Labyrinthulea Microorganism 7DHC Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing vitamin D3 rely on animal-derived materials, which are undesirable due to concerns about BSE and zoonosis, and existing microorganisms do not efficiently produce 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC), a precursor for vitamin D3 production.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the cultivation of Labyrinthulea microorganisms with reduced sterol 24-C-methyltransferase activity to produce and accumulate 7DHC, followed by ultraviolet irradiation to convert 7DHC into vitamin D3, utilizing genetic modification to eliminate or reduce SMT activity in these microorganisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If animal-derived cholesterol is used as source material for vitamin D3 production, then production efficiency is maintained, but safety concerns arise due to BSE and zoonosis risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses microorganisms (yeast or Labyrinthulea) as temporary, disposable biological factories to produce 7DHC, which is then extracted. The microorganisms are cultivated, processed, and discarded after extraction, replacing the need for animal-derived materials while maintaining production efficiency through scalable microbial cultivation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces 7DHC as an intermediary substance produced by microorganisms. This intermediary serves as a safe alternative to animal-derived cholesterol, allowing vitamin D3 production to proceed without direct use of animal materials, thus resolving the safety concern while maintaining productivity through efficient microbial synthesis pathways
2Quantity of substance
If Labyrinthulea microorganisms with reduced SMT activity are used, then 7DHC accumulation is improved, but process complexity increases due to genetic modification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the SMT enzyme activity parameter in Labyrinthulea microorganisms through genetic modification (deletion, substitution, or addition of base pairs in the SMT gene). This parameter change redirects the sterol biosynthesis pathway from ergosterol production to 7DHC accumulation, significantly improving 7DHC quantity while the genetic modification tools and methods remain well-established in biotechnology, limiting the increase in overall 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 method efficiently produces 7DHC and subsequently vitamin D3, providing a non-animal derived source that avoids the concerns associated with animal-derived materials, enhancing production efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating, with ultraviolet light, the produced 7DHC produced by the production process
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
According to the present invention, there can be provided a process for producing 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC), comprising culturing, in a medium, a 7DHC-producing Labyrinthulea microorganism in which sterol 24-C-methyltransferase activity is reduced or lost as compared to a parent strain, allowing 7DHC to be produced and accumulated in the culture, and collecting the 7DHC from the culture; and a process for producing vitamin D3, comprising irradiating, with ultraviolet light, 7-dehydrocholesterol produced by the production process.