Growth characteristics of a Bombyx mori insect cell line in stationary and suspension cultures

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Abstract
The growth characteristics of the BM‐5 insect cell line of Bombyx mori (silkworm) have been experimentally investigated in order to develop optimal growth protocols when these cells are used to produce large quantities of biopesticides or human proteins by recombinant baculoviruses. Experiments were performed in 2 mL wells and 200 mL spinner flasks. Spinner flasks were operated at 80 rpm with 0.3% methyl cellulose (MCL) added to the medium in order to protect the cells from liquid shear stress. In addition to the effect of agitation rate and amount of MCL added to the medium, the cell response during the adaptation to growth in suspension from stationary cultures is reported. Exposure of the cells to varying nutrient and metabolite concentrations is accomplished through batch and repeated‐batch modes in 2 mL wells. The results imply that glutamine is a limiting nutrient and lactate has an inhibitory effect on cell growth. Ammonia depletion from the medium was accompanied by uric acid accumulation, suggesting that ammonia is converted to this metabolic product by the “uricotelic” and “nucleicolytic” metabolic pathways.