Bacterial Cellulose Yield via ClpS-ClpA Binding Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The industrial production of bacterial cellulose (BC) is costly due to expensive medium components and low production yields, with the production typically occurring at the air-water interface, limiting the quantity of cellulose that can be produced per culture volume.

Innovation Solution

A genetically modified cellulose-producing bacterial strain with reduced or abolished binding affinity between the CIpS and ClpA polypeptides, achieved through mutations or deletions in the CIpS binding region of ClpA or the ClpA binding domain of CIpS, is used to enhance cellulose production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If bacterial cellulose production occurs at the air-water interface, then cellulose can be produced with high purity and biocompatibility, but the quantity of cellulose produced per culture volume is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecellulose production yieldVSAvoidcellulose production efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the genetic parameters of the bacterial strain through mutations or deletions in the clpA or clpS genes. This alters the protein degradation parameters of the bacterium, leading to increased cellulose production yield while maintaining the air-water interface production method's advantages of high purity and biocompatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If native ClpA and ClpS proteins are expressed at normal levels, then protein homeostasis is maintained, but cellulose production yield remains low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecellulose production yieldVSAvoidprotein homeostasis
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by removing or reducing the function of specific proteins (ClpA or ClpS) through gene deletion or mutation. This extraction of protein degradation capability redirects cellular resources toward cellulose production, increasing yield while maintaining sufficient protein homeostasis through the presence of other protease systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4556570A1Improved production of bacterial cellulose
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 ETH ZURICH
  • EP4556570A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4556570A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4556570A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention concerns a genetically modified cellulose producing bacterial strain comprising a reduction in expression of native gene encoding a ClpS polypeptide, or a deletion of the native gene encoding a native ClpS polypeptide, or comprising expressing or overexpressing a gene encoding a CIpA polypeptide containing a mutation or a deletion in the ClpS-binding region of said polypeptide, and/or expressing or overexpressing a gene encoding a ClpS polypeptide containing a mutation or deletion in the ClpA-binding region of said polypeptide, causing an alteration of binding affinity between the ClpS polypeptide and the CIpA polypeptide.