Biofuel enzyme developer Verenium achieves technical milestone, receives $500,000 from Syngenta
Verenium Corporation, a developer of next-generation cellulosic ethanol and high-performance specialty enzymes, announced today that it has achieved an important technical milestone associated with a research program with European biotech firm Syngenta AG. As a result of the feat, Verenium will receive a $500,000 payment from Syngenta.
The milestone deals with the development of 'third-generation' biofuel systems, based on crops that grow their own bioconversion enzymes - in this case, they turn corn starch into sugars. This eliminates the need for biorefineries to add separate liquid enzymes to process starch into ethanol, reducing costs (previous post).
The technology is based on the knowledge that proteins are large, complex molecules made up of a unique sequence of smaller subunits called amino acids. There are 20 different naturally occurring amino acids, each having unique chemical properties, which cause the protein to fold up into distinct three-dimensional structures that define their particular function. A change in just a single amino can greatly affect the function of a protein such as an enzyme or an antibody. It is a cell's genes that contain a specific DNA sequence that dictates the order and type of amino acids that make up each protein made by the cell.
Verenium possesses patented, state-of-the-art gene evolution technologies, which it calls its 'DirectEvolution' platform, that enable the optimization of proteins at the DNA level. Two complementary methods comprise Verenium's DirectEvolution platform: Gene Site Saturation Mutagenesis (GSSM) and Tunable GeneReassembly (TGR) technologies. The suite of DirectEvolution technologies provides potentially significant competitive advantages, including the ability to generate the broadest amount of genetic sequence diversity, the ability to make fine changes across an entire gene, and the freedom to use unrelated genes when recombining starting genes. Additionally, both GSSM and TGR technologies are able to modify codons to achieve increased protein expression for manufacturing without changing the fundamental amino acid sequence (schematic, click to enlarge).
GSSM technology creates a family of related proteins that all differ from a parent protein by at least a single amino acid change at any defined position or at each position along the protein sequence. GSSM technology can produce all possible single amino acid substitutions at every position within a protein sequence, removing the need for prior knowledge about the protein structure and allowing all possibilities to be tested in an unbiased manner. The library of variants created using GSSM technology is then available to be expressed and screened for improved properties. The GSSM library can be screened for novel enzymes with characteristics such as increased ability to function at high temperature or a targeted pH range, increased reaction rate or resistance to deactivating chemicals:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: ethanol :: starch :: enzyme :: bioconversion :: biosynthesis ::
Beneficial mutations identified from a GSSM screen can then be combined in a combinatorial fashion using the 'GeneReassembly' process to create a superior version of the parental protein. GeneReassembly technology allows blending of gene sequences independent of sequence homology. Multiple variations can be introduced at precise positions within the genes. The complexity of the variant library can be fine-tuned by the number of parental genes used and the average number of variations used in the reaction. Moreover, the number of variations can be modulated to reflect the resilience of the targeted gene family to mutations. In addition, any structural information available can be incorporated into the sequence design, and codon usage can be optimized during the reassembly process to maximize expression in the selected production host. Verenium’s GeneReassembly method represents the next generation of gene-blending evolution methods.
Verenium applied these DirectEvolution technologies to develop the key enzyme embedded into Syngenta's genetically modified strain of corn that grows the bioconversion enzyme. This corn strain expresses high levels of alpha amylase — a thermal-tolerant digestive enzyme developed by Verenium that turns the corn’s starch into sugar for ethanol. The engineered plants are designed to reduce costs by eliminating the need for mills to add liquid enzymes. The Corn Amylase (Amylase-T) seeds do not increase the yield, rather they make corn easier to process which translates into substantial savings for mill operators. Syngenta has announced that pilot trials have been successfully conducted and that it anticipates launch of this product in 2008.
The company earlier succeeded in utilizing its DirectEvolution suite to reassemble genes from microorganisms found in the deep sea to produce a high-performance enzyme for economical ethanol production - its first commercially available biofuel enzyme, Fuelzyme-LF.
