Engineering mammalian cell growth dynamics for biomanufacturing

Precise control over mammalian cell growth dynamics poses a major challenge in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Here, we present a multi-level cell engineering strategy for the tunable regulation of growth phases in mammalian cells. Initially, we engineered mammalian death phase by employing CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak, resulting in a substantial attenuation of apoptosis by improving cell viability and extending culture lifespan. The second phase introduced a growth acceleration system, akin to a “gas pedal”, based on an abscidic acid inducible system regulating cMYC gene expression, enabling rapid cell density increase and cell cycle control. The third phase focused on a stationary phase inducing system, comparable to a “brake pedal”. A tetracycline inducible genetic circuit based on BLIMP1 gene led to cell growth cessation and arrested cell cycle upon activation. Finally, we developed a dual controllable system, combining the “gas and brake pedals”, enabling for dynamic and precise orchestration of mammalian cell growth dynamics. This work exemplifies the application of synthetic biology tools and combinatorial cell engineering, offering a sophisticated framework for manipulating mammalian cell growth and providing a unique paradigm for reprogramming cell behaviour for enhancing biopharmaceutical manufacturing and further biomedical applications.