Not4 Protein Mutation for Heterologous Protein Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for optimizing protein expression in microorganisms, such as increasing yield and purity, often fail to target the limiting factors effectively, leading to suboptimal production of heterologous proteins.

Innovation Solution

Modification of the Not4 protein or its activity level in fungal host cells, specifically through mutations in the NOT4 gene, to alter the expression and activity of the Not4 protein, thereby enhancing the production yield of desired proteins like heterologous proteins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional methods are used to optimize protein expression (increasing copy number, mRNA quantity, or stability), then expression levels may increase, but the limiting factors are not effectively targeted, resulting in suboptimal production yields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein production yieldVSAvoidexpression optimization effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the activity level parameter of the Not4 protein from wild-type levels to reduced levels (through mutation or inhibition), which fundamentally alters the expression optimization mechanism. This parameter change targets the specific limiting factor of protein degradation without affecting other expression parameters like copy number or mRNA stability, thereby achieving superior production yields of over 100 mg/L compared to conventional methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the copy number of the coding sequence is increased, then more protein may be produced, but other limiting factors such as folding, secretion, or degradation remain unaddressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding sequence copy numberVSAvoidactual protein production yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and addresses the specific limiting factor of protein degradation by targeting Not4 activity, separating this concern from other expression parameters like copy number, mRNA stability, and folding. By removing the degradation bottleneck through Not4 inhibition, the system allows other parameters to function optimally without being constrained by degradation limitations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If protein folding and secretion are improved, then protein quality increases, but degradation by Not4 remains a limiting factor for overall yield

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein folding and secretion qualityVSAvoidprotein production yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention takes preliminary action by reducing Not4 activity before protein degradation becomes a significant problem. By establishing reduced Not4 activity at the outset through mutation or inhibition, the system prevents degradation from limiting the yield, allowing folding and secretion improvements to translate directly into higher overall production without being undermined by subsequent degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3394243A1Improved protein expression strains
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 SARTORIUS ALBUMEDIX LTD

AI summary

The invention provides an improved host strain for production of desired protein.