General Objective: Improve the bioavailability of iron and other essential minerals in a fermented drink based on quinoa and amaranth by genetically engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae to express phytase and ferric reductase, in order to reduce phytates and increase mineral absorption.
Specific objectives:
- Selection and redesign of coding sequences and expression cassettes
- Introduce phytase and ferric reductase genes into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome using CRISPR-Cas9.
- Optimize the expression and secretion of phytase and ferric reductase in S. cerevisiae.
- To evaluate the enzymatic activity of the modified strains of S. cerevisiae in vitro.
- Microencapsulate the modified strain in a polymer matrix
- Produce a fermented drink based on quinoa and amaranth with the modified strains.
- Evaluate the bioavailability of iron and other minerals in the fermented drink.
Participating Institutions:
UTE, USFQ, UCUENCA, ANDES KIKUNA SA
Project Director Linda Guaman
Participants:
- Carlos Arturo Barba Ostria
- Orestes Darío López Hernández
- Arianna Carolina Mayorga Ramos
- Santiago Domingo Carpio Alvarez
- Jessica Maritza Guaman Bautista
- Augusto Andres Tosi Velez
- Darwin Roberto Llumigusin Jácome
Awarded budget: $38,329.60
Project Status: Awarded
