KINETIC DATA FOR THE BM-5 INSECT CELL-LINE IN REPEATED-BATCH SUSPENSION-CULTURES

The kinetics and growth characteristics of the BM-5 insect cell line of Bombyx mori (silkworm) have been experimentally investigated in order to develop optimal growth protocols when these cells are used to produce large quantities of human proteins by recombinant baculoviruses. Experiments were performed in 200-mL spinner flasks, which were operated at 80 rpm with 0.3% methyl cellulose (MCL) added to the medium to protect the cells from shear stress. Exposure of the cells to varying nutrient and metabolite concentrations was accomplished through a repeated-batch mode of feeding. The results indicate that glutamine is a limiting nutrient and that lactate has an inhibitory effect on cell growth. Ammonia depletion from the medium was accompanied by uric acid accumulation suggesting that ammonia is converted to this metabolic product by the "uricotelic" and "nucleicolytic" metabolic pathways. With the examined medium formulation, glucose, fructose, and sucrose remained at high concentrations throughout the cultivation period.