Production optimization for biotechnologies

Thibault Clavier, Hans Geiselmann, Eugenio Cinquemani, Hidde de Jong, Delphine Ropers

This research involves a SATT project with the transfer service of Université Grenoble Alpes and the STIP service of Inria in support of the project.

We use genomic engineering methods to modify the control of bacterial metabolism and protein synthesis, thereby redirecting growth resources towards the production of metabolites and recombinant proteins. In particular, we have developed a "growth switch" which enables us to induce or extinguish the expression of RNA polymerase genes in Escherichia coli by means of an external (chemical) signal, thereby controlling bacterial growth.

By operating the growth switch, we have shown that the production yield of metabolites of interest can be significantly increased, in bioreactors on a scale of a few liters. We are currently working on approaches to make the induction system more flexible and economical (by exploring optogenetics) and to optimize induction schemes to achieve maximum yields or production rates (through optimal control methods). The Switch2Prod maturation project, led by Thibault Clavier and supported by SATT Linksium in collaboration with Inria's Innovation Transfer and Partnerships Department, is one such approach.