A method of selecting cells having zero fucose level useful as host cells for expressing recombinant proteins is disclosed. The method comprises: (d) introducing genetic mutations into a population of CHO cells by contacting the cells with a methotrexate (MTX), (e) contacting the population of CHO cells comprising mutated cells with a non-toxic fucose binding agent for an amount of time that allows binding of the fucose binding agent to a fucose moiety on a cell membrane of the population of cells, wherein the amount of time does not allow killing of the cells and (f) depleting from the population of cells comprising mutated cells, a subpopulation of cells which bind the fucose binding agent, thereby selecting cells useful as host cells for expressing recombinant proteins, the selected cells having zero fucose content. There are also disclosed cells and cell lines useful as host cells for expressing recombinant proteins.
