Scientists start by selecting a microorganism suitable for the desired production. This microorganism is typically a bacterium, yeast, or filamentous fungus.
The choice of microorganism depends on factors such as its natural ability to produce the desired compound, its amenability to genetic modification, and its suitability for large-scale fermentation.
Genetic engineering techniques are employed to modify the microorganism's genetic material to enable it to produce the target compound efficiently. This often involves inserting genes encoding enzymes responsible for the synthesis of the desired compound into the microorganism's genome.
Beneftic engineering
Genetic engineering involves manipulating the genetic material of the selected microorganism to introduce specific genetic modifications.
Scientists identify and isolate genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis pathway of the target compound from other organisms or organisms that naturally produce the compound.
These genes are then inserted into the genome of the selected microorganism using molecular biology techniques such as gene cloning and gene editing.
Regulatory elements, such as promoters and terminators, are also incorporated into the microorganism's genome to control the expression of the inserted genes and ensure optimal production of the target compound.
Fermentation
Fermentation is the process by which microorganisms metabolize nutrients to produce energy and metabolites under anaerobic or aerobic conditions.
In precision fermentation, the genetically engineered microorganism is cultivated in a bioreactor, a controlled environment where conditions such as temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and nutrient concentrations are carefully regulated to maximize cell growth and product formation.
The microorganism is provided with a growth medium containing carbon sources (e.g., sugars), nitrogen sources (e.g., amino acids), vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for growth and production.
As the microorganism grows and metabolizes the nutrients in the growth medium, it synthesizes the target compound as a byproduct. This compound is typically secreted into the surrounding medium or accumulated within the cells.
Harvesting
Once the fermentation process is complete and the desired compound has been produced, the culture is harvested from the bioreactor.
Harvesting involves separating the microorganisms from the fermentation broth or medium using techniques such as centrifugation, filtration, or sedimentation.
The harvested biomass may undergo further processing to recover and isolate the target compound from the fermentation broth or cells.
Purification
Testing ensures that the product is free of contaminants and bacteria; has been been separated from the microbes that produced it and safe for consumption
The isolated target compound may undergo purification steps to remove impurities and contaminants and obtain the desired product in its pure form.
Purification techniques may include chromatography, filtration, crystallization, and distillation, depending on the physicochemical properties of the target compound.
The purified compound is then characterized and analyzed to ensure it meets quality standards and specifications for its intended application.
