Modified Cyanobacterium Protein Secretion via Binding Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods face challenges in efficiently producing proteins using cyanobacteria due to difficulties in protein secretory productivity, requiring cell disruption for protein retrieval, and high production costs associated with using fresh bacterial strains.

Innovation Solution

A modified cyanobacterium is developed where the total amount of protein involved in binding between the outer membrane and cell wall is suppressed to between 30% and 70% of the parent strain, allowing for improved protein secretory productivity without disrupting the bacterial cell, enabling efficient protein retrieval and repeated use of the cyanobacterium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional cyanobacterium methods are used, then protein production occurs within bacterial cells, but cell disruption is required for protein retrieval which reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotein secretory productivityVSAvoidease of protein retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the protein production function from the bacterial cell interior and redirects it to the extracellular environment. By suppressing binding proteins that anchor the outer membrane to the cell wall, the patent enables protein secretion outside the cell, eliminating the need for cell disruption and simplifying protein retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a genetic modification intermediary that suppresses the expression of binding proteins. This intermediary mechanism (genetic suppression) acts as a mediator between the cell's structural integrity and protein secretion capability, allowing proteins to be released extracellularly without compromising cell viability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If fresh bacterial strains are used for protein production, then continuous production is possible, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous protein productionVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables the recovery and repeated use of bacterial strains that have secreted proteins extracellularly. Since proteins are produced outside the cells and do not require cell disruption for retrieval, the bacterial strains can be recovered, reused, and continuously productive, significantly reducing the need for fresh strains and lowering production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Quantity of substance

If protein is produced within bacterial cells, then production capacity is high, but cell disruption is required which reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotein production capacityVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the protein production process from the cell interior to the extracellular space. By suppressing binding proteins that maintain the outer membrane-cell wall association, the system separates protein secretion function from cellular metabolism, allowing high-capacity production while maintaining cell integrity and system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240084245A1Modified cyanobacterium, modified cyanobacterium production method, and protein production method

Publication Date: 2024.03.14 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A modified cyanobacterium in which a total amount of a protein involved in binding between an outer membrane and a cell wall of cyanobacterium is suppressed to at least 30 percent and at most 70 percent of a total amount of the protein in a parent strain.