Frequently asked Questions and Glossary

Proteins that are not of animal origin but are derived from other protein sources. Alternative protein sources already in use today are predominantly of plant origin. They include, for example, wheat, soy, peas, beans, lentils, cashews, jackfruit or lupins. Higher fungi and insects also already serve as protein sources. Recombinant microorganisms, which produce animal-identical proteins in fermentation processes, represent another pillar. Proteins from cell cultured meat cultivated in the laboratory could also contribute to an animal-free diet in the future.

Enzymatic agent as part of an innovative gel-based medical device for the biotherapeutic treatment of chronic wounds

BRAIN-Engineered-Cas (BEC) is our proprietary identified and developed CRISPR-associated nuclease. The enzyme has been validated both internally and with partners and has shown DNA targeting activity in selected bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Activity in plants has also been demonstrated but remains to be validated. Genome editing tests for other application areas such as mammalian cell lines have been initiated and a first IP application to protect our nuclease sequence has already been filed. BRAIN aims to build a patent family around the BEC genome editing tool. (Status as of July 2021).

BEC is one of approximately 2,000 previously unused class 2 CRISPR nucleases identified by BRAIN Biotech that could be used for genome editing.

Used to develop products for the food, beverages, skin care, cosmetics and chemical industries

Bio-based products are goods manufactured from renewable raw materials

Members of the BRAIN Group based in UK (headquarters in Cardiff, Wales) and in US (Illinois); global distributor network e.g. Korea, Australia, New Zealand. Key player in the specialty enzyme business

Enzymes that act as catalysts to accelerate (bio)chemical reactions

One of BRAIN’s two business segments: development and marketing of the company’s own products along the value chain

Application of biological processes in an industrial setting with the aim of creating a more sustainable economy

Term derived from the fusion of the two concepts of the “bio-economy” and the “circular economy”; circular bio-economy focuses on the sustainable, resource-efficient utilization of biomass in integrated production chains (e.g. biorefineries) while simultaneously utilizing residual and waste materials; the sequential use (cascade use) of biomass resources for different purposes ensures value optimization.

Technology for the sustainable processing of biomass into marketable products (e.g. food, feed, materials, chemicals) and energy (fuels, electricity, heat). Integrated biorefineries combine various such technologies with the aim of greater flexibility and cost reduction. Integrated biorefineries facilitate the use of byproducts and waste, and enable the production of high-quality products (e.g. fine chemicals) combined with low-quality products (e.g. bioenergy).

One of BRAIN Biotech’s two business segments: cooperation business established with globally operating industrial partners

Application-oriented sub-sector of biology; includes insights and methods from microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, technical chemistry and process engineering; utilizes biological processes e.g. for industrial applications

BRAIN Biotech demonstration plant for next-generation metal extraction in the areas of green and urban mining based on microorganisms. → BioXtractor

BRAIN Biotech Group collections of enzymes, DNA sequences or natural substances; part of the BRAIN Bioarchive:

• Enzyme library: up to 500 isolated and pre-characterized enzymes and DNA coding for enzymes introduced into expression vectors
• Metagenome library: screenable DNA library with metagenomes from different habitats; collection serves to identify previously uncharacterized enzymes and metabolic pathways
• Substance library: collection of natural substances with sub-libraries of specific, well-characterized groups of substances

In-house collection consisting of around 53,000 comprehensively characterized microorganisms (including “chassis microorganism” strains for the development of production organisms) and the BRAIN libraries: an enzyme library, a metagenome library and a substance library with numerous isolated natural compounds (see also BRAIN libraries) → BRAIN BioArchive

Sweet protein with an exceptional sweetening potential. It combines a good flavor profile with the benefits of being sugar-free. In nature the African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana produces the protein in its berries. Sourcing the ingredient by extraction would not be sustainable. Therefore, BRAIN Biotech and partner company Roquette have signed a contractual agreement for the approval and production of the sweet protein by fermentation.

Form of the market in which the supply and rendering of services is realized by companies to companies (= business relations between at least two companies)

Alignment of companies with laws and directives, as well as voluntary codes

Biochemically, the CRISPR-Cas complex consists of the CRISPR-associated protein "Cas" with the function of a DNA-cutting protein (belongs to the enzyme class of nucleases), as well as a piece of RNA, the so-called guide RNA, which directs the Cas protein to the site on the DNA to be cut.

The acronym "CRISPR" stands for „Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”, a repetitive region on the genome of the bacterium where this DNA region was initially discovered and by which CRISPR systems can be recognized. CRISPR-Cas systems are derived from a natural mechanism that bacteria use to protect themselves from harmful viruses.

