Enteral Polyamine Production Using Agmatine-Decomposing Lactic Bacteria

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing polyamines in the large intestine through oral intake of indigestible peptides are inefficient, as evidenced by the lack of significant polyamine concentration increase in human feces culture solutions, and there is a need to enhance polyamine production by utilizing a bacterium that can decompose agmatine into putrescine.

Innovation Solution

A polyamine production agent containing a bean-derived indigestible peptide and a lactic acid bacterium, such as Levilactobacillus brevis, is orally administered to decompose agmatine into putrescine within the intestine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a soybean-derived indigestible peptide is orally administered to produce polyamines in the large intestine, then arginine is released and utilized by intestinal bacteria, but the polyamine concentration does not significantly increase because agmatine accumulates as a reaction intermediate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolyamine concentrationVSAvoidagmatine accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific intestinal bacterium (Enterococcus faecalis or Lactobacillus plantarum) as a mediator that consumes the accumulated agmatine intermediate and converts it to putrescine. This intermediary organism resolves the bottleneck in the polyamine production pathway by providing an additional metabolic route that eliminates the limiting intermediate and enhances overall polyamine yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the biological parameters of the intestinal microbiota by introducing specific bacterial strains with enhanced agmatine utilization capability. This parameter change in the microbial community structure and metabolic capacity transforms the agmatine accumulation problem into an opportunity for enhanced polyamine production through the introduced bacteria's metabolic pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If intestinal bacteria utilize arginine from the indigestible peptide, then putrescine production is enhanced, but the overall polyamine production remains insufficient due to agmatine accumulation blocking the pathway

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolyamine production efficiencyVSAvoidpolyamine production consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific intestinal bacterium (Enterococcus faecalis or Lactobacillus plantarum) as a mediator that consumes the accumulated agmatine intermediate and converts it to putrescine. This intermediary organism resolves the bottleneck in the polyamine production pathway by providing an additional metabolic route that eliminates the limiting intermediate and enhances overall polyamine yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the introduced bacteria sense and respond to agmatine accumulation by increasing agmatine utilization. The bacterial metabolism creates a feedback loop where agmatine serves as both a byproduct and a substrate, with the introduced bacteria regulating agmatine levels through enzymatic conversion, thereby maintaining optimal conditions for sustained polyamine production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 agent effectively increases putrescine production inside the intestine, demonstrating significant concentration increases in human feces culture solutions, indicating efficient polyamine synthesis.

Implementation Method 1

a lactic acid bacterium having an ability to decompose agmatine into putrescine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic decomposition: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP4640231A1Enteral polyamine production agent
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 FUJI OIL CO LTD
  • EP4640231A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4640231A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4640231A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

With an oral preparation, a polyamine is produced inside the intestine. An intestinal polyamine production agent according to the present invention contains: a bean-derived indigestible peptide formed of a decomposition residue of a bean protein material, the decomposition residue produced by decomposing the bean protein material with a protein-decomposing enzyme; and a lactic acid bacterium having an ability to decompose agmatine into putrescine.