Nitrilase from sequence to 50 litre scale

We have been working on developing a specific nitrilase reaction in a consortium with Chemoxy and Biocatalysts Ltd with funding assistance from the UK Technology Strategy Board. In nine months, we have gone from the selection of amino acid sequences to expressed active proteins to assessment of substrate preference using a novel greener assay method which works with cell-free extracts to chemistry on the one litre scale, and finally at the end of last month to doing the reaction in the 50 litre plant at CPI's National Industrial Biotechnology Facility. Just to finish the boasting, the outcome of that reaction was over a kilo of product with great conversion.

We are now going into a TSB-funded collaborative research and development project with the same partners to really scale this process and bring it nearer to market by optimizing the enzyme, its use and reuse. It's going to be fun.