Chitin - bio-raw material for NeuNAc production
What is NeuNAc used for?
NeuNAc is the production base of antiviral drugs. These virustatics are used as drugs against viral infects (e.g. influenza) to prevent a virus expansion in the organism.
How does the new production method work?
The research group, led by biotechnologist Astrid Mach-Aigner, already knew that the mold species trichoderma is able to degrade chitin and convert it into monomeric amino sugar. But further chemical reaction steps are necessary to produce NeuNAc. For this purpose, two foreign genes, which are present in bacteria, were embedded into the fungi. Even though bacteria and fungi have nothing in common the experiment was successful.
The implanted bacteria genes change the chemical reaction chain. So trichoderma can be used as whole-cell catalysts which convert chitin to NeuNAc.
What’s the advantage?
The costs for conventionally produced NeuNAc are about 2.000 €/g.
NeuNAc production by the new method is much cheaper and environmentally friendly because chitin as well as trichoderma which is found in soil, wood and meadows are both sustainable raw materials.
For industrial scale production the new gene expanded trichoderma strain is cultivated in biological reactors where it can convert the chitin to NeuNAc.
Involved Institutes at TU Wien
Institut für Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik und Technische Biowissenschaften
(R. Gorsche, A. Mach-Aigner, M. Steiger)
Institut für Angewandte SynthesechemieInstitut für Angewandte Synthesechemie
(M. Mihovilovic)
Project Funding
Further links
Synthesis of an antiviral drug precursor from chitin using saprophyte as a whole-cell catalyst.
(complete electronic version)
HMC+ Chitin product page
HMC+ Chitin shop
Source: Informationsdienst Wissenschaft: Medikamente aus Krabbenschalen
chitosan, chitin, NeuNAc, antiviral drugs
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