Twist Bioscience Corporation (Nasdaq: TWST), renowned for its high-quality synthetic DNA crafted via a silicon platform, and bitBiome Inc., a trailblazer in biotechnology harnessing the potential of microbes to drive the bioeconomy, have jointly introduced a Transaminase Enzyme Screening Kit. This meticulously curated collection features 48 diverse transaminase enzymes, now available for in-house screening and evaluation.

Transaminase enzymes, which facilitate the transfer of an amine group from an amine donor, have garnered significant attention for their role in synthesizing chiral amines. These compounds are vital in the pharmaceutical industry and present a promising "green" alternative to traditional synthesis methods.

This collaboration marries Twist Bioscience’s cutting-edge synthesis technology with bitBiome’s exclusive bit-GEM database, boasting over two billion microbial sequences. The result is the Transaminase Enzyme Screening Kit, offering laboratories and pharmaceutical companies a unique set of transaminases designed to enhance enzyme biocatalysis, particularly for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Biocatalysis is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical synthesis in the production of small-molecule pharmaceuticals and other essential compounds.

“We are delighted to work with Twist Bioscience to bring the wealth of relevant sequences in our bit-GEM database to not only the biocatalysis community but also the global biomanufacturing community,” said Yuji Suzuki, CEO of bitBiome. “Our companies have complementary strengths, with our database representing a highly diverse collection of sequences unknown to the public domain, and Twist’s capability of making large-scale DNA synthesis possible. We look forward to providing new and innovative solutions for the industry.”

“By mining bitBiome’s massive database and by identifying and synthesizing the enzymes that would be most useful in creating active pharmaceutical ingredients, we can provide our and bitBiome’s customers with a new and robust approach to enzyme engineering and development specific to biocatalysis,” said Emily Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “This screening kit builds on our work in DNA synthesis where our customers provide us with sequences and we quickly deliver products. We envision a complementary service wherein customers can not only order specific sequences but also leverage our combined capabilities to identify novel enzymes and protein molecules.”

The Transaminase Enzyme Screening Kit represents a significant advancement in the field of biocatalysis, providing researchers and manufacturers with innovative tools to enhance efficiency and sustainability in pharmaceutical synthesis.

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