Clean, safe water is the base of good public health. NECi develops and commercializes enzyme-based products for water testing and remediation. Currently, NECi is focused on the application of higher plant Nitrate Reductase (NaR) to problems caused by excess nitrate in the environment, a pollution and human health issue worldwide. In Phase I, we demonstrated that recombinant, catalytically active NaR from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtNaR) can be produced economically in the yeast Pichia pastoris, to make NaR-based products more cost-competitive. AtNaR was purified using affinity chromatography, then performance tested in NECi nitrate test kit products. We expressed a second recombinant NaR form, YNR 1, from the yeast Pichia angusta, a key step to increase expression of fully active NaR enzyme. Efforts to engineer the NaR gene were begun using YNRI, and we developed a unique down-sized"""""""" form with nitrate-reducing ability intact. In Phase II, we propose to continue to optimize corn and yeast NaR cDNA clones for improved expression and stability, and for efficient purification. Fermentation parameters and optimal gene construction for maximal NaR production will be investigated. We will further develop and characterize down-sized forms of NaR for testing and use in NECi 's electrically-driven immobilized enzyme biosensor and water treatment prototypes.

Proposed Commercial Applications

Not Available

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
2R44GM056598-02A2
Application #
6338400
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SSS-2 (10))
Program Officer
Ikeda, Richard A
Project Start
1998-09-01
Project End
2003-03-31
Budget Start
2001-04-01
Budget End
2002-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$364,297
Indirect Cost
Name
Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Lake Linden
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
49945
Barbier, Guillaume G; Campbell, Wilbur H (2005) Viscosity effects on eukaryotic nitrate reductase activity. J Biol Chem 280:26049-54
Fischer, Katrin; Barbier, Guillaume G; Hecht, Hans-Juergen et al. (2005) Structural basis of eukaryotic nitrate reduction: crystal structures of the nitrate reductase active site. Plant Cell 17:1167-79
Barbier, Guillaume G; Joshi, Rama C; Campbell, Ellen R et al. (2004) Purification and biochemical characterization of simplified eukaryotic nitrate reductase expressed in Pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 37:61-71