Verenium Corporation is a leader in the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, an environmentally-friendly and renewable transportation fuel, as well as high-performance specialty enzymes for applications within the biofuels, industrial, and health and nutrition markets. The Company possesses integrated, end-to-end capabilities in pre-treatment, novel enzyme development, fermentation, engineering, and project development and is moving rapidly to commercialize its proprietary technology for the production of ethanol from a wide array of feedstocks, including sugarcane bagasse, dedicated energy crops, agricultural waste, and wood products. In addition to the vast potential for biofuels, a multitude of large-scale industrial opportunities exist for the Company for products derived from the production of low-cost, biomass-derived sugars.
Verenium's Specialty Enzyme business harnesses the power of enzymes to create a broad range of specialty products to meet high-value commercial needs. Verenium's world class R&D organization is renowned for its capabilities in the rapid screening, identification, and expression of enzymes—proteins that act as the catalysts of biochemical reactions.
Verenium operates one of the nation's first cellulosic ethanol pilot plants, an R&D facility, in Jennings, Louisiana and expects to achieve mechanical completion of a 1.4 million gallon-per-year, demonstration-scale facility to produce cellulosic ethanol by the end of the first quarter of 2008. In addition, the Company's process technology has been licensed by Tokyo-based Marubeni Corp. and Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd. and has been incorporated into BioEthanol Japan's 1.4 million liter-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant in Osaka, Japan – the world's first commercial-scale plant to produce cellulosic ethanol from wood construction waste.
Schematic: suite of protein and enzyme discovery tools: mutating amino acids, screening improved proteins and combining detected changes to find the most promising protein. Credit: Verenium.
References:
Verenium Corporation: Verenium achieves financial milestone in research collaboration with Syngenta - January 8, 2007.
Verenium: DirectEvolution technology.
Biopact: Syngenta to trial third generation biofuel crop that grows its own bioconversion enzyme - November 12, 2007
Biopact: Diversa and Celunol merge to become Verenium - June 21, 2007
Biopact: Third generation biofuels: scientists patent corn variety with embedded cellulase enzymes - May 05, 2007
Biopact: Agrivida and Codon Devices to partner on third-generation biofuels - August 03, 2007
The milestone deals with the development of 'third-generation' biofuel systems, based on crops that grow their own bioconversion enzymes - in this case, they turn corn starch into sugars. This eliminates the need for biorefineries to add separate liquid enzymes to process starch into ethanol, reducing costs (previous post).
This progress in the biosynthesis of starch brings the enormous potential of biofuels another step closer. Traits specifically designed to increase productivity of biofuels linked with Syngenta elite genetics and input traits that protect the crop's yield potential are intended to bring increased productivity for growers and cost-effective sustainable production for biofuels manufacturers. - Ray Riley, head of research and product development in corn and soybeans for SyngentaA core component of the research effort utilized Verenium's DirectEvolution technology to engineer the properties of a key enzyme - alpha amylase - in the biosynthesis of starch.
The technology is based on the knowledge that proteins are large, complex molecules made up of a unique sequence of smaller subunits called amino acids. There are 20 different naturally occurring amino acids, each having unique chemical properties, which cause the protein to fold up into distinct three-dimensional structures that define their particular function. A change in just a single amino can greatly affect the function of a protein such as an enzyme or an antibody. It is a cell's genes that contain a specific DNA sequence that dictates the order and type of amino acids that make up each protein made by the cell.
Verenium possesses patented, state-of-the-art gene evolution technologies, which it calls its 'DirectEvolution' platform, that enable the optimization of proteins at the DNA level. Two complementary methods comprise Verenium's DirectEvolution platform: Gene Site Saturation Mutagenesis (GSSM) and Tunable GeneReassembly (TGR) technologies. The suite of DirectEvolution technologies provides potentially significant competitive advantages, including the ability to generate the broadest amount of genetic sequence diversity, the ability to make fine changes across an entire gene, and the freedom to use unrelated genes when recombining starting genes. Additionally, both GSSM and TGR technologies are able to modify codons to achieve increased protein expression for manufacturing without changing the fundamental amino acid sequence (schematic, click to enlarge).
