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Conversion of mammalian cell culture media waste to microbial fermentation feed efficiently supports production of recombinant protein by Escherichia coli
Author(s)
Date Issued
2022-05-04
Date Available
2025-06-24T12:47:28Z
Abstract
Deriving new value from waste streams through secondary processes is a central aim of the circular bioeconomy. In this study we investigate whether chemically defined spent media (CDSM) waste from cell culture bioprocess can be recycled and used as a feed in secondary microbial fermentation to produce new recombinant protein products. Our results show that CDSM supplemented with 2% glycerol supported a specific growth rate of E. coli cultures equivalent to that achieved using a nutritionally rich microbiological media (LB). The titre of recombinant protein produced following induction in a 4-hour expression screen was approximately equivalent in the CDSM fed cultures to that of baseline, and this was maintained in a 16-hr preparative fermentation. To understand the protein production achieved in CDSM fed culture we performed a quantitative analysis of proteome changes in the E. coli using mass spectrometry. This analysis revealed significant upregulation of protein synthesis machinery enzymes and significant downregulation of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes. We conclude that spent cell culture media, which represents 100s of millions of litres of waste generated by the bioprocessing industry annually, may be valorized as a feed resource for the production of recombinant proteins in secondary microbial fermentations. Data is available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD026884.
Sponsorship
Science Foundation Ireland
Other Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Centre for Doctoral Training, Atoms-2-Products
BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Centre
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Journal
PLOS One
Volume
17
Issue
5
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Copyright (Published Version)
2022 The Authors
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
File(s)
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Name
Lynch & O'Connell journal.pone.0266921.pdf
Size
1.18 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
ea92bed7d7584ba08f5d38c568edbf80
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