Fast-Growing Microbe Extracts for High Nucleotide Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing nucleotide-rich compositions face limitations in concentration, leading to off-flavors and high production costs, and require additional processing steps to achieve high nucleotide content, which is not efficiently addressed by existing bacterial or yeast extracts.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the cultivation of fast-growing bacteria with high nucleic acid content, characterized by a growth rate of at least 0.85 h−1, followed by cell lysis and conversion of nucleic acids to nucleotides, and proteins to amino acids and peptides, using a continuous process with a high dilution rate to minimize contamination and processing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to produce nucleotide-rich compositions, then nucleotide concentration is limited, but this leads to off-flavors and requires additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of nucleotide concentration by using fast-growing bacteria with inherently high nucleic acid content (≥22% of dry weight). This parameter change allows achieving nucleotide concentrations of at least 15% in the final composition without additional concentration steps, thereby avoiding off-flavors associated with highly concentrated extracts from conventional sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses bacterial cells as a model system that naturally contains high concentrations of nucleic acids. By cultivating bacteria with growth rates of at least 0.85 h−1, the process copies the high nucleic acid content found in nature to produce compositions with similarly high nucleotide concentrations, eliminating the need for complex concentration procedures.
2Quantity of substance
If additional processing steps are added to increase nucleotide concentration, then nucleotide content improves, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by selecting and cultivating bacteria that naturally possess high nucleic acid content (≥22% of dry weight) and fast growth rates (≥0.85 h−1). This preliminary selection eliminates the need for subsequent expensive concentration and purification steps, directly reducing production costs while maintaining high nucleotide content in the final composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The bacteria themselves serve as the source of high-concentration nucleotides through their natural high nucleic acid content. The fast-growing bacteria essentially produce the nucleotides as part of their normal growth metabolism, eliminating the need for external concentration processes and reducing overall production costs.
3Reliability
If high dilution rate is used in continuous process, then contamination is minimized, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through monitoring of bacterial growth rates and nucleic acid content. By maintaining continuous cultivation at dilution rates that match the fast growth rate of the bacteria (≥0.85 h−1), the system automatically prevents contamination while optimizing nucleotide production, balancing reliability with manageable process complexity.
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
This approach enables the production of compositions with high concentrations of nucleotides and amino acids, reducing the need for additional separation steps and lowering production costs, while enhancing taste and nutritional value, particularly in animal feed and food products.
Implementation Method 1
bacteria, in particular the fast-growing bacteria contain a surprisingly high amounts of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids can be converted to nucleotides in high concentration
Implementation Method 2
converting the nucleic acid present in the lysate of step (b) to nucleotides and optionally converting protein present in the lysate of (b) to amino acids and peptides
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the method for production of a composition comprising at least 15% nucleotides, preferably at least 18% nucleotides, more preferably at least 22% nucleotides and at least 40% amino acids and peptides, and to a composition comprising at least 15% nucleotides, preferably at least 18% nucleotides, more preferably at least 22% nucleotides and at least 40% amino acids and peptides obtainable according to the said method. The method of the present invention involves obtaining the biomass by cultivating at least one microorganism strain(s) characterized by a growth rate in the process of at least 0.85 h-1. The composition of the present invention is particularly useful in the production of animal feed, pet food, food products, fermentation medium or supplement, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, RNA or DNA, or flavour enhancers.