Permeabilized Microbial Cell Catalysts Using Monoglycerides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for using microbial enzymes in industrial applications face challenges due to enzymes being retained within cells, making substrate transfer difficult, and the use of permeabilization agents like detergents or solvents can damage cells and leave residues in food products, which are undesirable.
Innovation Solution
Permeabilizing microbial cells with monoglycerides to increase substrate import into the cells, allowing enzymatic conversion while retaining enzymes inside, thus avoiding the use of harmful chemicals and residues in food products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical or physical treatment is used to permeabilize cell wall and membranes, then substrate transfer is improved, but cell damage and interference with manufacturing processes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mild chemical parameters (weak bases like ammonia or amines at controlled concentrations and pH levels) to permeabilize cells, changing the chemical environment to create pores in the cell membrane without causing damage. This resolves the contradiction by using parameter control to achieve substrate transfer while avoiding cell damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (weak bases such as ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, or organic amines) that act as mediators to create temporary pores in the cell membrane. These intermediaries facilitate substrate transfer without directly damaging the cell structure, allowing lactose to enter cells while protecting cellular integrity.
2Productivity
If detergent or solvent permeabilization is used, then substrate import is enhanced, but residues remain in food products which are undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs easily removable, transient permeabilizing agents (weak bases that can be readily washed away or decomposed) rather than persistent chemical residues. The ammonia or amines used create temporary pores that close after treatment, leaving no harmful residues in the final food product, thus resolving the contradiction between enhanced substrate import and absence of harmful residues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of chemical treatment into a beneficial process by using weak bases that naturally occur in food systems (like ammonia in dairy products). The chemical treatment is transformed into a controlled, safe process that enhances substrate import while the treatment agents become part of the normal food chemistry rather than harmful residues.
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 enhances substrate import into permeabilized cells, enabling efficient enzymatic reactions with reduced risk of enzyme leakage and chemical residues, providing a stable and effective whole-cell catalyst for applications like lactose reduction in dairy products.
Implementation Method 1
permeabilizing microbial cells with monoglycerides to increase substrate import into the cells
Implementation Method 2
microbial cells comprising at least one intracellular enzyme for catalyzing conversion of said substrate into one or more products
Data Source
AI summary
A permeabilized whole cell catalyst and method for conversion (reducing the amount) of a target substrate to one of more product are provided, wherein the catalyst is obtained by incubating the cells with a permeabilization agent selected from a fatty acid and fatty acid derivative, and wherein the permeabilized cells comprise an intracellular enzyme for catalyzing conversion of the target substrate. The target substrate transits through the channel, holes, or pore made in the cell membrane by the permeabilization agent, and is converted to products by enzymes retained within the cell.