Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising targets for engineering of CHO cell factories to enhance recombinant protein productivity. Manipulation of miRNA levels in CHO cells have been shown to improve product yield by their effects on cellular processes such as increasing proliferation, resisting apoptosis and enhancing specific productivity (qP). We previously demonstrated increases in qP and titer of CHO-IgG cells by over-expressing miR-92a [1]. Stably-transfected pools showed 27% increase in qP and 21% increase in titer compared to parental clone, without significant alteration in proliferation rates. The highest producing clone isolated from the miR-92a pool demonstrated 114% increase in qP and 88% increase in titer. However, the mechanisms by which miR-92a enhances qP in CHO cells are still uninvestigated.