RESEARCH
From microbial discovery to validated carbohydrate candidates.
We investigate how promising carbohydrate candidates can be discovered, produced, purified, characterized and evaluated for their potential in future food applications.
01 · RESEARCH FOCUS
Exploring carbohydrate structures with new functional profiles.
We investigate carbohydrate structures and biological systems that could provide access to new combinations of sweetness, technological functionality and fiber-related properties. Our research spans the discovery of suitable biocatalysts, the development of enzymatic production processes in order to produce and purity promising carbohydrate candidates for further characterization and validation.
02 · METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
From microbial screening to purified carbohydrate candidates.
Our research starts by screening diverse microorganisms for enzymatic activities that could enable new carbohydrate transformations. Selected enzyme candidates are transferred into our molecular workflow for gene cloning, recombinant production, purification and functional characterization. Promising biocatalysts then serve as the basis for the development of suitable production strains and cultivation processes. Analytical characterization and downstream processing accompany the subsequent carbohydrate production process from biocatalytic conversion to purified material for further validation.
01
Microbial screening & enzyme discovery
We screen diverse microorganisms for enzymatic activities with potential for targeted carbohydrate transformations. Our primary focus is on identifying fructosyltransferases and hydrolases that could be used for the synthesis and enzymatic digestion of levan-based fructans. Promising activities provide starting points for identifying and characterizing enzymes and biocatalysts for further investigation.
02
Gene cloning & recombinant enzyme production
Suitable enzyme candidates are translated into recombinant expression constructs using either in-house amplified or externally synthesized DNA. The corresponding genes are integrated into an established plasmid pipeline and expressed in microbiological model organisms to produce the recombinant enzymes for further investigation.
03
Enzyme purification & characterization
Recombinant enzymes are recovered and purified using suitable protein purification strategies, including filtration and affinity chromatography. The purified enzymes are subsequently characterized using protein-biochemical and functional assays to assess their properties and suitability for targeted carbohydrate conversions.
04
Strain development
Promising microbial hosts are modified to support efficient production of selected enzymes. Strain construction and validation are approached with future production requirements in mind, including regulatory-relevant aspects such as the avoidance of antibiotic resistance cassettes and the use of suitable host organisms in line with concepts such as QPS where applicable.
05
Cultivation & biocatalytic production
Selected production strains and microbial systems are cultivated under conditions adapted to the respective enzyme, substrate and research question. Cultivation and biocatalytic process parameters are investigated to support efficient enzyme production and targeted carbohydrate conversion.
06
Analytical characterization
Analytical methods are used to monitor biocatalytic conversions, characterize complex carbohydrate mixtures and investigate the identity, purity and structural properties of selected compounds.
07
Downstream processing
We develop and evaluate downstream-processing strategies to recover, enrich and purify promising carbohydrate candidates from enzymatic reaction mixture and to prepare material for subsequent functional and application-oriented validation.
03 · OUR CARBOHYDRATE CANDIDATES
Meet our sweet fiber candidates.
We investigate carbohydrate candidates with potential for future food applications. Here we introduce selected properties and application tests of our trisaccharide candidate, alongside a first glimpse of two further candidates under investigation.
CANDIDATE 01
Sweet tasting trisaccharide
Relative sweetness
50 – 60 % compared to sucrose
Water solubility
450 – 500 g/L at room temperature
Tested in food applications
Our trisaccharide candidate has been tested in the following food categories. Images illustrate application areas and do not show our experimental prototypes.
Bakery products
Chocolate
Jam
Dairy products
Vanilla pudding
04 · RESEARCH COLLABORATION
Help bring our carbohydrate candidates to application testing.
We are seeking industry partners interested in testing our carbohydrate candidates who have suitable downstream processing equipment to help make larger quantities available.
Within our current VIP+ validation project, we welcome collaborations that combine our research materials and expertise with partners’ purification and processing capabilities. Material obtained through these collaborations can be provided to participating partners free of charge for agreed application-oriented validation studies.
Tell us about your processing equipment and the applications you would like to investigate.