ZFN Technology Advances Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Applications of ZFN technology in biopharmaceutical cell-line
engineering. May 02, 2013 Volume 37, Issue 5  Genome editing has
played a prominent role in the development of Chinese Hamster
Ovary (CHO) cells for biopharmaceutical processes. The DUKXB11
cell line was created in 1980 by introducing mutations in the
dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) locus. Although the engineered
cells were not intended for stable recombinant protein
production, the DHFR modification provided a potent metabolic
selection marker, and the cell line was quickly used to create
stably transfected pools.  As knowledge of the CHO genome has
increased, many more potential genomic targets have been
identified. Genome editing is now routinely used as a tool to
aid biopharmaceutical production. When the DUKXB11 cell line was
developed in 1980, the only available genomic modification
techniques were exposure to chemical mutagens or radiation.
Massive screening and selection methods were t