen JM, Young JE, Palmiter RD and Maroni G (1987) A DNA segment controlling metal-regulated expression ofDrosophila melanogaster Metallothionein gene,Mtn. Mol. Cell. Biol. 7: 1710–1715.
Pavalakis G and Mamer DH (1983) Regulation of a metallthioneingrowth hormone hybrid gene in bovine papilloma virus. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 80: 397–401.
Sang JH (1981)Drosophila cells and cell lines. Adv. Cell Culture 1: 125–177.
Schneider I (1972) Cell lines derived from late embryonic stages ofDrosophila melanogaster. J. Embryol. Exp. Morph. 27 (2): 353–365.
Summers MD and Smith GE (1988) Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 1555, Texas A&M University College Station TX USA.
Van Tol HH, Bunzow JR, Guan HC, Sunahara RK, Seeman P, Niznik HB and Civelli O (1991) Cloning of the gene for a human dopamine D4 receptor with high affinity for the antipsychotic clozapine. Nature 350: 610–614.
Van Tol HH, Wu, CM, Guan HC, Ohara K, Bunzow JR, Civelli O, Kennedy J, Seeman P, Niznik HB and Jovanovic V (1992) Multiple dopamine D4 receptor variants in the human population. Nature 358: 149–152.
Walsh GM, Mermod JJ, Hartnell A, Kay AB and Wardlaw AJ (1991) Human eosinophil, but not neutrophil, adherence to IL-lstimulated human umbilical vascular endothelial cells is alpha 4 beta 1 (very late antigen 4) dependent. J. Immunol. 146: 3419–3423.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bernard, A.R., Kost, T.A., Overton, L. et al. Recombinant protein expression in aDrosophila cell line: comparison with the baculovirus system. Cytotechnology 15, 139–144 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00762388
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00762388