In basic research, CRISPR-Cas technology is already being used in a wide range of applications. However, the unclear patent situation specifically for the CRISPR/Cas9 system often prevents its use in companies, as there are as yet unforeseeable patent risks, as well as expensive licensing fees to be paid. For this reason, BRAIN Biotech has developed its own variant of the CRISPR-Cas scissors, the BRAIN Engineered Cas-Nuclease (BEC), in order to optimize the metabolic performance of microbial production strains within a short time. BEC is a non-Cas9 and non-Cpf1 type genome editing nuclease.

Another proprietary genome editing nuclease is the BMC01 nuclease.

Deoxyribonucleic acid: biomolecule that carries genetic information (genes)

Proteins that accelerate biochemical reactions in their function as biocatalysts; play an important role in the development of biobased products; BRAIN Biotech identifies and develops optimized enzymes and biocatalysts for complex process and application requirements

Foods and beverages that have undergone controlled microbial growth and fermentation

Volume-driven mass markets for enzymes sold in large volumes. This stands in contrast with the high-margin business with specialty enzymes

BRAIN Biotech development program for freshness and product stability utilizing natural bioactive substances; suitable for the food and feed industry, for medical products, paints, cleaning agents and other household products. → FRESCO

Targeted modification of DNA using molecular biology techniques

DNA Length of a DNA sequence, indicated by the number of base pairs (1 Giga bp = 1,000,000,000 base pairs); common metagenomics measure

Genetically modified organisms

"Generally Regarded as Safe status": declaration of safety for the use of substances (e.g. microorganisms) to manufacture foodstuffs; GRAS organisms can be utilized without restriction in biotechnological production

Sustainable mining, e.g. ore treatment to extract gold, silver or copper using microorganisms rather than chemicals

An organism’s natural environment

Biotechnologically optimized microorganisms that serve as microbial “cell factories”

Also known as white biotechnology; drives innovation for a paradigm shift away from petroleum-based towards biological processes and bioeconomy products

Abbreviation for "BRAIN-Metagenome-Cas 01". Proprietary nuclease of BRAIN Biotech AG; extends the company's genome editing toolbox; the class 2 nuclease differs from the "BRAIN-Engineered-CAS" nuclease BEC in its general protein structure and its mode of action on DNA.

All the genomic information present in all the microorganisms of a specific community

Genomic analysis of a community of organisms by gene sequencing; genetic material is extracted, sequenced and analyzed directly from environmental samples, which saves the previous cultivation of microorganisms

Microscopically small unicellular or multicellular organisms, e.g. bacteria, algae, fungi or viruses

Systematic further development of existing and development of new business opportunities including e.g. R&D and marketing activities

NGS stands for "Next Generation Sequencing". It describes the process of high-throughput sequencing of DNA.

Linear, sometimes ring-shaped chain of molecules consisting of two or more amino acids; long polypeptide chains are called proteins.

Process that combines what is known as precision biology with the process of fermentation. In precision fermentation, microorganisms are programmed using genome editing to produce almost any complex organic molecule. Precision fermentation plays an important role in the production of alternative proteins (alternatives to animal proteins).

Sales of products in the form of merchandise, technologies or biotechnological system solutions; can be achieved via the BRAIN Biotech Group’s direct B2B business or through joint product developments with industrial partners and corresponding licensing agreements; scalable-product business option offered by the BRAIN Biotech Group (see also R&D cooperation partnerships)

Non-viable bacterial products or metabolic by-products of probiotic microorganisms that develop biological activity in the host. Are used, for example, in cosmetics.

Food or dietary supplement containing an ingredient (indigestible) that selectively stimulates the growth and/or activity of indigenous bacteria.

Live microorganisms which, when used adequately, exert a health-promoting effect on humans and animals. Have been used for intestinal health in the food sector for over 50 years; new areas of application include cosmetics, agricultural or household products.

Probiotics optimized for performance and/or safety using nonGMO processes (e.g., natural evolution and targeted genome editing without the use of foreign DNA).

In the process of protein engineering, proteins (e.g. enzymes) are constructed and optimized for specific purposes. The approach is either via so-called "rational design" (targeted mutagenesis, possible with existing knowledge of protein structure) or "directed evolution" (mimics natural evolution and requires no prior knowledge of protein structure).

One of several BRAIN Biotech development programs for healthier foods through salt reduction. → SALT-E

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Standardized process model for developing product innovations with the aim of assuring process quality

Combination of probiotics and prebiotics

Area of biology in which organisms are modified to develop new, useful abilities

Dedicated contract R&D programs for the development of tailor-made solutions for industry

Sustainable extraction of valuable substances from secondary raw materials and waste flows in order to retain them in value chains in the long term. → BioXtractor

Includes the application of modern biotechnology in industrial production processes. Chemical starting materials are converted by enzymes and cells into products suitable for further processing. Also known as industrial biotechnology