Patent ID: 6544774
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: C12N,C12R

Abstract:
A method for obtaining a mutant cell which produces a heterologous protein, comprising:(a) producing a first population of presumptive mutant cells from an Acremonium parent cell; (b) identifying from the first population a second population of presumptive mutant cells having a more restricted colonial phenotype or a more extensive hyphal branching than the parent cell; and (c) identifying from the second population the mutant cell, comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide, which has a radial extension rate which is at least 10% less than the parent cell, has a hyphal growth unit length that is at least 10% less than the parent cell, and has one or more improved properties selected from the group consisting of (i) produces at least about 10% more heterologous polypeptide than the parent cell, (ii) exhibits about 90% or less of the viscosity of the parent cell, and (iii) secretes more heterologous protein than the parent cell, when cultivated under the same conditions; and (d) obtaining the mutant cell.