Recombinant MAA Biosynthesis for Safer UV-Protective Compounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for safer, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly compounds with UV-modulating, anti-inflammatory, and/or anti-oxidative properties to protect against skin damage from solar radiation, as synthetic sunscreens pose health and environmental risks.
Innovation Solution
The production of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) through culturing recombinant microorganisms expressing MAA biosynthetic enzymes, such as MysH, MysA, MysB, MysC, and MysD, to create compounds that can be used in sunscreens or cosmetics, providing UV protection and additional biological benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synthetic sunscreens are used to protect against UV radiation, then UV protection is provided, but health risks (endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, systemic absorption) and environmental damage (coral reef bleaching) occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes biological systems (microorganisms, plant cells) that naturally produce UV-protective compounds through photosynthesis and metabolic pathways. By harnessing these natural biological processes, the invention converts the potential harm of synthetic chemicals into beneficial natural photoprotectants that are biodegradable and non-toxic, thereby resolving the contradiction between effective UV protection and health/environmental safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces recombinant microorganisms and plant cell cultures as intermediary systems that biosynthesize UV-filtering compounds. These biological intermediaries produce natural photoprotectants (such as MAAs, flavonoids, phenols) that replace direct application of synthetic chemicals, thereby mediating between the need for UV protection and the avoidance of harmful synthetic substances
2Reliability
If natural UV protectants (flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, polyketides) are used, then UV protection with additional biological functions is provided, but manufacturing complexity and production quantity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal biosynthetic pathways present in various microorganisms and plants to produce multiple types of UV-protective compounds (flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, polyketides, MAAs) through genetically engineered metabolic routes. This multi-functional approach allows a single biomanufacturing platform to produce diverse photoprotectants with both UV filtering and additional biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation properties)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies biological parameters through genetic engineering to enhance production efficiency. By altering metabolic pathway genes, optimizing cultivation conditions, and adjusting cellular metabolism, the invention transforms naturally limited production into scalable biomanufacturing processes that can generate sufficient quantities of natural UV protectants for commercial application
3Reliability
If mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are produced from natural resources, then UV protection is provided, but availability is limited due to low quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service production of MAAs by engineering microorganisms and plant cells to autonomously biosynthesize these compounds through their metabolic pathways. The engineered biological systems serve themselves by converting available substrates into MAAs without requiring extraction from natural sources, thereby eliminating the quantity limitation inherent in natural resource harvesting
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
MAAs offer effective UV protection with thermal and photochemical stability, addressing the limitations of synthetic sunscreens by offering safer, biodegradable alternatives with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Implementation Method 1
These natural products (e.g., flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and polyketides) absorb UV radiation and release energy through thermal de-excitation
Implementation Method 2
absorb UV radiation and release energy through thermal de-excitation
Implementation Method 3
Enzymatic synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids
Implementation Method 4
the recombinant microorganism comprises a heterologous nucleic acid encoding one or more mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA) biosynthetic enzymes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods of producing compounds of interest in a recombinant microorganism. In particular, the present invention relates to using a recombinant microorganism comprising a heterologous nucleic acid encoding one or more mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA) biosynthetic enzymes (e.g., MysH) to produce compounds of interest. Compositions comprising compounds produced using such methods are also provided herein. The present disclosure also provides methods of preventing sunburn, cancer, and chronic inflammatory diseases by administering such compositions to subjects in need thereof.