eXoZymes, a company based in California, has developed a new approach to enzyme engineering that allows for large-scale bio-based manufacturing without the need for living cells. This cell-free enzyme system is designed to convert low-cost feedstocks, such as glucose, into products like pharmaceuticals and biofuels. The system is capable of complex transformations in a single pot, eliminating the need for cell toxicity concerns and making downstream separations more cost-effective. The lack of cell-based systems also reduces the need for chromatography and other separation methods, reducing the overall equipment footprint and capital expenditures. To optimize the process, eXoZymes used artificial intelligence to optimize enzyme stability, longevity, activity, and resilience in industrial conditions. The company has successfully scaled up the system to 100-L volumes for several different products, including terpenes and cannabinoids. The company has also received funding from BioMADE to scale up the production of isobutanol, a precursor to biofuels.
The frontier of enzyme engineering is pushed beyond the cellular boundary, into the realm of chemical engineering.
