Yeast Ascospore Chitosan Extraction Without Deacetylation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing chitosan from crustacean shells involve harsh chemicals, leading to contamination and variability, making it unsuitable for biomedical applications, while methods from non-animal sources often require deacetylation steps and are limited to specific fungal species.
Innovation Solution
Extract chitosan directly from yeast ascospore walls, utilizing yeast strains that form ascospores with a chitosan protective layer, avoiding deacetylation and using a method that includes culturing, meiosis induction, acid extraction, and enzymatic purification to produce chitosan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other GRAS yeast species.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If chitosan is extracted from crustacean shells using harsh chemicals, then chitosan can be obtained, but the product is contaminated with heavy metals and shows variability in material attributes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts chitosan from yeast ascospore walls, separating the production source from animal shells. The method involves inducing meiosis in yeast cells to form ascospores, then extracting chitosan directly from the ascospore walls using enzymatic digestion and acid treatment, thereby eliminating contamination from crustacean shells while maintaining chitosan production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the source material parameter from crustacean shells to yeast ascospores. By utilizing yeast cells that undergo meiosis to produce ascospores with chitosan-rich walls, the method transforms the production system to eliminate heavy metal contamination while maintaining chitosan yield through optimized extraction parameters including enzymatic treatment and acid concentration
2Quantity of substance
If chitosan is obtained from animal sources, then chitosan production is achieved, but allergic responses to shellfish proteins occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts chitosan from a non-animal source (yeast ascospores) rather than from crustacean shells. The method involves culturing yeast cells, inducing meiosis to form ascospores, and extracting chitosan from the ascospore walls, thereby eliminating shellfish proteins that cause allergic responses while maintaining chitosan production capability
3Ease of manufacture
If deacetylation steps are used to produce chitosan from non-animal sources, then chitosan can be obtained, but the process requires additional steps and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by selecting yeast strains that naturally produce ascospores with chitosan-rich walls, eliminating the need for deacetylation steps. The method involves inducing meiosis in yeast cells to form ascospores, then directly extracting chitosan through enzymatic digestion and acid treatment, thereby simplifying the process while maintaining product quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biochemical parameter of the source material by utilizing yeast ascospores that naturally contain chitosan in their walls, rather than chitin that requires deacetylation. This parameter change in the source material eliminates the need for complex deacetylation equipment and processes while maintaining chitosan production efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A method for making a chitosan product from yeast cells is disclosed herein. Yeast cells are cultured to form a biomass of yeast cells. The yeast cells are induced to undergo meiosis causing the yeast cells to form asci containing ascospores wherein each ascospore contains a chitosan protective layer in the ascospore wall. Chitosan is extracted from the ascospores, purified to form purified chitosan, and precipitated and dried to form a chitosan product.