Diversa Wins More Funding for Industrial Enzyme Development
Diversa Corp. (San Diego, Calif.) has received a $300,000 Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) award from the National Science Foundation to further its search for cold-adapted enzymes. The award, titled "Cloning and Automated Screening of Genes Encoding Cold-Adapted Lipases from Bacteria Inhabiting Lipid-Rich Whale Skeletons," follows a series of announcements or licensing agreements that Diversa has pursued to identify and manufacture naturally occurring enzymes with commercial potential (See "Biocatalyst Firm Moves on Industrial Chemical Applications". In this case, the company is targeting cold-adapted esterases and lipases for use in making industrial processes more efficient with fewer byproducts, according to Terrance J. Bruggeman, chairman and CEO.
"Cold-adapted enzymes have many potential applications, including use by the detergent industry, a $100 million market, where enzymes are in demand for cold water wash applications," said Bruggeman. "Our research focuses on customizing the enzymes we discovered in our Phase I research, as well as identifying additional esterase and lipase genes which can be developed and optimized further for multiple uses."
The Phase II award will fund research in extreme cold, deep-sea environments where unique microbes have been found to dwell in the carcasses of whale skeletons. These skeletons ooze oil for up to 20 years and are encrusted with a dense microbial flora that derives energy and nutrition from the lipids found in the decaying whale. The microbes are, therefore, a source of rare cold-adapted enzymes. In Phase I research, Diversa scientists found that these enzymes have the capability to efficiently degrade fats and oils under laboratory conditions of extreme cold, such as in cold water wash conditions.
Diversa, which is the world leader in the discovery of high-value enzymes and bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and specialty chemical industries, also provides highly diverse bioactive compound libraries as leads for drug discovery. Since 1994, it has discovered in excess of 500 proprietary enzymes, eclipsing the total number available from all other suppliers. It currently has customers worldwide and has entered into four strategic alliances [Dow Chemical Co., Finnfeeds International Ltd., Boehringer- Mannheim GmbH (a Roche Holdings Co.) and Sigma-Aldrich Co]. Diversa has signed biodiversity agreements with Indonesia, Yellowstone National Park, Iceland and Costa Rica to explore and discover novel enzymes and bioactive molecules from microorganisms living in these diverse areas.
For more information: Diversa Corp., Terrance J. Bruggeman, Tel: 619-453-7020.