Cryptococcus Mutant Strain Reducing Polysaccharide Viscosity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Basidiomycetous yeasts, such as Cryptococcus sp., produce large amounts of extracellular polysaccharides during heterologous protein production, leading to increased culture liquid viscosity and membrane clogging, making large-scale protein purification inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A UV mutant strain, Cryptococcus sp. S-2 D11, is developed, which significantly reduces extracellular polysaccharide production, allowing for easier protein separation and purification by suppressing polysaccharide secretion and maintaining protein productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If basidiomycetous yeast is used as a host for heterologous protein production, then protein productivity is improved, but extracellular polysaccharide production increases causing viscosity increase and purification difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein productivityVSAvoidextracellular polysaccharide production
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful extracellular polysaccharide production capability from the basidiomycetous yeast host through genetic modification, specifically creating a mutant strain where the polysaccharide-producing genes are deleted or inactivated, thereby separating the desirable protein production function from the harmful polysaccharide production function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the genetic parameters of the basidiomycetous yeast by introducing mutations that alter the expression levels or complete elimination of polysaccharide synthesis genes, transforming the strain from high polysaccharide producer to low or non-producer while maintaining protein production capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If extracellular polysaccharides are removed by freezing and melting, then polysaccharide aggregation is achieved, but scaling up becomes difficult due to operational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolysaccharide removalVSAvoidscaling up difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by genetically modifying the yeast strain beforehand to prevent extracellular polysaccharide production from the start, eliminating the need for subsequent polysaccharide removal steps and their associated operational complexities during scale-up

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of polysaccharide production into a benefit by using genetic engineering to eliminate the problem at its source, transforming a process that required complex removal steps into a straightforward production process with no polysaccharide interference

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

3Object-generated harmful factors

If cold acetone is added to aggregate polysaccharides, then polysaccharide removal is achieved, but safety concerns and inefficiency arise from large amounts of chemical usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolysaccharide removalVSAvoidsafety concerns and chemical waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for chemical aggregation agents like cold acetone by genetically modifying the yeast to not produce extracellular polysaccharides in the first place, thereby removing the source of the problem rather than treating it with chemicals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The genetically modified yeast strain serves itself by naturally producing minimal or no extracellular polysaccharides, eliminating the need for external chemical interventions and their associated safety and waste management issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Object-generated harmful factors

If polyethylene glycol is used to precipitate polysaccharides, then polysaccharide aggregation is achieved, but ultrafiltration membrane deterioration and waste treatment problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolysaccharide removalVSAvoidmembrane deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary genetic modification to prevent extracellular polysaccharide production before cultivation, thereby preventing the need for polyethylene glycol precipitation and protecting ultrafiltration membranes from deterioration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful interaction between polysaccharides and ultrafiltration membranes into a beneficial situation by eliminating polysaccharide production at the genetic level, thereby preserving membrane integrity and simplifying waste treatment

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

Data Source

PatentUS9040257B2Basidiomycetous yeast mutant
Publication Date: 2015.05.26 TOYOBO CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a host for genetic recombination useful in the production of heterologous proteins in a large scale, by suppressing the production of extracellular polysaccharides in the basidiomycetous yeasts. Cryptococcus sp. S-2 D11 strain (FERM BP-11482) which is characterized in that the production of extracellular polysaccharides is suppressed as compared with the parent strain.