Enzyme development as team work
BRAIN and Biocatalysts have jointly developed their first enzyme. Biocatalysts is now bringing the hydrolase Proteocut K to the life sciences market as a more powerful alternative to Proteinase K.
Enzymes from the hydrolase group are used in many molecular biology methods. For example, when preparing nucleic acid from a cell mixture, they are used to break down the interfering proteins and isolate the nucleic acid. Biocatalysts, a member of the BRAIN Group, has now launched such a hydrolase and will market the enzyme in the life sciences industry.
Higher performance, lower price
The hydrolase Proteocut K is a subtilisin-type serine protease with a broad substrate specificity that can be used to hydrolyze proteins in nucleic acid preparations. Proteocut K (PK909L) is a high-quality cost-effective alternative to the common liquid Proteinase K.
In addition to the price difference, Proteocut K is also more powerful in comparison. The activity and performance of the enzyme was improved in a specially developed purification process. This purification process had previously been developed on a laboratory scale by BRAIN AG's enzyme developers. BRAIN then transferred the process to Biocatalysts and the British enzyme specialists brought into play their expertise in scaling up production volumes in enzyme production. Now Biocatalysts has launched the enzyme Proteocut K as a commercial product and aims to offer industrial life sciences researchers an attractive alternative for their molecular biology applications.
The idea for this special enzyme development stemmed from an R&D project among colleagues at BRAIN AG in Germany. Thanks to this achievement, Biocatalysts has now made its debut as a commercializer in the life sciences market.
Daren Bryce, Commercial Director at Biocatalysts Ltd, reflects on this latest product launch: “We have taken our commercial knowledge of producing enzymes on an industrial scale and applied it to the field of life sciences to produce an enzyme that acts like Proteinase K whilst providing additional benefits. This is a new chapter for Biocatalysts Ltd as we diversify into new markets. We feel our experience in manufacturing enzymes will enable us to provide an enhanced offering on this important market”.