Engineered Mammalian Cells for Nutrient-Enriched Cultured Meat
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Solution Overview
Problem
The broad use of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in mammalian systems has been slow to develop, particularly in applications beyond therapeutic protein production and disease treatment, with limited attention given to heterologous engineering of mammalian cells using genes from other taxa, and there is a need for sustainable alternatives to traditional animal agriculture, such as cultured meat production.
Innovation Solution
Engineered mammalian cells are developed to endogenously synthesize metabolites like phytoene, lycopene, β-carotene, Vitamin C, curcumin, cannabidiol, and cannabidiol through the introduction of heterologous polynucleotides encoding enzymes such as phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, lycopene cyclase, UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase, UDP glucuronosyltransferase, aldo-keto reductase, regucalcin, L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, tyrosine ammonia-lyase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, phenylpropanoyl-diketide-CoA synthase, and curcumin synthase, along with nanobodies and antimicrobial peptides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional animal agriculture is used, then meat production is achieved, but environmental sustainability, ethical concerns, and public health issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates cultured meat by copying the natural meat production process at the cellular level. Instead of raising entire animals, the invention cultivates muscle precursor cells in bioreactors to produce meat-like tissue, thereby achieving meat production without the harmful environmental and ethical consequences of traditional animal agriculture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses heterologous enzymes as intermediaries to enable mammalian cells to synthesize carotenoids. By introducing phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, and lycopene cyclase from non-mammalian sources, the system bridges the metabolic gap between mammalian cells and plant-like pigment production, allowing cultured meat to achieve nutritional enhancement without requiring actual plant or animal tissues
2Quantity of substance
If heterologous engineering of mammalian cells is implemented, then metabolite production is enhanced, but technical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway into discrete enzymatic steps, each encoded by a separate heterologous polynucleotide. By introducing individual genes for phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, and lycopene cyclase separately, the complex metabolic engineering task is segmented into manageable components that can be independently optimized and controlled
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses universal plasmid vectors that can accommodate multiple heterologous genes and function across different mammalian cell types. These multi-functional vectors serve as standardized platforms for introducing carotenoid biosynthesis pathways into various cell lines, reducing the overall complexity of the engineering process by providing a reusable framework
3Reliability
If mammalian cells are engineered to synthesize plant metabolites, then nutritional benefits are improved, but metabolic pathway compatibility challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes expression parameters of heterologous enzymes to achieve high carotenoid production in mammalian cells. By adjusting factors such as promoter strength, copy number, and induction conditions, the system overcomes metabolic incompatibility and achieves reliable production of plant-derived metabolites in animal cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces heterologous enzymes as intermediaries to bridge metabolic pathways between mammals and plants. These borrowed enzymes act as catalysts that enable mammalian cells to perform plant-specific biochemical reactions, such as carotenoid synthesis, thereby resolving the fundamental metabolic pathway incompatibility between the two kingdoms
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 engineered cells significantly enhance the production of these metabolites, achieving levels up to 5 times greater than non-engineered cells, and can be used to produce cultured meat products with improved nutritional and health benefits.
Implementation Method 1
synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have become major tools across numerous disciplines
Implementation Method 2
the cell endogenously synthesizes phytoene and comprises a heterologous polynucleotide encoding phytoene synthase
Implementation Method 3
the engineered cells significantly enhance the production of these metabolites, achieving levels up to 5 times greater than non-engineered cells
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are genetically engineered mammalian cells that endogenously express one or more phytochemicals, vitamins, or therapeutic agents and suitable for use in a cultured meat product. Methods of making and using the genetically engineered mammalian cells and the cultured meat products are also provided.