Buttiauxella Phytase Mutants for Feed Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current phytases used as animal feed supplements are proteolytically unstable and have limited substrate specificity, making them ineffective in degrading phytic acid and its intermediate products, leading to phosphate pollution and nutritional inefficiencies in monogastric animals.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel phytases derived from the bacterium Buttiauxella sp. with enhanced properties such as broad substrate specificity, thermostability, and activity at low pH, allowing for efficient hydrolysis of phytic acid and its intermediate degradation products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fungal phytases are used as animal feed supplements, then phosphorus release from phytate is achieved, but the enzymes are proteolytically unstable and susceptible to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of the phytase enzyme to alter its physical and chemical properties. Specifically, the invention creates mutant phytases with modified amino acid residues that enhance proteolytic stability while maintaining catalytic activity, thereby resolving the contradiction between enzyme functionality and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the phytase enzyme with protective agents such as encrysters, encapsulants, or conjugation partners. These composite structures protect the enzyme from proteolytic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract while allowing it to remain functional for phosphorus release.
2Productivity
If bacterial phytases are used as animal feed supplements, then enzyme activity is achieved, but substrate specificity is narrow and intermediate inositol phosphates are poorly degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the substrate binding site parameters of the phytase enzyme through amino acid mutations. This changes the enzyme's substrate recognition properties, enabling it to effectively degrade not only phytate but also intermediate inositol phosphates, thereby expanding substrate specificity while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multi-functional phytase variants that can catalyze the hydrolysis of multiple substrates including phytate and various intermediate inositol phosphates. This universal activity ensures complete phosphorus release throughout the gastrointestinal tract, addressing the limitation of narrow substrate specificity.
3Quantity of substance
If standard phytases are used in animal feeds, then phosphorus availability is partially improved, but phosphate pollution remains due to incomplete degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous phosphorus release by designing phytase variants that remain active throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. The enzymes maintain stability and activity in both stomach and intestinal environments, continuously degrading phytate and intermediate products to prevent phosphate pollution while maximizing nutrient availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful intermediate inositol phosphates into beneficial products by engineering phytases that can degrade these intermediates. What was once a limiting factor causing pollution is now completely utilized to release additional phosphorus for animal nutrition.
4Quantity of substance
If inorganic phosphate is added to animal diets to compensate for poor phytate metabolism, then animal growth requirements are met, but cost increases and pollution problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the animal feed system to be self-sufficient by incorporating phytase that releases phosphorus from the phytate already present in the feed原料. This eliminates the need to add expensive inorganic phosphate supplements, as the phytase enzyme allows the system to utilize its own phosphorus resources effectively.
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 improved phytases effectively increase phosphate availability in animal feeds, reducing environmental pollution and improving nutritional efficiency by maintaining activity across a wide pH range and high temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
Through the action of phytase, phytate is generally hydrolysed by to give lower inositol-phosphates and inorganic phosphate
Implementation Method 2
Phytases are useful as additives to animal feeds where they improve the availability of organic phosphorus to the animal
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to enzymes and processes. In particular, there is described a host cell transformed or transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a bacterial phytase enzyme and variants thereof.