METHODS FOR INCREASING THE PRODUCTION OF A RECOMBINANT POLYPEPTIDE FROM A HOST CELL

摘要

The present invention provides a host cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide in which the production of a naturally occurring metalloprotease comprising a sequence provided in SEQ ID NO:1 has been reduced or inhibited by genetic manipulation. The present invention also relates to methods for enhancing the production of a polypeptide from a cell by disrupting the synthesis or activity of the metalloprotease. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for enhancing the secretion of recombinant polypeptides from host cells such as, but not limited to, yeast and bacterial cells. The metalloprotease is a member of the pitrilysin subfamily of proteases, characterized by comprising the sequence HXXEH (SEQ ID NO:1), where X is any amino acid.