Technology

Cysal is using microbial metabolic diversity for the development of novel fermentation technologies and products. Our current focus is the biotechnological production of dipeptides at an industrial scale and the development of novel applications based on these dipeptides.

The problem

The capacity of the body to absorb free amino acids is limited, and the presence of an excess of one amino acid can inhibit the uptake of other amino acids. Lysine is well-known uptake antagonist for the amino acid arginine. Dipeptides, natural amino acid derivatives that are scientifically recognized as superior alternatives to free amino acids, are absorbed by a different mechanism and do not suffer from these restrictions, but their chemical synthesis is challenging, particularly of dipeptides containing arginine or lysine. Due to the high production cost, the use of dipeptides is largely limited to laboratory-scale research and specialized applications.

Our solution

In collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Alexander Steinbüchel at the Institute of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Cysal has developed a biotechnological process for the economic production of arginine-aspartate and lysine-aspartate dipeptides at an industrial scale. The potential applications range from animal feed supplements, nutritional supplements and cosmetics to specialist pharmaceutical and medical purposes.