Boosting fermentation output in microbial bioreactors

Fermenco holds a technology, the ATPase Technology, which can optimise the fermentation output in microbial bioreactors. The ATPase technology introduces an extra ATPase reaction in the microbial cells, which uncouples the production of the desired compound from the biomass production (Fig. 1).

Introduction of the ATPase technology has the following implications in microbial reactors

• Increase the yield of product (output volume of desired product per raw material input).

• Increase production rate of bioprocesses.

• Decrease the formation of undesirable by-products.

• Enable fermentation with non-growing cells i.e. in fermentors where the biomass is recycled or by extending fermentation in microbial reactors that would otherwise have stopped due to inhibition of growth.

Fig. 1. Illustration of a metabolic pathway generating ATP in the formation of the product.

The uncoupled ATPase regenerates the ADP by hydrolysis of ATP uncoupled from the anabolic reactions (growth), which results in less substrate incorporated in cell biomass, higher product yield and/or higher conversion rate of substrate to product.

The ATPase technology is expected to be generic and applies to a broad spectrum of applications such as organic acids, alcohols and amino acids. Manufacturers of numerous fermented compounds may therefore derive economic benefits from using the ATPase technology.

Examples of accomplishments to date

The following evidence for effectiveness of the ATPase technology presently exists:

• Enhanced yield proven in E. coli producing acetate.

• Enhanced rate of acetate production (more than doubled acetate flux) proven in fast growing E. coli.

• Enhanced yield of lactic acid production proven in lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis.

• Enhanced rate of lactic acid production proven in lactic acid bacteria under slow and non-growing conditions.