High-yield production of allulose from glucose and starch

Overview

Ex Seed, a pioneering deep-tech food startup, has developed a groundbreaking method for producing allulose, a low-calorie sugar alternative, using engineered yeast. The novel process utilizes a specially designed yeast strain capable of converting glucose into allulose with a yield exceeding 80%. By attaching enzymes such as alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and pullulanase directly to the yeast cell wall, the process eliminates the need for commercial enzymes and enables the direct use of gelatinized starch. This innovation promises to significantly lower production costs and enhance the sustainability of allulose manufacturing.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• High-yield conversion: The engineered yeast strain offers more than 80% yield in converting glucose to allulose.
• Enzyme integration: Cell wall attachment of alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and pullulanase enables the direct use of starch without external enzymes.
• Versatile substrate use: Capable of using glucose streams and corn starch hydrolysates, broadening the range of raw material inputs.

Technology readiness level

The technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory setting. Future validation plans include optimizing the yeast for allulose production and testing the process with various substrates over a 24-month period. This will further enhance the process's efficiency and scalability for commercial applications.