Every year Novozymes produces or isolates billions of potential new enzymes that may turn into a new, revolutionizing product. Finding the right enzyme with the right properties is therefore like finding a needle in a haystack.
However, with the introduction of High Throughput Screening, the job can be done. Based on a thorough investigation of our customers’ needs, Novozymes’ scientists can produce an assay or test to scan any enzyme activity, specificity or stability under conditions such as heat, acidity, alkalinity or a specific laundry detergent.
In the past Novozymes has developed a powerful technology platform of Molecular Evolution and High Throughput Screening using application-specific testing or assays. At present we can scan the capabilities of more than a million enzymes each week in extremely complex set-ups that include real-life simulation of, for example, a washing machine, a jet cooker or an oven. And all the assays can be performed on quantities of enzymes 5,000 to 100,000 times smaller than is required for real-life applications.
The vital step in all screening is selection of the right candidates, and for this we develop predictive microscreen assays simulating real-life customer applications. High Throughput Screening makes it possible to test vast numbers of enzyme candidates inexpensively and non-laboriously in a fast and effective way using complex and sophisticated robotics. High Throughput Screening can be used to screen both wild-type gene libraries and man-made libraries using the newest technology within the field of Molecular Evolution.
The combination of High Throughput Screening and Molecular Evolution allows Novozymes to meet the demands for enzymes in more and more specialized fields and sophisticated chemical reactions. New enzyme possibilities are found on the basis of customer collaboration and knowledge of customers&
rsquo; present and future needs. Understanding customer applications down to the fine details helps Novozymes to create the precise enzyme capability which the customer needs.
The target applications are often extremely complex with process parameters that cannot be directly replicated in micro-scale assays, for example the pressure during jet cooking, the agitation in a washing machine or the kneading of dough. In each such case Novozymes invents new ways of introducing similar environments to the micro-scale assays.
Correlation of enzyme and enzyme variant performance in specific microscreen assays and in real-life applications is ideally undertaken in tandem with the customer, thereby ensuring that the right product is developed. Novozymes also has larger facilities up to semi-production scale for most industrial enzyme applications, enabling testing of selected candidates under conditions very close to the intended application.