DNA2.0, the leading bioengineering solutions provider, and VTU Technology, the leader in Pichia pastoris protein expression services, announced a partnership to develop and refine a gene design algorithm to enable maximized protein production in the yeast P. pastoris. The collaboration will combine VTU´s deep P. pastoris expertise and AOX1 promoter technology with DNA2.0’s gene design technology for robust translation.
“Pichia is ideally suited for high-level expression of recombinant proteins for therapeutic and industrial applications,” said Dr. Thomas Purkarthofer, Head of Business Development of VTU Technology. “We are excited to merge the unparalleled strength of our P. pastoris expression system with DNA2.0’s industry-leading gene design and expression optimization technology.”
VTU’s P. pastoris protein expression platform is based on engineered versions of the AOX1 promoter, one of the strongest eukaryotic promoters known. VTU’s approach delivers up to 20 g/L of secreted protein within a few weeks development time, and the company has a proven track record for expressing commercial levels of a wide range of proteins including serum proteins, cytokines, fusion proteins, Fabs, antibody derived fragments, scaffold proteins, and enzymes.
The protein target for this collaboration is DNA2.0’s IP-free CometGFP, which is part of a novel family of fluorescent and colorimetric proteins developed by DNA2.0. The corresponding IP-free genes are brought to market without expensive, constrained licensing.
“We developed our initial Pichia gene design algorithm with the world-leading P. pastoris laboratory of Anton Glieder, and we are thrilled to expand the breadth and scope of our P. pastoris technology for industrial scale applications with the proven commercial leader in the field, VTU Technology,” said Jeremy Minshull, Ph.D., cofounder and CEO of DNA2.0. “Controllable, consistent and strong protein expression is the goal regardless of the type of research in which you are engaged, and our patented GeneGPS technology has been proven to produce orders of magnitude increases in protein expression.”
Date: September 18, 2012
Source: DNA2.0
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
