(166f) Transient Expression of Varying Gelatin Fragment Lengths in Nicotiana Benthamiana to Synthesize Microcarriers for Cultured Meat Production
AIChE Annual Meeting
2022
2022 Annual Meeting
Food, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering Division
Poster Session: Food and Bioprocess Engineering
Monday, November 14, 2022 - 3:30pm to 5:00pm
In this study we present a process for producing a non-animal derived chicken gelatin by transiently expressing chicken collagen fragments in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana. By producing gelatin recombinantly in a plant host, the shortcomings of commercially available gelatin are addressed and the recombinantly produced plant gelatin is comprised of a single fragment length. This allows for systematic screening of various fragment lengths to tune properties such as melting temperature and stiffness with the added benefit of reduced batch-to-batch variability. The unique ability to quickly scale up whole plant production at a relatively low capital and operating cost will also be advantageous in the CM field where price parity with conventionally farmed meat has yet to be achieved.