GSSM technology creates a family of related proteins that all differ from a parent protein by at least a single amino acid change at any defined position or at each position along the protein sequence. GSSM technology can produce all possible single amino acid substitutions at every position within a protein sequence, removing the need for prior knowledge about the protein structure and allowing all possibilities to be tested in an unbiased manner. The library of variants created using GSSM technology is then available to be expressed and screened for improved properties. The GSSM library can be screened for novel enzymes with characteristics such as increased ability to function at high temperature or a targeted pH range, increased reaction rate or resistance to deactivating chemicals:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: ethanol :: starch :: enzyme :: bioconversion :: biosynthesis ::
Beneficial mutations identified from a GSSM screen can then be combined in a combinatorial fashion using the 'GeneReassembly' process to create a superior version of the parental protein. GeneReassembly technology allows blending of gene sequences independent of sequence homology. Multiple variations can be introduced at precise positions within the genes. The complexity of the variant library can be fine-tuned by the number of parental genes used and the average number of variations used in the reaction. Moreover, the number of variations can be modulated to reflect the resilience of the targeted gene family to mutations. In addition, any structural information available can be incorporated into the sequence design, and codon usage can be optimized during the reassembly process to maximize expression in the selected production host. Verenium’s GeneReassembly method represents the next generation of gene-blending evolution methods.
Verenium applied these DirectEvolution technologies to develop the key enzyme embedded into Syngenta's genetically modified strain of corn that grows the bioconversion enzyme. This corn strain expresses high levels of alpha amylase — a thermal-tolerant digestive enzyme developed by Verenium that turns the corn’s starch into sugar for ethanol. The engineered plants are designed to reduce costs by eliminating the need for mills to add liquid enzymes. The Corn Amylase (Amylase-T) seeds do not increase the yield, rather they make corn easier to process which translates into substantial savings for mill operators. Syngenta has announced that pilot trials have been successfully conducted and that it anticipates launch of this product in 2008.
The company earlier succeeded in utilizing its DirectEvolution suite to reassemble genes from microorganisms found in the deep sea to produce a high-performance enzyme for economical ethanol production - its first commercially available biofuel enzyme, Fuelzyme-LF.
Verenium Corporation is a leader in the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, an environmentally-friendly and renewable transportation fuel, as well as high-performance specialty enzymes for applications within the biofuels, industrial, and health and nutrition markets. The Company possesses integrated, end-to-end capabilities in pre-treatment, novel enzyme development, fermentation, engineering, and project development and is moving rapidly to commercialize its proprietary technology for the production of ethanol from a wide array of feedstocks, including sugarcane bagasse, dedicated energy crops, agricultural waste, and wood products. In addition to the vast potential for biofuels, a multitude of large-scale industrial opportunities exist for the Company for products derived from the production of low-cost, biomass-derived sugars.
Verenium's Specialty Enzyme business harnesses the power of enzymes to create a broad range of specialty products to meet high-value commercial needs. Verenium's world class R&D organization is renowned for its capabilities in the rapid screening, identification, and expression of enzymes—proteins that act as the catalysts of biochemical reactions.
Verenium operates one of the nation's first cellulosic ethanol pilot plants, an R&D facility, in Jennings, Louisiana and expects to achieve mechanical completion of a 1.4 million gallon-per-year, demonstration-scale facility to produce cellulosic ethanol by the end of the first quarter of 2008. In addition, the Company's process technology has been licensed by Tokyo-based Marubeni Corp. and Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd. and has been incorporated into BioEthanol Japan's 1.4 million liter-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant in Osaka, Japan – the world's first commercial-scale plant to produce cellulosic ethanol from wood construction waste.
Schematic: suite of protein and enzyme discovery tools: mutating amino acids, screening improved proteins and combining detected changes to find the most promising protein. Credit: Verenium.
References:
Verenium Corporation: Verenium achieves financial milestone in research collaboration with Syngenta - January 8, 2007.
Verenium: DirectEvolution technology.
Biopact: Syngenta to trial third generation biofuel crop that grows its own bioconversion enzyme - November 12, 2007
Biopact: Diversa and Celunol merge to become Verenium - June 21, 2007
Biopact: Third generation biofuels: scientists patent corn variety with embedded cellulase enzymes - May 05, 2007
Biopact: Agrivida and Codon Devices to partner on third-generation biofuels - August 03, 2007
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