Biopolymers - extra-cellular high-yield production*

Overpopulation and increasing oil prices urge the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources in order to produce ecofriendly and high-efficient materials such as bio-degradable polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHAs). Thus, the sector of these so-called biopolymers is growing fast, already expected to become a multibillion dollar market. This is despite the cost disadvantages in comparison to oil-based polymers. Much faster growth is expected once significant reduction in costs and increase in yields are achieved.


Wild-type strain


Genetically engineered strain

The cost-efficient production of biopolymers i.e. natural occurring polymers produced by bacteria is hampered by their intra-cellular localisation. This circumstance limits biopolymer production to the space provided by the cell's cytoplasm and increases the complexity of downstream processing, requiring breakdown of the bacterial cell wall, substantial use of solvents as well as time-consuming and expensive separation of the biopolymers from the cell's crude extracts.

The innovation relates to a genetically engineered strain of the marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis which not only hyper-produces biopolymers, but extracellular deposits them in the growth medium. This offers several advantages compared to state-of-the-art processes, with the most important one being the easy, efficient and eco-friendly product recovery directly from the growth medium. This benefit facilitates - for the first time - the cost-efficient and economic production of biopolymers (PHAs) for technological purposes e.g. production of eco-friendly, biodegradable packing materials. Moreover, the IP position in this case is very strong, since the patents relate to the specific genes that facilitate this type of extra-cellular biopolymer production. The process provides a long term competitive advantage with limited future competition if any.

• Biodegradable plastics
  
• Biopolymers
  
• Bioremediation
  
• Eco-friendly production and recovery
  
• Extracellular localization
  
• Polyhydroxy alkanoates, PHAs
  

• Overproduction of medium chainlength polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHAs)
  
• Substantial advantages in product recovery due to extra-cellular deposition
  
• Biodegradable and non-immunogenic biopolymers with favorable, mechanical properties (e.g. toughness, softness)
  
• Non-competition with food production (current feedstock: grease or oil waste)
  
• All genes and polypeptides involved in PHA anabolism protected
  

• Biodegradable materials, i.e. packing materials, fast food supplies, textiles/fibers, medicine, toys, agriculture
  
• Medicine: biodegradable, nonimmunogenic implants
  
• Bioremediation
  
• "White" biotechnology
  

Title:
Extracellular polyhydroxy alkanoates produced by genetically engineered microorganisms

Patent no.: EP05017308.7-PCT/EP2006/007888 - [WO2007/017270]

Date of Priority: 09 AUG 2005 (EP)


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*The patents are the property of the Dritte Patentportfolio Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG