A constraint-based modeling approach to reach an improved chemically defined minimal medium for recombinant antiEpEX-scFv production by Escherichia coli

Increasing demand for recombinant therapeutic proteins highlights the necessity of their yield improvement. Culture medium formulation is a popular approach for bioprocess optimization to improve therapeutic protein production. Constraint-based modeling can empower high-precision optimization through information on how media compounds affect metabolism and cell growth. In the current study, a genome-scale metabolic model (GEMM) of Escherichia coli cells was employed to design strategies of minimal medium supplementation for higher antiEpEX-scFv production. Dynamic flux balance analysis of the recombinant E. coli cell model predicted that ammonium was depleted during the process. Based on the simulations, three amino acids (Asn, Gln and Arg) were chosen to be added to the medium to compensate for ammonium depletion. Experimental validation suggested that the addition of these amino acids (one-by-one, or in combinations) can indeed improve cell growth and recombinant protein production. Then, design of experiment was used to optimize the concentrations of amino acids in the growth medium. About two-fold increase in the growth rate and total scFv expression level was observed using this strategy. We conclude that the GEMM-based approach can provide insights into an effective feeding strategy to improve the production of recombinant protein in E. coli.