Other Countries Partnering Awards (Peru): New Extremozymes for Renewable Feedstock Fractionation and Valorisation
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Biochemical Engineering
Abstract
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Publications
Flores-Fernández C
(2018)
Novel extremophilic proteases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa M211 and their application in the hydrolysis of dried distiller's grain with solubles
in Biotechnology Progress
Flores-Fernández CN
(2022)
Synergistic action of thermophilic pectinases for pectin bioconversion into D-galacturonic acid.
in Enzyme and microbial technology
Suhaili N
(2019)
Potential of sugar beet vinasse as a feedstock for biocatalyst production within an integrated biorefinery context Potential of sugar beet vinasse for biocatalyst production
in Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology
| Description | The original objectives of the award are listed below along with what has been achieved: - To identify and characterise novel Peruvian extremozymes (pectinases, cellulases and proteases) for the fractionation of UK-based renewable feedstocks such as sugar beet pulp (SBP) and spent distillers' grains (DG). We obtained the sequence of two metagenomes, one from Pilluana (Peruvian Amazon) and one from Maras (Peruvian highlands). These are now resources being used for bioinformatics studies in a continuation PhD project at UCL. We also isolated and sequeced one Pseudomonas sp genome from the Maras samples and undertool full characterization of three extracellular proteases from this organism resulting in one publication. Since the 2019 update we have also identified, cloned and tested a number of novel thermostable pectinases. These show remarkable thermostability and are now being tested for enhanced sucrose release during sugar beet processing in collaboration with AB Sugar, UK - To demonstrate the potential of the novel enzymes to produced enriched sugar and amino acid fractions from SBP and DG respectively than is currently possible. In addition to the metagenomic analysis the isolation and microbiological characterisation of multiple strains (> 40) from the same Pilluana and Maras samples was undertaken in Peru. A number of these strains, notably one Pseudomonas strain was shown to be capable of growth on both sugar beet pulp and distillers grains. Molecular identification of theses strains is still on going. - To establish a series of researcher exchanges and training activities to deliver the above objectives and build a long-term academic collaboration between the two institutions. A number of researcher exchanges to/from the UK and Peru were undertaken as described elsewhere in Research Fish. |
| Exploitation Route | The Peruvian researcher commenced a PhD programme at UCL in 2019 and is making use of the metagenomic information to identify and clone further enzymes of industrial relevance e.g. pectinases for use in sugar beet processing. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | As a direct result of this work a new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund PhD project was commenced in October 2017 in collaboration with AB Sugar. This is investigating the use of enzymes to aid sucrose extraction and processing of sugar beet pulp. The metagenomes obtained from this BBSRC Parterning Award are being used as a resource to identify potentially novel pectinase enzymes. Most recently, AB Sugar have supported us with a new UKRI EPSRC Sustainable Manufacturing grant to take our work on sugar beet pulp further forward and specifically to investigate an alternative range of sugar beet pulp derived products. Details of new grant: Lye, G.J. (PI), Hailes, H.C., Ward, J.M., Gavriilidis, A., Tiwari, M., and Lettieri, P. Novel sustainable manufacturing technologies for efficient utilisation of agricultural waste streams in a circular economy (EP/W019132/1). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund - Impact Acceleration Account |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 12/2016 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund - Impact Acceleration Account |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 12/2016 |
| Description | NOVEL SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE STREAMS IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY |
| Amount | £1,457,225 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W019132/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | Peruvian Government PhD Scholarship |
| Amount | £93,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Peru |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Peru |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | AB Sugar (enzymatically enhanced sucrose extraction from sugar beet) |
| Organisation | AB Sugar |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | A follow on PhD project was funded by the National Productivity Invesment Fund in collaboratio with AB Sugar. This exploits some of the thermostable enzymes identified in this project which are currently being investigated to enhance sugar extraction. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AB Sugar have provided the sugar beet feedstock, have shared data on their large scale operations and the impact they see of enzymatic pretreatment of sugar beet at large scale. They have also provided an opportunity for the student concerneed and the PI to visit their Wissington biorefinery and see the facility in operation. |
| Impact | To date we have constructed an experimental scale-down diffuser model at UCL. This is currently being validated but could be transfered to AB Sugar to support their process development programme. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | UNMSM: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos |
| Organisation | Laboratory of Molecular Biology |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration is part of a BBSRC International Partnering Award. The aim is to jointly explore for novel extremozymes to be used for the breakdown and processing of renewable feedstocks in the UK and in Peru. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of extreme environments in which to take samples for biological / metagenomic analysis for enzyme identification. |
| Impact | A number of organisms from extreme environments expressing novel proteases and pectinases have been identified. The DNA of these organisms has been isolated and has now been sent for high throughput sequencing. Results awaited. |
| Start Year | 2015 |