Single‐use bioreactors : an overview

This chapter aims to give an overview of instrumented single‐use bioreactor (SUB) types that are currently available commercially. Based on the milestones in the development of SUBs, it focuses on the three most often applied types: wave‐mixed, stirred, and orbitally shaken versions. Their typical working principles are explained, possible fields of application are deduced, and trends in their selection are summarized. The development of SUBs can be described in three phases: the early beginnings; the establishment of disposable membrane bioreactors, multitray cell culture systems, and the first bag bioreactors; and the expansion of wave‐mixed, stirred, orbitally shaken, and further SUBs. The most suitable bioreactor for a desired application depends on several factors. The selection of the bioreactor is significantly influenced by the cultivation task, the engineering parameters of the bioreactor, the scale, the production organism, the legal requirements, the infrastructure, the know‐how of staff, and the costs for investment and operation

Ribosome biogenesis in cancer: new players and therapeutic avenues

The ribosome is a complex molecular machine composed of numerous distinct proteins and nucleic acids and is responsible for protein synthesis in every living cell. Ribosome biogenesis is one of the most multifaceted and energy- demanding processes in biology, involving a large number of assembly and maturation factors, the functions of which are orchestrated by multiple cellular inputs, including mitogenic signals and nutrient availability. Although causal associations between inherited mutations affecting ribosome biogenesis and elevated cancer risk have been established over the past decade, mechanistic data have emerged suggesting a broader role for dysregulated ribosome biogenesis in the development and progression of most spontaneous cancers. In this Opinion article, we highlight the most recent findings that provide new insights into the molecular basis of ribosome biogenesis in cancer and offer our perspective on how these observations present opportunities for the design of new targeted cancer treatments