Heritable non-genetic phenotypes are enriched for stress responses as a form of bet hedging

Researchers from the University of Delaware, Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering have made strides in enhancing the resilience of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells used in biopharmaceutical production. By employing the INFORS HT Multitron incubator shaker, they exposed CHO cells to stress conditions commonly encountered during manufacturing, such as elevated levels of ammonia, lactate, and osmolality. Through comprehensive transcriptomic analysis, the team identified 199 genes exhibiting bistable expression, with seven emerging as prime candidates for engineering stress-resistant cell lines. This research holds promise for optimizing cell health and boosting productivity in large-scale bioreactor operations.