Proteomic analysis of ammonia-induced stress in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell cultures

Ammonia (NH₃) and its ionic form ammonium (NH₄⁺) are both metabolic waste products and essential nitrogen sources within Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell cultures. Although necessary for amino acid synthesis, excessive accumulation in the extracellular environment can exert stress, reducing cell proliferation and impairing the efficiency of recombinant protein production. Proper endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function is critical for CHO cells as biotherapeutic producers. Previous work has linked elevated ammonia concentrations to reduced productivity via altered N-glycosylation pathways, but its broader effects on ER biology remain unclear. In this study, we applied high-resolution mass spectrometry to perform a comprehensive analysis of changes in the ER proteome in CHO cells exposed to two ammonia concentrations, 10 mM and 30 mM, 48 and 120 h after supplementation. Both conditions suppressed cell growth and reduced product titre; however, the 10 mM supplementation resulted in a minor increase in specific cell productivity. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that ammonia strongly affected the tricarboxylic acid cycle, as well as key metabolic, catabolic and biogenetic processes. Several ER membrane proteins, including HMGCR and PREB, were consistently downregulated. In extended cultures, transmembrane proteins linked to Golgi-transport were upregulated, while vesicle transport associated proteins were downregulated, indicating altered intracellular trafficking. Significance: This study provides a novel perspective on CHO cell biology under environmental stress by investigating the impact of ammonia accumulation in culture. Despite its presence in CHO culture, ammonia has been relatively under-investigated, compared to other culture conditions. Using high-throughput mass spectrometry for comprehensive proteomic profiling, we characterise the cellular response to ammonia build-up with a level of depth not previously applied to the study of this biological stressor. By specifically analysing proteins localised to the ER, we identify candidate pathways and molecular mechanisms that contribute to reduced CHO cell growth and productivity, offering insights directly relevant to industrial bioprocessing conditions. The link between ammonia concentration and a decrease in productivity has previously been linked to genes involved in N-glycosylation of the recombinant biotherapeutic, but the full extent of ammonia stress on ER function has not yet been investigated. These methods were applied to two IgG producing CHO cell lines to allow for comparison of cell line specific stress adaptations, as well as comparing the short- and long-term effects of excess ammonia.