Fast-X-press -rapid adaptable microbial protein production

Fast-X-Press addresses a pressing need in industrial biotechnology: The rapid development of optimal protein production in microorganisms. The use and demand of new protein-based products for medical and industrial applications is growing rapidly and there is an increasing need for new and more efficient systems that enable the production of proteins in various microorganisms. NTNU has extensive experience in developing new protein production systems and has now developed a new system. The advantage of the new system named 'Fast-X-Press' is that it is based on a fast and efficient selection strategy rather than today's industry standard that primarily relies on a trial-and-error strategy. Fast-X-Press uses a large library of DNA sequences, from which millions of parallel experiments are conducted simultaneously, thereby reducing the time needed to generate optimized protein production. A prerequisite for successful commercialization is verification of the system with industrially relevant proteins. Although the Fast-X-Press system has been verified in a number of microorganisms, it is currently tested for effective production of industrially relevant proteins in collaboration with ArcticZymes AS Norway (based in Tromsø) and Novozymes AS Denmark. Industrial implementation of Fast-X-Press, in addition to optimization of existing protein production systems, might contribute to the development of biotechnological applications that utilize novel microorganisms in specific process conditions; such as recycling and degradation of toxic waste.