Contract research
Areas addressed
Our services address the needs of biopharmaceutical firms, diagnostic companies and academic research laboratories. We offer solutions for the production of proteins for multiple purposes:
- target proteins for target validation, HTS, lead optimization
- proteins for functional or structural studies (crystallography, NMR)
- antigens for antibody production
- reagent proteins for development of diagnostics
- therapeutic proteins and antibodies for preclinical proof of concept studies
Range of services
For every incoming project, we devote a great deal of time to defining a custom programme that meets every client specification and displays clear milestones and deliverables.
Services commonly included in the programmes are outlined below; however our contract services are customised according to your needs.
Feasibility study
To determine the best expression system and define the optimal conditions to produce your proteins
Custom expression vector construction
Features
- For a variety of expression systems: E. coli, L. lactis, P. pastoris, S. cerevisiae, mammalian cells, insect cells
- Design of customised vector, concentrating on: choice of promoter and terminator, transcriptional fusion, optimisation of translation initiation, improvement of plasmid stability, IP constraints...
Description
- Construct design
- Gene cloning
- Gene synthesis - gene optimization
- Vector construction
Expression trials
Features
- Single or multi system feasibility study: E. coli, L. lactis, P. pastoris, S. cerevisiae, insect cells, mammalian cells (transient transfection, retroviral transduction)
- Broad range of critical conditions tested in order to optimize your protein expression
- Initial estimation of yield
Description
- Construction of appropriate expression vector
- Expression trials: A variety of parameters will be evaluated, such as strain or cell line, medium, temperature, time course,...
- Yield determination: A small scale expression and affinity purification (in case of tagged protein) will be performed and the yield will be evaluated by SDS-PAGE analysis
- Delivery of detailed written report and sample of protein for your validation
Mammalian cell line development
To generate a high producing cell line expressing your eukaryotic proteins or monoclonal antibodies
Mammalian cell line development
Features
- Flexibility in parental cells (CHO, HEK293, COS...)
- Classical transfection or retroviral transduction
- Gene amplification with DHRF system
Description
- Expression vector construction
- DNA transfection or viral transduction into the selected cell line
- Gene amplification
- Clone screening
- Stability studies
- Cell banking
Production process development
To optimize your production process in order to increase yield
Microbial cell culture development
Features
- Optimisation of fermentation conditions by identifying critical process parameters
- Defining a robust, scalable and reproducible process
Description
- Development of batch, fed-batch, chemostat or perfusion strategies:
- Medium optimisation
- Temperature optimisation
- Feeding optimisation
Animal cell culture development
Features
- Optimisation of culture conditions by identifying critical process parameters
- Adherent or suspension cell culture
- Defining a robust, scalable and reproducible process
Description
- Adaptation of cell lines to serum-free media and suspension culture
- Medium screening
- Development of batch, fed-batch, chemostat or perfusion strategies
Purification process development
To develop a purification scheme with optimised performances in terms of yield and meeting your quality requirements
Purification process development
Features
- Development of a custom protocol that meets your quality requirements
- Multiple purification strategies available : chromatography, filtration, solubilisation from inclusion bodies and refolding
- Defining of a robust, scalable and reproducible process
Description
- Optimisation of capture, purification and polishing steps
- Defining solubilisation and refolding conditions if protein expressed in inclusion bodies in E. coli
- Delivery of a written report including detailed protocols
Batch production
To produce the amount of material needed for your research applications
Batch production
Features
- Production according to protocol developed by GTP or that specified by you
- From milligrams up to grams (100 g) of protein
Description
- Expression in flasks or bioreactors: up to 300L for bacteria and yeasts and 50L for insect and mammalian cells
- Purification
- QC
- Delivery of protein batch with certificate of analysis