Alternative methods of globotrioside production using Vero cells: a microcarrier system procedure

Glycolipids are one component of cell membranes, and are found most prevalently at the surface of the plasma membrane. Animal cells take in amphipathic glycosides, which are later glycosylated after assimilation in biosynthetic pathways. Gycosylated glycosides are released outside of cells to the surrounding culture medium. This represents an accessible method of obtaining complex glycosides.

Vero cells are sensitive to Shiga toxins and are known to express the glycosides globotriaosyl ceramide (Gb3) and globotetraosyl ceramide (Gb4) on the surface of the plasma membrane. By administering amphipathic lactosides to Vero cells, the above mentioned glycolipids could be produced by the action of cellular enzymes. In our study, the optimum conditions (seeded cell number, incubated time period, 12-azidododecyl lactoside concentration and medium volume) for the production of Gb3 analogue were investigated. The 87.9 microg/100 mm dish (11.7 % yield) Gb3 analogue was produced under appropriate conditions. The large-scale culture of Vero cells using a microcarrier culture method with repetitions produced about 30 mg of the Gb3 analogue.

The mass production of glycosides in Vero cells was carried out on a microcarrier with repeated administration of 12-azidododecyl lactoside. The results indicated that the use of both a microcarrier culture and repetition were highly effective in the production of Gb3, Gb4 and sialyl lactoside (GM3) type-oligosaccharides.