Background

ATP regeneration is critical for the cost-effective operation of bio-transformations that consume this expensive co-factor. Furthermore, by basing the system on nucleoside diphosphate kinase, other natural and non-natural NTPs can be (re-)formed, such as UTP in the context of UDP-sugar-powered glycosylation processes.

Technology Overview

Durham researchers prepared phosphoryl imidazole (ImP) as their phosphoryl donor using POCl₃ and imidazole using a rapid, straightforward aqueous procedure. A mutant of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) is readily overproduced using standard procedures. Effective NTP formation from ImP occurs readily in aqueous-buffered solutions. The researchers have shown that ATP can be generated and consumed by another enzyme (luciferase) in situ, thus showing proof-of-concept for an ATP-regeneration system for applications in biocatalysis ().

State of Development

Durham University have demonstrated the effective formation of ATP and GTP and the ability of the NTP formation system to run in situ with another enzyme.

Benefits

Cost: these precursors are >~100 times less expensive than ATP
Environment: mostly aqueous systems with low impact by-products and renewable enzyme catalyst
Convenience: ImP is rapidly formed, can be used crude and has a solution half-life ~10 days.

Opportunity

Durham University is seeking expressions of interest from suitably positioned industry partners to apply and develop our technology for ATP regeneration and/or for chemoenzymatic preparation of nucleotide-based products such as non-natural NTPs and NDP-sugars.

Durham University are seeking opportunities with a commercial partner, development partner, a licensing opportunity and other potential uses of the technology.

Nucleoside Triphosphate Regeneration System

Patents

IP Status

Seeking