Presentation Information
[P01-151]Highly Proliferative Silkworm Cell Line: Development of a New Line with an Earlier Peak of Recombinant Protein Expression
○Nura Abubakar1, Hino Masato1, Lee Man Jae1, Masuda Akitsu1, Fujimoto Toshiaki1, Mon Hiroaki1, Fuji Tsuguru1, Takahashi Masateru2, Takahiro Kusakabe1 (1. Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Science, Fukuoka Japan. (Japan), 2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KAUST, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia))
Keywords:
Bombyx mori,cell lines,proliferation,protein expression,baculovirus,Bombyx mori latent virus
[Purpose]
Recombinant proteins such as vaccines, antibodies, and enzymes play essential roles in research, veterinary, and medical applications. The insect cell–baculovirus expression system is widely used for recombinant protein production due to its ability to support high-level expression and proper post-translational modifications. Silkworm (Bombyx mori)–derived cell lines are also valuable hosts because of their susceptibility to baculovirus infection. However, many available silkworm cell lines exhibit relatively slow proliferation and are frequently affected by the persistent presence of B. mori latent virus (BmLV), which can influence cellular physiology and experimental outcomes. To address these limitations, we established a new cultured cell line, BmMAX7050np, derived from B. mori embryos, and evaluated its potential as a host for baculovirus-mediated recombinant protein production.
[Method]
The BmMAX7050np cell line was established from B. mori embryos under optimized culture conditions. Growth kinetics, genetic characteristics, and susceptibility to viral infection were examined to characterize the cell line. Recombinant protein productivity was evaluated using baculovirus expression vectors generated through Gateway cloning. Several intracellular and secreted proteins were expressed under the control of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter to assess expression performance and production efficiency.
[Results]
BmMAX7050np exhibited approximately twice the proliferation rate of the commonly used BmN cell line and maintained a growth rate comparable to that of Sf9 cells. No detectable BmLV was observed in the established cell population, although the cells remained susceptible to BmLV infection under experimental conditions. The cell line was capable of both adherent and suspension growth, indicating suitability for scalable culture systems. In recombinant expression experiments, BmMAX7050np and Sf9 cells produced comparable levels of target proteins; however, BmMAX7050np consistently reached peak expression earlier, allowing faster recovery of recombinant proteins.
[Consideration]
The combination of rapid proliferation, absence of detectable endogenous BmLV, and flexibility in culture format suggests that BmMAX7050np overcomes several limitations associated with conventional Bombyx mori cell lines. The earlier peak expression observed in this cell line may reduce production time and improve workflow efficiency in baculovirus-based expression systems. These characteristics indicate that BmMAX7050np provides a robust host environment for recombinant protein production while retaining compatibility with established baculovirus expression strategies.
[Conclusion]
Collectively, these results demonstrate that BmMAX7050np is a promising silkworm-derived cell line for efficient recombinant protein production and may serve as a valuable platform for both laboratory-scale studies and industrial applications.
Recombinant proteins such as vaccines, antibodies, and enzymes play essential roles in research, veterinary, and medical applications. The insect cell–baculovirus expression system is widely used for recombinant protein production due to its ability to support high-level expression and proper post-translational modifications. Silkworm (Bombyx mori)–derived cell lines are also valuable hosts because of their susceptibility to baculovirus infection. However, many available silkworm cell lines exhibit relatively slow proliferation and are frequently affected by the persistent presence of B. mori latent virus (BmLV), which can influence cellular physiology and experimental outcomes. To address these limitations, we established a new cultured cell line, BmMAX7050np, derived from B. mori embryos, and evaluated its potential as a host for baculovirus-mediated recombinant protein production.
[Method]
The BmMAX7050np cell line was established from B. mori embryos under optimized culture conditions. Growth kinetics, genetic characteristics, and susceptibility to viral infection were examined to characterize the cell line. Recombinant protein productivity was evaluated using baculovirus expression vectors generated through Gateway cloning. Several intracellular and secreted proteins were expressed under the control of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter to assess expression performance and production efficiency.
[Results]
BmMAX7050np exhibited approximately twice the proliferation rate of the commonly used BmN cell line and maintained a growth rate comparable to that of Sf9 cells. No detectable BmLV was observed in the established cell population, although the cells remained susceptible to BmLV infection under experimental conditions. The cell line was capable of both adherent and suspension growth, indicating suitability for scalable culture systems. In recombinant expression experiments, BmMAX7050np and Sf9 cells produced comparable levels of target proteins; however, BmMAX7050np consistently reached peak expression earlier, allowing faster recovery of recombinant proteins.
[Consideration]
The combination of rapid proliferation, absence of detectable endogenous BmLV, and flexibility in culture format suggests that BmMAX7050np overcomes several limitations associated with conventional Bombyx mori cell lines. The earlier peak expression observed in this cell line may reduce production time and improve workflow efficiency in baculovirus-based expression systems. These characteristics indicate that BmMAX7050np provides a robust host environment for recombinant protein production while retaining compatibility with established baculovirus expression strategies.
[Conclusion]
Collectively, these results demonstrate that BmMAX7050np is a promising silkworm-derived cell line for efficient recombinant protein production and may serve as a valuable platform for both laboratory-scale studies and industrial applications.
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