Controlling apoptosis to optimize yields of proteins from mammalian cells.

Apoptosis is the foremost method of cell death in bioreactors and can be caused by nutrient limitation, toxin accumulation, and growth factor withdrawal. By delaying the onset of this form of programmed cell death, one can achieve longer sustained viabilities in culture, thereby increasing product yield. Described here is a genetic-based, step-by-step method to generate an apoptosis-resistant cell line. This cell line, then, can be used as a platform for biotherapeutic protein production. The key steps include antiapoptotic transgene selection and transfection followed by clonal isolation and screening. With the proper screening methods, one can obtain a robust cell line that resists the harsh conditions of late-stage and/or high-density culture.