Development of instructions for a production scale propagation and packaging of the A-YES assay yeast
Natural estrogens and many derived substances act as hormones in vertebrates, which already cause an endocrine response of the organism in very small amounts. In addition to the chemical production, most of these substances emit due to pharmaceutical applications into waste water treatment plants where these estrogenic substances are inadequately degraded. Consequently, they end up in rivers and lakes as well as in ground water and oceans.
In order to quantify the estrogen content of such environmental samples the research group Yeast Genetics at the IPK Gatersleben under the direction of Prof. Dr. Gotthard Kunze together with the QuoData GmbH / Dresden developed a biosensor, the so called A-YES assay, using the yeast Arxula adeninivorans G1214. That transgenic yeast synthesizes the human estrogen receptor α at which estrogenic substances can bind. The binding results in a release of an enzyme that can be quantified photometrically. The integration of the human estrogen receptor allows directly the testing of a substance regarding its human estrogenic activity.
As a part of this project a quality assured cultivation process with a subsequently down streaming of the yeast as a product will be established. Furthermore, a consultation regarding the acquisition and commissioning of the production devices as well as a project partner’s employees training in the use of the production system will take place.
Project funding:
Funding by the European Union and the Free State of Saxony: Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Co-operation partner:
QuoData GmbH - Quality & Statistics
Kaitzer Str. 135
D-01135 Dresden / Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)351-402 8867 0
http://www.quodata.de
Project term:
01.12.2012 - 30.06.2014
Contact:
Lauterbach, Werner, Bley