Biotechnological Products and Processes
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
This course aims mainly to provide theoretical bases for improvement and management of biotechnological processes and the use of enzymes technology for production of compounds by industrial bioprocesses. The course is ideally linked to those dealing with protein engineering, structural biology, enzymology, bioinformatics.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of this class, the students are expected to:
1) have acquired understanding of importance of metabolic pathways on process development;
2) have understood the rational of metabolic engineering strategies (approaches and methods) utilized to improve cellular performance;
3) have acquired understanding of theoretical aspects and experimental approaches to engineer microorganisms in the context of biotechnological applications;
4) be able to recognize some relevant applications of free or immobilized enzymes for the biotransformations of both natural and non-natural substrates in terms of enzymes involved, products obtained and operational details.
5) have acquired the ability to correlate the disciplines involved and their relevance to biotechnological developments.
1) have acquired understanding of importance of metabolic pathways on process development;
2) have understood the rational of metabolic engineering strategies (approaches and methods) utilized to improve cellular performance;
3) have acquired understanding of theoretical aspects and experimental approaches to engineer microorganisms in the context of biotechnological applications;
4) be able to recognize some relevant applications of free or immobilized enzymes for the biotransformations of both natural and non-natural substrates in terms of enzymes involved, products obtained and operational details.
5) have acquired the ability to correlate the disciplines involved and their relevance to biotechnological developments.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Prof. Compagno and Prof. Morelli will share teaching of this class by focusing on metabolic engineering strategies utilized to improve cellular metabolism and the use of enzymes technology to improve industrial production processes, respectively.
Prof. Compagno.
The first group of lectures will recap information on industrial microbiology, cultivation strategies (batch, fed-batch, continuous culture), principles of genetic engineering in yeast. Some lectures will discuss tools to study metabolic flux balance and will introduce metabolic engineering strategies. Lectures will be presented about the regulation of carbon source metabolism in yeast, and then we will discuss the strategies (pretreatments, genetic manipulation for utilization of alternative carbon sources (e.g. lignocellulosic wastes). Lectures will analyze strategies to redirect metabolic pathways for improving industrial production (ethanol, proteins, lipids), and to introduce new pathways for production of new compounds. Lectures will analyze strategies to increase the cellular performance (ethanol tolerance, heat tolerance, cold tolerance, osmotic stress tolerance) to improve industrial processes.
Prof. Morelli
In the first lectures a brief recap on the selectivities attainable in a chemical transformation using enzymes as biocatalysts (chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity) will be introduced. Selected applications of biocatalytic methods for the production of drug intermediates and active principles, natural and unnatural amino acids, biofuel, rare sugars and related compounds will be presented and discussed in the light of the attainable selectivity with respect to chemical methods. Requirements of enzymes for technological applications (e.g. detergents formulation, paper and leather manufacturing) will be discussed.
Prof. Compagno.
The first group of lectures will recap information on industrial microbiology, cultivation strategies (batch, fed-batch, continuous culture), principles of genetic engineering in yeast. Some lectures will discuss tools to study metabolic flux balance and will introduce metabolic engineering strategies. Lectures will be presented about the regulation of carbon source metabolism in yeast, and then we will discuss the strategies (pretreatments, genetic manipulation for utilization of alternative carbon sources (e.g. lignocellulosic wastes). Lectures will analyze strategies to redirect metabolic pathways for improving industrial production (ethanol, proteins, lipids), and to introduce new pathways for production of new compounds. Lectures will analyze strategies to increase the cellular performance (ethanol tolerance, heat tolerance, cold tolerance, osmotic stress tolerance) to improve industrial processes.
Prof. Morelli
In the first lectures a brief recap on the selectivities attainable in a chemical transformation using enzymes as biocatalysts (chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity) will be introduced. Selected applications of biocatalytic methods for the production of drug intermediates and active principles, natural and unnatural amino acids, biofuel, rare sugars and related compounds will be presented and discussed in the light of the attainable selectivity with respect to chemical methods. Requirements of enzymes for technological applications (e.g. detergents formulation, paper and leather manufacturing) will be discussed.
Prerequisites for admission
A revision of the topics covered by the basic biochemistry and molecular biology classes included in the bachelor curriculum before attending the course is highly recommended.
Teaching methods
Teaching Mode: Classroom lectures supported by projected material with discussions on experimental design, data analysis, and specific case studies. Attendance is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Copies of the slides projected in the classroom as well as other materials will be made available at the beginning of the course. By no means this material replaces the lectures. The material is made available only to registered students of the Degree Course in Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and should not be distributed to others.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Compagno part: the evaluation of the student's performance will be based on a written examination with open-answer questions spanning all topics covered in the class. This mode will offer the opportunity to test by writing students' ability to apply their knowledge on topics covered by this class.
Morelli part: written examination, consisting of two parts. Part 1: two multiple-choice questions, aimed at verifying (i) the ability of the students in recognizing enzyme-catalyzed chemical transformations and (ii) the knowledge of relevant properties of enzymes used as biocatalysts. Part 2: open-answer question about applications of biocatalysts. Questions will be focused and limited but will require synthesis and connection skills, as they might span different topics covered during the course.
The final grade will result from the joint evaluation of each candidate by the two teachers.
Morelli part: written examination, consisting of two parts. Part 1: two multiple-choice questions, aimed at verifying (i) the ability of the students in recognizing enzyme-catalyzed chemical transformations and (ii) the knowledge of relevant properties of enzymes used as biocatalysts. Part 2: open-answer question about applications of biocatalysts. Questions will be focused and limited but will require synthesis and connection skills, as they might span different topics covered during the course.
The final grade will result from the joint evaluation of each candidate by the two teachers.
CHIM/06 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - University credits: 3
CHIM/11 - CHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF FERMENTATION - University credits: 3
CHIM/11 - CHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF FERMENTATION - University credits: 3
Lectures: 48 hours
Professors:
Compagno Concetta Maria, Morelli Carlo
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
from Monday to Friday by appointment
Professor's office, Department of Chemistry.