bcl-2 expression in Spodoptera Frugiperda Sf-9 and Trichoplusia Ni BTI-Tn-5B1-4 insect cells: effect on recombinant protein expression and cell viability.

The effect of bcl-2 expression on cell viability and recombinant protein synthesis was investigated in the Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (High Fivetrade mark) insect cell lines. It was found that coinfection with a baculovirus expressing bcl-2 [Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV)-bcl2] extended the life span of High Fivetrade mark cells but not Sf-9 cells when compared to infection with recombinant baculoviruses expressing either human tissue plasminogen activator (AcNPV-tPA) or Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (AcNPV-betagal). Similar results were obtained in coinfection experiments; i.e., AcNPV-bcl2 coinfection increased the life span of High Fivetrade mark cells over that of cells infected with either AcNPV-tPA or AcNPV-betagal alone, but they did not affect the life span of coinfected Sf-9 cells. Coinfection of Sf-9 cells with AcNPV-bcl2 and AcNPV-betagal resulted in a decrease in the maximum beta-gal expression levels of over 90% when compared to infection with AcNPV-betagal alone. A similar trend was found in the beta-gal mRNA levels. Coinfection also resulted in a reduced beta-gal expression level in High Fivetrade mark cells, but the reduction was consistent with what would be expected when two recombinant viruses compete for use of the cellular machinery. In contrast to the inhibitory effect of AcNPV-bcl2 coinfection on betagal expression, t-PA expression levels were either not affected (Sf-9 cells) or were increased 50% (High Fivetrade mark cells) over those obtained by infection with AcNPV-tPA alone. These results support the hypotheses that bcl-2 can inhibit transcription of genes under polyhedrin promoter control and that beta-gal expression levels, but not t-PA expression levels, are controlled at the transcriptional level. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 56: 380-390, 1997.