Process for the preparation of recombinant proteins in E. coli by high cell density fermentation

US6410270B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Merck Patentgesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Strittmatter · Ober-Ramstadt, DE
• Siegfried Matzku · Wiesenbach, DE
• Dieter Riesenberg · Jena, DE
• Uwe Horn · Aachen, DE
• Uwe Knüpeer · Jena, DE
• Marian Kujau · Jena, DE
• Rolf Wenderoth · Jena, DE
• Andreas Plückthun · Zürich, CH
• Anke Krebber · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 1998
• Grant date: Jun 25, 2002
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12P21/02
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a fed-batch fermentation process which uses special E. coli host/vector systems for the purpose of efficiently forming recombinant proteins, in particular recombinant antibody molecules, preferably antibody fragments such as miniantibodies. Under the given conditions, the E. coli cells are able to grow at a maximum specific growth rate up to very high cell densities. After the recombinant product formation has been switched on, it is only the formed product which restricts growth; there is no growth restriction due to substrates or metabolic by-products. High space-time yields of recombinant proteins can be achieved in this manner.