Batroxobin Fermentation Medium for Protease-Resistant Yeast Expression

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing recombinant batroxobin suffer from low yield and enzyme activity due to degradation by proteases in the yeast host system during fermentation.

Innovation Solution

A culture medium comprising optimized basic, glycerol-supplement, and methanol-induced media components, including casamino acids and sorbitol, is used to enhance batroxobin expression and inhibit protease activity, along with specific fermentation and purification steps to maintain enzyme activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If genetic engineering fermentation using Pichia pastoris system is used to produce batroxobin, then large-scale production is enabled, but the activity of batroxobin decreases due to protease degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction scaleVSAvoidenzyme activity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of proteases into a beneficial selection pressure by designing a culture medium that selectively inhibits protease activity while promoting batroxobin expression. The medium contains specific components (casamino acids, sorbitol, methanol, glycerol) that create an environment where proteases are suppressed but the target protein remains stable and active, thus transforming the degradation problem into a selective advantage for maintaining enzyme activity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes multiple parameters of the fermentation culture medium including pH (maintained at 5.0-6.5), temperature (25-30°C), and composition (casamino acids 0.1-1.0%, sorbitol 1-5%, methanol 0.5-2%, glycerol 1-5%). These parameter changes create optimal conditions that simultaneously support large-scale production and maintain high enzyme activity by reducing protease degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If standard fermentation culture medium is used, then fermentation process is simple, but batroxobin expression level is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexpression levelVSAvoidmedium composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional culture medium where each component serves multiple purposes: casamino acids provide nitrogen and amino acids while also inhibiting protease activity; sorbitol and glycerol serve as carbon sources and osmotic protectants; methanol induces expression and maintains protein stability. This multi-functionality allows the medium to simultaneously boost expression levels and protect enzyme activity without requiring overly complex formulations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates protective agents (casamino acids, sorbitol, glycerol) into the culture medium before fermentation begins, creating a pre-protected environment that prevents protease degradation from the outset. This preliminary protection allows the system to maintain high expression levels throughout the fermentation process without later intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method results in a highly active recombinant batroxobin with activity comparable to commercially available natural batroxobin, improving yield and enzyme stability.

Implementation Method 1

The optimized methanol induced culture medium are: 95% (100% methanol + 12mL/L PTM1) + 4.5% sorbitol + 0.5% casamino acids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMethanol induction: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

the components of the optimized glycerol-supplement culture medium are: 50% glycerol + 12mL/L PTM1 + 0.5% casamino acids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGlycerol metabolism: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentEP4696779A1Batroxobin fermentation culture medium and fermentation method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SHANGHAI TENRY PHARMACEUTICAL CO LTD
  • EP4696779A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4696779A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4696779A1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

Provided are a yeast fermentation method for recombinant batroxobin and a used culture medium. The fermentation steps mainly comprise primary seed culturing, secondary seed culturing and fermentation culturing. In the stage of fermentation culturing, by supplementing a plurality of nutrient components, such as glycerol, casamino acids and PTM1 inorganic salt, into a culture medium to optimize the culture medium, adjusting the fermentation culture medium to a proper pH value, and performing methanol induced culturing, the activity of the fermented recombinant protein is improved. The components of the optimized basic fermentation culture medium are: K2SO4: 0.91%, MgSO4: 0.36%, CaSO4•2H2O: 0.059%, 85% H3PO4: 2.5% (V/V), KOH: 0.206%, glycerol: 4%, GPE: 0.05%-0.1%, PTM1: 0.4% (V/V), and casamino acids: 0.5%. The components of the optimized glycerol-supplement culture medium are: 50% glycerol + 12mL/L PTM1 + 0.5% casamino acids. The components of the optimized methanol induced culture medium are: 95% (100% methanol + 12mL/L PTM1) + 4.5% sorbitol + 0.5% casamino acids.