Labyrinthulea Microorganism Gene Modification for 7DHC Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing vitamin D3 from 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) face challenges due to the need for animal-derived materials, which are avoided due to concerns like BSE and zoonosis, and issues with 7DHC accumulation in humans and microorganisms, leading to adverse effects such as Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and reduced production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the reduction or elimination of 7DHC reducing activity in Labyrinthulea microorganisms, specifically through gene modification, to produce 7DHC efficiently, followed by ultraviolet irradiation to convert it into vitamin D3, using microorganisms like Aurantiochytrium limacinum ATCC MYA-1381, which accumulates significant amounts of cholesterol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If 7DHC reducing activity is reduced or eliminated in microorganisms to produce 7DHC, then 7DHC accumulation is improved, but host organism growth is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the biochemical parameter by reducing or eliminating 7DHC reducing activity through gene modification (deletion, substitution, or addition of bases in the 7DHC reductase gene). This parameter change allows 7DHC to accumulate without being converted to cholesterol, while the use of Labyrinthulea microorganisms maintains growth capability despite the metabolic alteration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses Labyrinthulea microorganisms that naturally produce cholesterol as a model system, copying the metabolic pathway characteristics of these microorganisms to achieve 7DHC accumulation. The gene modification approach copies the strategy of metabolic pathway manipulation while maintaining the organism's overall metabolic flexibility
2Productivity
If animal-derived materials are used as source materials for vitamin D3 production, then production efficiency is improved, but safety concerns arise due to BSE and zoonosis
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces durable animal-derived materials with microorganisms that can be rapidly cultured and disposed of after use. Labyrinthulea microorganisms serve as a single-use, renewable source of 7DHC that eliminates the need for animal slaughter and associated safety risks while maintaining production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces Labyrinthulea microorganisms as an intermediary between animal-derived cholesterol and final vitamin D3 product. These microorganisms produce 7DHC that can be converted to vitamin D3, serving as a safe intermediate that eliminates direct animal material usage while maintaining the biochemical pathway for vitamin D3 synthesis
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 enables the efficient production of 7DHC and subsequent vitamin D3, overcoming the limitations of animal-derived sources and adverse effects, while maintaining the growth capabilities of the host organisms, resulting in a viable non-animal derived vitamin D3 production process.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating, with ultraviolet light, the 7DHC produced by the production process
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention, there can be provided A process for producing 7-dehydrocholesterol (hereinafter, "7DHC"), comprising culturing, in a medium, a 7DHC-producing Labyrinthulea microorganism in which the 7DHC reducing activity is reduced or lost as compared to a parent strain through deletion, substitution, or addition of at least one base in a gene which is present in the chromosomal DNA of the parent strain and encodes a protein having 7DHC reducing activity, and the microorganism produces 7DHC, 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, the 7DHC produced by the production process.