Modular Services - Start Anywhere
Every customer journey is different, and so is every enzyme. That’s why BRAINBiocatalysts offers flexible, modular work packages that meet you exactly where you are.
Whether you’re right at the start, looking to discover a unique enzyme for a new process, or already have an enzyme that needs to be scaled up for commercial production, we can help.
Our offering is designed to be as ready-made or as customized as you need, from our out-of-the-box Plug & Produce production strains for rapid feasibility testing, to fully tailored solutions including protein engineering, production strain optimization, and bioprocess development to maximize yield, purity, and performance.
Any Stage | Any Scale | Standard or Customized.
Flexible Entry Points – Start Anywhere
Customers can engage at any stage of their journey. Just tap into one or more of the modules, from early enzyme discovery and engineering to microbial expression, production strain development, bioprocess development and full-scale commercial manufacturing.
End-to-End Integration – One Partner with the end in mind
Seamlessly link enzyme development, bioprocess development, and manufacturing. Reduces technical transfer risks, project delays, and costs compared to working with multiple providers.
Advanced Toolbox – Innovative Tools for the Best Solution
Dedicated expert teams continuously implement the latest technologies (e.g. AI tools, bioinformatics) and even push the boundaries in developing proprietary technologies (e.g. MetXtra™, CRISPR-BMC, Plug & Produce) to give our customers competitive advantage.
Proven Scalability – Lab to 10,000L
Expertise and infrastructure to ensure smooth scale-up with reproducible yields and consistent quality. De-risks the transition from R&D to commercial production.
Speed to Market – Shorter Development Cycles
Experienced experts from various fields of enzyme development use state-of-the-art technologies to speed up progress and clearly defined milestones to accelerate decision-making and cut months off typical timelines.
Transparent IP & Freedom to Operate
Clear, customer-friendly IP model with no hidden licensing traps. Enables long-term security and commercial freedom for customers’ innovations.
Enzyme Scale-up & Manufacturing Services
Plug & Produce (basic): Escherichia coli: Rapid plasmid-based expression (AMR or AMR-free). Bacillus subtilis: Chromosomal integration (AMR-free) with evaluation of up to 2 constructs (e.g. signal peptide or gene design variations). Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris): Evaluation of up to 2 constructs using different promoters (methanol or methanol-free induction), signal peptides, or gene designs chromosomally integrated (AMR-free).
Plug & Produce (extensive): Bacillus subtilis: Chromosomal integration (AMR-free) with evaluation of up to 6 constructs with variations in signal peptides, codon optimization, or strain genotypes. Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris): Evaluation of up to 6 constructs with options for single- or multi-copy expression cassette integration. Includes promoter (methanol or methanol-free induction), signal peptide, and gene design variations. Aspergillus niger: Evaluation of up to 4 constructs with refined gene designs or signal peptides. Directed chromosomal multi-copy expression cassette integration (AMR-free). In all cases, the enzyme production will be validated via SDS-PAGE.
If higher product yields are desired, bioprocesses can be specifically optimized for the product. Process development is carried out in 2 – 10 L scale, along with the associated DSP including chromatography if needed. A range of methods is applied, from DOE (Design of Experiments) to Process Intensification.
Not every project starts from discovery - and it doesn’t need to. Whether your enzyme was developed in-house or elsewhere, our scale up and fermentation team can take it from proven concept to full-scale production. With extensive expertise in process transfer, optimisation, and downstream processing, we ensure reliable & high-yield manufacture.
Enzyme Discovery Services
Method transfer: If an analytical method is already available, we transfer it in-house to test enzyme activities and characterize relevant enzyme properties. For method transfer, you can rely on decades of experience in enzyme assay development, validation, and optimization. Our facilities include instruments for both small-volume, high throughput assays (plate readers) as well as for detailed analyses using HPLC and GC. Method development: If no analytical method exists, we develop one and then perform enzyme characterization for reliable results. We can leverage a collection of established methods and adapt them for each specific enzyme, from fluorescence-labeled substrates for high-throughput screenings to in-depth characterization via HPLC.
Enzyme Engineering for Customised Biocatalysts that work in Application
For rational enzyme engineering, we leverage our sequence- and structural bioinformatics pipelines. Enzyme libraries will be generated and improved enzymes are identified through multiparameter screenings (library size 100 - 1,000 variants). For each improved enzyme, the mutation details and corresponding performance improvements are documented.
Each subsequent round of enzyme engineering is based on the data from the previous round and makes use of this information. In addition to a renewed bioinformatic evaluation, combinatorial mutagenesis of beneficial mutations is also performed.
This process can be repeated as many times as needed until the target is achieved – a biocatalyst that fits the application perfectly.
Before we start an enzyme engineering, we can scan nature’s diversity to find a better starting sequences that already largely exhibits the desired properties. During an enzyme engineering and the discovery of promising mutations, we can also analyse if any natural enzymes already carry those beneficial mutation. In this way we can enrich enzyme engineering with exciting biodiversity from MetXtra™ and expand the accessible sequence space.
