Protein production

Obtain robust data to make the right decision

A Nature Methods paper on protein production and purification starts out with: “In selecting a method to produce a recombinant protein, a researcher is faced with a bewildering array of choices as to where to start”1. This is true in a field where anything from simple peptides to large protein complexes are produced in cell systems from species that are as diverse as bacterial, yeast, insect and mammalian cell lines.

Whether you are making recombinant antibodies for diagnostic or therapeutic uses, epitopes or antigens for vaccine development, or biosimilars for therapeutic uses, the production process is the same: Expressing the gene of interest > Translating that into the protein of interest > Getting optimal post-translational modifications > Harvesting the final product. During the entire process, it is essential to know the quantity and quality of your in-process material, and of course to carry out final QC product testing.

Scientist standing beside a bioreactor for the production of pharmaceuticals.

What’s the challenge?

Counting cells precisely, and knowing when to move to the next step of the production pipeline can be challenging. Cell counting is not an exact measurement with standards, and there is bound to be variance in data acquisition from any method used. Therefore, reducing that variation is crucial.

Whether you are working to optimize plasmid/vector transfection, to get the right post-translational modifications (including glycosylation), or want to drive timely protein secretion, our NucleoCounter® technology eliminates pipetting errors and human bias in cell counting. Pairing the automated cell counter with the cassette forms this unique system. Use the DebrisIndex™ tool to monitor production runs and as an additional process parameter for making key decisions.

The NucleoCounter® counts all cells, from baculovirus-insect cell systems to hybridomas and CHO cells—all without requiring optimization of instrument settings or calibration. The instrument is easy to operate and will provide the same result regardless of differentiation in the end-user and site. With the NucleoCounter®, you can carry out easy protocol transfers across departments and acquire directly comparable data across sites.

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References

  1. S Gräslund, P Nordlund, J Weigelt et al.: Protein production and purification. Nat Methods. 2008; 5(2): 135–146.