Module 1: Protein Production Overview

Peptide Delivery

Many short chain peptide drugs are suseptible to breakdown in the stomach making them suitable candidates for encapsulation.

When synthesised, all polypeptides begin with the same amino acid: methionine. This often removes the desired bioactivity of the compounds. Some larger polypeptides are cleaved by proteases within the body into smaller functional peptides that do not begin with methionine (as shown on the image to the left.)
By encoding a linker region that is designed to be recognised and cleaved by proteases within the gut, we get past the production difficulties associated with the peptides, and allow for the release of these peptides into the gut.

If we were to use natural polypeptide processing pathways, we would be forced to equip The E.ncapsulator with different enzymes for different polypeptides. We have avoided this inelegant solution and instead created a universal processing pathway that is compatible with all peptides. What is more, our system does not require the expression any additional genes!

  About how our universal peptide processing system works.

Demonstration

Opiorphin

To showcase peptide delivery, we have selected the pentapeptide (five amino acids) opiorphin. Opiorphin is a good example of a bioactive peptide that is not easily manufactured.

This peptide is naturally found in human saliva and plays a role in pain relief and as a natural anti-depressant. The E.ncapsulator's unique peptide production module makes it an ideal chassis for the synthesis of opiorphin.

  About opiorphin.