CRISPR Screen Identifies Genes to Counteract HDAC Inhibitor Toxicity in CHO Cells

A new study published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering (2024) describes a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screening approach to identify genes that, when disrupted, can mitigate cell growth inhibition caused by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. HDAC inhibitors are used in biopharmaceutical production to increase recombinant protein yield, but they often suppress cell growth. By systematically knocking out each gene in the CHO cell genome, researchers pinpointed specific knockouts that confer resistance to growth arrest, potentially enabling more efficient protein manufacturing. The study's findings offer a genetic roadmap for engineering CHO cell lines that maintain high productivity without sacrificing proliferation.