loading page

Enhancing recombinant protein and viral vector production in mammalian cells by targeting the YTHDF readers of N6--methyladenosine in mRNA
  • Nga Lao,
  • Niall Barron
Nga Lao
National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Niall Barron
National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training
Author Profile

Abstract

N6–methyl adenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal modification on eukaryotic mRNA and has been implicated in a wide range of fundamental cellular processes. This modification is regulated and interpreted by a set of writer, eraser, and reader proteins. To date, there have been no reports on the potential of mRNA epigenetic regulators to influence recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells. In this study we evaluated the potential of manipulating the expression of the m6A YTH domain-containing readers, YTHDF1, 2, and 3 to improve recombinant protein yield based on their role in regulating mRNA stability and promoting translation. Using siRNA-mediated gene depletion, cDNA over-expression and methylation-specific RNA immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that (i) knock-down of YTHDF2 enhances (~2-fold) the levels of recombinant protein derived from GFP and EPO transgenes in CHO cells; (ii) the effects of YTHDF2 depletion on transgene expression is m6A-mediated and (iii) YTHDF2 depletion or over-expression of YTHDF1 increases viral protein expression and yield of infectious lentiviral particles (~2-3 fold) in HEK293 cells. We conclude that various transgenes can be subjected to regulation by m6A regulators in mammalian cell lines and that these findings demonstrate the utility of epi-transcriptomic-based approaches to host cell line engineering for improved recombinant protein and viral vector production.
31 Aug 2022Submitted to Biotechnology Journal
05 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
05 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
14 Sep 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Oct 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
01 Dec 20221st Revision Received
02 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
02 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
02 Dec 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
19 Dec 20222nd Revision Received
21 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
21 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
22 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Accept