The main difference between CHO and CHO-K1 cells is that CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells are epithelial cell lines derived from the ovary of Chinese hamsters often used in research and the commercial production of therapeutic proteins, whereas CHO-K1 cells are a variant of CHO cells important in the production of therapeutic proteins.
CHO and CHO-K1 cells are epithelial cells of the Chinese hamster. They are important for the production of therapeutic proteins. Also, they are important in biological and medical research.
Key Areas Covered
1. What are CHO Cells
– Definition, Features, Importance
2. What are CHO-K1 Cells
– Definition, Features, Importance
3. Similarities Between CHO and CHO-K1 Cells
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between CHO and CHO-K1 Cells
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
CHO Cells, CHO-K1 Cells, Chinese Hamster Ovary
What are CHO Cells
CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells are an epithelial cell line important in the research and production of therapeutic proteins. Significantly, they serve as mammalian hosts for the production of therapeutic proteins. Monoclonal antibody production is a major aspect of CHO cells. Fed-batch cultures are the method of producing proteins using CHO cells. In these cultures, CHO cells are grown to a high cell density without a growth phase that can express recombinant proteins. In the production phase, the expression of the recombinant proteins is induced. Then, the culture is harvested, and the product can be purified.
Figure 1: Chinese Hamster
Furthermore, CHO cells can produce proteins with complex glycosylation and post-translational modifications similar to human proteins. They are easy to grow into large-scale cultures. They have greater viability. Therefore, they are ideal for the production of proteins. Also, they are tolerant to pH values, oxygen levels, temperatures, and cell densities. However, they are deficient in the production of proline. In addition to that, they do not express the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Moreover, CHO cells have variants, such as CHO-K1 and CHO-DXB11.
What are CHO-K1 Cells
CHO-K1 cells are a variant of CHO cells generated from the CHO cell lines. This cell line is widely used to genetically modify to produce therapeutic proteins in adherent or suspension cultures. Importantly, CHO-K1 cells have a similar karyotype to human cells. Also, they are diploid. They are easy to culture and grow fast. In addition to that, they have a few chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, they are ideal for the production of recombinant proteins. They are popular as host expression systems for the production of growth factors, monoclonal antibodies, hormones, interferons, and enzymes. Further, they are used in cancer research, especially to study ovarian cancers.
Figure 2: CHO Cells
Moreover, they lack the gene for the synthesis of proline, and therefore, they need proline in cultures. In addition to that, the genome size of CHO-K1 cells is 2.45 Gb. They contain 24,383 predicted genes. Notably, many glycosylation genes are present in the genome of CHO-K1 cells. It affects the quality of the therapeutic protein. It also affects the virus susceptibility of CHO-K1 cells. They are susceptible and resistant to Poliovirus, Modoc virus, and Buttonwillow virus.
Similarities Between CHO and CHO-K1 Cells
- CHO and CHO-K1 cells are two epithelial cells of the ovary of the Chinese hamster.
- They are important in biological and medical research.
- Also, they are important in the production of therapeutic proteins.
- Many glycosylation genes occur in these cells that affect the quality of the protein and virus susceptibility.
- They lack proline synthesis.
- They do not express the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
- They grow in suspension and adherent cultures.
Difference Between CHO and CHO-K1 Cells
Definition
CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells refer to a cell line derived from the ovary of the Chinese hamster. In contrast, CHO-K1 cells refer to a cell line isolated from the ovary of an adult female Chinese hamster that can be used in industrial biotechnology and toxicology research.
Invention
In 1957, Theodore T. Puck derived CHO cell lines, while CHO-K1 was generated from a single clone of CHO cells.
Importance
CHO cells are epithelial cells of the Chinese hamster ovary, while CHO-K1 cells are a variant of CHO cells.
Conclusion
In brief, CHO and CHO-K1 cells are two types of epithelial cells produced by the ovary of the Chinese hamster. CHO cells are the epithelial cells of the Chinese hamster. In comparison, CHO-K1 cells are a variant of CHO cells. Therefore, the main difference between CHO and CHO-K1 cells is their importance.
References:
- Donaldson JS, Dale MP, Rosser SJ. Decoupling Growth and Protein Production in CHO Cells: A Targeted Approach. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2021 Jun 2;9:658325. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.658325. PMID: 34150726; PMCID: PMC8207133.
- Cho-K1 cells: Str-verified & free of mycoplasma: CLS. CLS Cell Lines Service GmbH. (n.d.). https://cls.shop/CHO-K1/603480
Image Courtesy:
- “Brown Chinese Hamster” By Ultrasleeper2 – Own work (CC-BY SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Cho cells adherend2” By User:Alcibiades – Own Work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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