Medium optimization for high yield production of extracellular human interferon-γ from Pichia pastoris: A statistical optimization and neural network-based approach

Abstract

Medium development for high level expression of human interferon gamma (hIFN-γ) from Pichia pastoris (GS115) was performed with the aid of statistical and nonlinear modeling techniques. In the initial screening, gluconate and glycine were found to be key carbon and nitrogen sources, showing significant effect on production of hIFN-γ. Plackett-Burman screening revealed that medium components., gluconate, glycine, KH₂PO₄ and histidine, have a considerable impact on hIFN-γ production. Optimization was further proceeded with Box-Behnken design followed by artificial neural network linked genetic algorithm (ANN-GA). The maximum production of hIFN-γ was found to be 28.48mg/L using Box-Behnken optimization (R²=0.98), whereas the ANN-GA based optimization had displayed a better production rate of 30.99mg/L (R²=0.98), with optimal concentration of gluconate=50 g/L, glycine=10.185 g/L, KH₂PO₄=35.912 g/L and histidine 0.264 g/L. The validation was carried out in batch bioreactor and unstructured kinetic models were adapted. The Luedeking-Piret (L-P) model showed production of hIFN-γ was mixed growth associated with the maximum production rate of 40mg/L of hIFN-γ production.