Method for production of a multimeric protein by cell fusion

摘要

The present invention features methods of producing a multimeric protein in a hybrid, recombinant cell, as well as for identifying recombinant cells expressing heavy chain which cells are useful in production of such hybrid cells. In the method of the invention, at least first and second recombinant cells are engineered to contain a first and second expression cassette, respectively, which expression cassettes contain an amplifiable marker and encode first and second components of the multimeric protein. The recombinant cells are then fused to produce a hybrid cell expressing the multimeric protein. The hybrid cell is then cultured to provide for amplification of the DNA encoding the first and second multimeric protein components. The methods of the invention are widely applicable to the production of proteins having two or more components.