Metal binding compounds and their use in cell culture medium compositions

Abstract

The present invention is directed generally to metal binding compounds which may be added to cell culture media to replace factors required for cultivation of the cells (e.g. transferrin) which are of animal or human origin. More specifically, the invention is directed to metal binding compounds or complexes thereof comprising one or more transition element cations (such as ferrous or ferric ions), which are added to cell and tissue culture medium compositions. The metal binding compounds may be added to the media alone or may be first complexed with a transition metal ion. The invention is also directed to methods of use of such compositions, including, for example, methods for the cultivation of eukaryotic cells, particularly animal cells, in vitro. The invention also relates to compositions comprising such culture media and one or more cells, and to kits comprising one or more of the above-described compositions. The compositions of the present invention obviate the need for naturally derived metal-binding proteins, such as transferrin and ceruloplasmin, which may contain blood-borne pathogens.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A cell culture medium comprising at least one transition element complex, said complex comprising at least one transition element, or a salt, or ion thereof, complexed to at least one metal-binding compound, wherein said medium supports the cultivation of a cell in vitro. 
     
     
         57 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said transition element is selected from the group consisting of scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, technetium, rubidium, rhodium, palladium, silver, cadmium, lanthanum, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, mercury, and actinium, or salts or ions thereof. 
     
     
         58 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said transition element is iron, or a salt or ion of iron. 
     
     
         59 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said metal-binding compound is a polyol. 
     
     
         60 . The medium of  claim 59 , wherein said polyol is sorbitol or fructose. 
     
     
         61 . The medium of  claim 59 , wherein said polyol is sorbitol. 
     
     
         62 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said metal-binding compound is a hydroxypyridine derivative. 
     
     
         63 . The medium of  claim 58 , wherein said transition element ion is a ferrous ion or a ferric ion. 
     
     
         64 . The medium of  claim 58  wherein said salt of said transition element salt is FeCl 3 . 
     
     
         65 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said transition element complex is sorbitol-FeCl 3 . 
     
     
         66 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said transition element complex is 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide. 
     
     
         67 . The cell culture medium of  claim 56 , said medium further comprising one or more ingredients selected from the group of ingredients consisting of at least one amino acid, at least one vitamin, at least one inorganic salt, at least or organic salt, at one trace metal, at least one nucleotide, at least one buffering salt, at least one sugar at least one lipid and at least one hormone. 
     
     
         68 . The cell culture medium of  claim 56 , wherein said cell culture medium supports the growth or cultivation of at least one cell selected form a group consisting of eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells. 
     
     
         69 . The cell culture medium of  claim 68 , wherein said eukaryotic cells are selected from a group consisting of fish cells, plant cells, animal cells, insect cells and avian cells. 
     
     
         70 . The cell culture medium of  claim 69 , wherein said cells are selected from a group consisting of 293 cells, HEK293 cells, VERO cells, PER-C6 cells, CHO cells, COS cells, Sp2/0 cells, Sf9 cells Sf21 cells, and MG1 cells. 
     
     
         71 . The cell culture medium of  claim 56 , wherein the medium is serum free. 
     
     
         72 . The cell culture medium of  claim 56 , wherein said medium is a defined medium. 
     
     
         73 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said medium does not contain transferrin. 
     
     
         74 . The medium of  claim 56 , wherein said medium does not contain animal derived metal carriers. 
     
     
         75 . A cell culture medium obtained by combining a cell culture medium with at least one metal binding compound or at least one transition element complex, said complex comprising at least one transition element or a salt or ion thereof complexed to at least one metal-binding compound, wherein said medium supports the cultivation of a cell in vitro. 
     
     
         76 . A method of cultivating a cell comprising the steps of
 (a) contacting said cell with a cell culture medium comprising a metal binding compound or a transition metal complex comprising a metal binding compound; and   (b) cultivating said cell under conditions suitable to support cultivation of said cell.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein said cell is selected from the group consisting of a mammalian cell, a bird cell, an insect cell, or a fish cell. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said mammalian cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         79 . A kit for the cultivation of a cell in vitro, said kit comprising at least one component selected from a group consisting of one or more cell culture media or media ingredients, one or more metal binding compounds, one or more transition elements, one or more transition element complexes and one or more cells. 
     
     
         80 . A composition comprising the culture medium of claim  1  and at least one cell. 
     
     
         81 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein said cell is selected from the group consisting of a plant cell, a mammalian cell, a bird cell, an insect cell, or a fish cell. 
     
     
         82 . A method of making the media of  claim 56 , wherein said medium is a 1× medium formulation. 
     
     
         83 . Use of the medium of  claim 56  to produce a recombinant protein. 
     
     
         84 . Use of the medium of  claim 56  to produce a virus, viral particle or a viral protein. 
     
     
         85 . A method of producing a recombinant virus or viral particle in vitro, comprising: culturing a recombinant insect cell in a medium comprising a metal binding compound or a transition metal complex comprising a metal binding compound, wherein the medium supports the growth of said insect cell under conditions suitable for expression of said virus or viral particle. 
     
     
         86 . A method of producing a recombinant protein in vitro, comprising: culturing a recombinant cell in a medium comprising a metal binding compound or a transition metal complex comprising a metal binding compound, wherein the medium supports the growth of said cell under conditions suitable for expression of said recombinant protein.