Culture pH affects expression rates and glycosylation of recombinant mouse placental lactogen proteins by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

Glycosylation patterns and specific expression rates of the recombinant protein mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I) by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells varied significantly over the extracellular pH (pHe) range of 6.1 to 8.7. The maximum specific mPL-I expression rates occurred between pHe 7.6 and 8.0. The pHe effect on protein expression was confirmed using a different CHO cell expressing the unglycosylated recombinant protein mouse placental lactogen-II (mPL-II). Decreases in the extent of glycosylation of mPL-I were observed at low (below 6.9) and high (above 8.2) pHe values. The pHe dependent variations in mPL-I accumulation in the supernatant as well as in glycosylation patterns were not the result of enzymatic degradation in the culture medium.