Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development visits BRAIN AG
- Minister informs herself about digitalization in biotechnology
- Digitalized metagenome analyses open up new possibilities for special enzyme development
As part of her "Hessentour – Benefits of Digitalization", Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development Professor Kristina Sinemus visited BRAIN AG in Zwingenberg. The Minister informed herself about the importance and application fields of digitalization in industrial biotechnology.
Scientists from BRAIN AG explained to the Minister the role of digitally-supported analysis of initially unmanageable amounts of data in the field of metagenome analysis - and the identification and characterization of enzymes that can later be used in industrial processes.
Identifying microorganisms and their biomolecules digitally
Scientists at BRAIN described the metagenome as the entire genetic information of all genomes, e.g. in a soil sample, and the microbial diversity it contains. According to the scientists, the acquisition of digital data on microbial diversity (metagenome sequencing), followed by the digital classification of the sequence data (metagenome annotation) and their digital evaluation (comparative analysis) is the only way to process such biodiversity. As an example, they cited the fact that digitalized metagenomics could be used to identify and characterize up to 1010 microorganisms from a single gram of a soil sample. These in turn would provide an enormous variety of new biomolecules, such as proteins and enzymes, for biotechnological application.
Optimization between laboratory bench and database
Once a biomolecule has been digitally identified, it is advisable to create a "digital variant library" (with more than 105 biomolecules in some cases) and optimize it using bioinformatics. This so-called "protein engineering" is then checked in analogue laboratory tests, making it possible to optimize an enzyme step by step and under predefined conditions for cyclical applications on an industrial scale.
According to the scientists who held the presentation, this digital optimization process would sometimes involve the use of structural models that predict a digital 3D model from the one-dimensional linear amino acid sequence of an enzyme. These 3D models allowed predictions to be made about “set screws” with which an enzyme could be improved: for example, the enzyme's temperature or pH optimum could be adapted to industrial processes in this way.
The Minister, herself a qualified biologist, followed the explanations with great interest. In the ensuing dialogue, she wanted to know what benefits this digitalization application would have for people themselves. The scientists at BRAIN explained that the current digital possibilities - particularly in combination with the often cited artificial intelligence - might enable hitherto unknown processes, such as the correct folding of digitally identified enzymes, which could make such efficient predictions based on the wealth of metagenome data that it would be possible to save repeated cycles between laboratory and database. Apart from this practical benefit for the daily work of scientists, society as a whole also benefits from the new digital possibilities, because optimized enzymes can, for example, reduce the energy required in an industrial process or the amount of chemicals needed, thus leading to greater sustainability.
Picture: The Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus and Adriaan Moelker, CEO of BRAIN AG, in a laboratory of biotech company BRAIN. © BRAIN AG
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About BRAIN
BRAIN Biotech AG is a leading European supplier of bio-based products and solutions such as enzymes and proteins, microbial production strains, natural compounds and biotechnological solutions for more sustainable industrial processes. The company focuses on the fields of nutrition, health and environment.
BRAIN Biotech AG is the parent company of the international BRAIN Biotech Group. The Group's business activities are divided into three segments: The BioProducts segment comprises the product business with specialty enzymes and other proteins, for which the Group operates fermentation facilities in the United Kingdom and production facilities in continental Europe and the United States. The BioScience segment offers research-intensive custom solutions based on enzyme technology, strain development, bioprocess development and natural product screening. The BioIncubator segment conducts its own R&D projects or those initiated with partners with high value-added potential. A particularly promising incubator project is the development of the Company's own CRISPR-based gene editing technology platform, which is currently being established and expanded by Akribion Genomics (in foundation planning).
Through its own R&D activities, BRAIN Biotech Group is continuously expanding its product portfolio in the field of specialty enzymes and small molecules. The latter are the starting point for screenings, e.g. for novel drug candidates for pharmaceutical applications.
BRAIN Biotech AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since February 9, 2016 (ticker symbol: BNN; securities identification number: ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394). The company employs approximately 330 people and generated revenues of EUR 55,3 million in the fiscal year 2022/23.
For more information, please visit: https://www.brain-biotech.com, LinkedIn, Threads and YouTube.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations, and assumptions of the management of BRAIN Biotech AG, and are based on information currently available to the management. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of future performance, and entail both known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Numerous factors exist that could influence the future performance of and future developments at BRAIN Biotech AG and the BRAIN Biotech Group. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, risks associated with capital markets, currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations, as well as other factors. BRAIN Biotech AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.