Diutan Polysaccharide Viscosity via Multicopy Plasmid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing diutan polysaccharide are costly and result in insufficient viscosity, making it difficult to replace less expensive biogums like xanthan gum in industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
Genetic modification of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159 using a multicopy broad-host-range plasmid to amplify diutan biosynthesis genes, increasing production and viscosity of the diutan polysaccharide, specifically through the introduction of specific DNA sequences that encode enzymes involved in diutan biosynthesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional fermentation methods are used to produce diutan polysaccharide, then production cost is reduced, but viscosity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the genetic parameters of the Sphingomonas sp. strain through plasmid introduction. This alters the biosynthetic capacity and polysaccharide production characteristics, resulting in higher viscosity diutan while maintaining cost-effectiveness through microbial fermentation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite genetic system by combining the host Sphingomonas sp. strain with a multicopy broad-host-range plasmid containing diutan biosynthesis genes. This composite biological system enables enhanced polysaccharide production with improved viscosity properties
2Quantity of substance
If genetic modification is applied to increase diutan production, then viscosity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a plasmid as an intermediary carrier to introduce and maintain the diutan biosynthesis genes in the host organism. This intermediary approach simplifies the genetic modification process and enables stable inheritance of the enhanced polysaccharide production traits without complex genetic engineering procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a broad-host-range plasmid that can function in multiple bacterial species, including Sphingomonas sp. This universal plasmid system allows the same genetic modification strategy to be applied across different hosts, reducing the complexity of developing strain-specific modification protocols
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 modified strain produces diutan polysaccharide with significantly higher intrinsic viscosity, sea water viscosity, and low shear rate viscosity, making it more suitable for oilfield and cement applications, while potentially reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The plasmid provides the capability within the host Sphingomonas strain to produce multiple copies of genes for such polysaccharide synthesis
Implementation Method 2
Diutan gum (also known as heteropolysaccharide S-657) is prepared by fermentation of strain Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159
Implementation Method 3
Some polysaccharides, or more particularly stated, biogums, such as xanthan, gellan, welan and diutan have been produced via fermentation from microbes for many years. Such biogums exhibit varied characteristics such as viscosity modification capabilities
Implementation Method 4
Polysaccharides or gums are primarily used to thicken or gel aqueous solutions and are frequently classified into two groups: thickeners and gelling agents
Data Source
AI summary
The production of a diutan polysaccharide exhibiting increased viscosity properties as compared with previously produced polysaccharide of the same type of repeating units. Such an improved diutan polysaccharide is produced through the generation of a derivative of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159 that harbors a multicopy broad-host-range plasmid into which genes for biosynthesis of diutan polysaccharide have been cloned. The plasmid provides the capability within the host Sphingomonas strain to produce multiple copies of genes for such polysaccharide synthesis. In such a manner, a method of not just increased production of the target diutan polysaccharide, but also production of a diutan polysaccharide of improved physical properties (of the aforementioned higher viscosity) thereof is provided. Such a diutan polysaccharide has proven particularly useful as a possible viscosifier in oilfield applications and within cement materials. The inventive methods of production of such an improved diutan polysaccharide, as well as the novel cloned genes required to produce the improved diutan within such a method, are also encompassed within this invention. Additionally, the novel engineered Sphingomonas strain including the needed DNA sequence is encompassed within this invention.