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UFS busy with exciting research into flavours and fragrances

11 July 2022 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied

Prof Martie Smith and Prof Drik Opperman — Prof Martie Smit and Prof Dirk Opperman in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry filed a patent entitled “Process for the chemical modification of alkanes, fatty acids and fatty alcohols”.

Flavours and fragrances have a wide application in the food, feed, cosmetic, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Many flavour compounds are still produced via chemical synthesis or via extraction from plant or animal sources. However, there is increasing interest in their bio-production or the use of flavour compounds of (micro) biological origin.

One reason for this shift is that chemical synthesis often uses environmentally unfriendly processes. Chemical synthesis usually also produces racemic mixtures with the second enantiomer, mirror image of the looked-for compound, often having undesirable organoleptic properties. Furthermore, the consumer has developed a “chemophobia”-attitude towards synthetic chemical compounds, especially when related to food and home-care products. This applies even to nature-identical compounds – products that occur in nature but are produced via a non-natural chemical process. Products produced with the use of enzymes or microbes from “natural” substrates can be labelled “natural”. The flavour and fragrance industry thus pay higher prices for such products labelled as “natural”.

The invention

A University of the Free State (UFS) team, led by Prof Martie Smit and Prof Dirk Opperman in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry are conducting exciting research in this area. They filed a patent entitled “Process for the chemical modification of alkanes, fatty acids and fatty alcohols”.

The invention relates to a process for the enzymatic in-chain hydroxylation of C12 to C16 fatty acids, alcohols, and alkanes. Hydroxylation of C12 fatty acid and alcohol provides routes for the synthesis of “natural” δ-dodecalactone. The advantage of these routes is that they do not rely on massoia lactones. Massoia lactones are derived from the bark of Massoia trees which grow in Indonesia. Harvesting of the bark kills the trees.

The cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) claimed in this patent are to the inventors’ knowledge the most regioselective enzymes described thus far that can be used for the synthesis of δ-dodecalactone from lauric acid or 1-dodecanol. The approach that the technology takes is to claim cytochrome P450 enzymes that share 70 % amino acid identity to a set of selected P450s for the regioselective hydroxylation of lauric acid and 1-dodecanol to synthesise δ-dodecalactone.

Still in early stage

The current state of development is early stage with the technology only demonstrated in the laboratory on a small scale (100-200 ml). Before the technology can be commercialised the team would need to further improve the regioselectivity and stability of the P450s and proof that the reactions can be scaled up in bioreactors. The technology will probably be delivered as an enzyme (amino acid sequence) with the desired properties.

There are other research groups working on a synthetic biology approach for the de novo synthesis of δ-dodecalactone from glucose by genetically engineered microbes. It is still unclear how such a process will compare in terms of product yields, economics and environmental impact with the processes proposed by the UFS patent.

If the team had to partner with a commercial company, their first choice would be to work with an established flavour and fragrance company. Another possibility would be the small French flavour and fragrance company that Dr Alizé Pennec, the post-doc and co-inventor who initially discovered the unique P450 activity, is working for.

Please view the videos for more information on patents.

The Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation has released two new calls for applications for funding. Academic staff and researchers are encouraged to submit applications for these funds. At this stage we are not accepting projects from Research Fellows.

The two funds are:

1. The Industrial Engagement Fund

2. The Intellectual Property Commercialisation Fund

Each fund has its own guidelines and application process. The guidelines are attached. The applications must be filled in on RIMS.

The RIMS application forms can be found through this link

For more information please click the documents below:

IP Commercialisation Fund Concept Note

The UFS Industry Engagement Fund Concept Note

News Archive

Regional Conference on Trafficking in Human Beings

2007-06-29

Trafficking in Human Beings:
National and International Perspectives

Date: 17th August 2007
Address: CR Swart Auditorium, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Every year thousands of children and adults become victims of trafficking and abuse in South Africa and throughout the southern African region. Victims are trafficked for a myriad of reasons: sexual exploitation, including prostitution and pornography; illegal labour, including child conscription; domestic servitude; illegal adoptions; body parts/organs; and forced marriages.

The Unit for Children’s Rights, Department of Criminal and Medical Law, University of the Free State (UFS), together with the Centre for Continuing Legal Education at UFS, will host a Regional Conference on Trafficking in Human Beings. The conference will bring together key role-players from the South African government as well as crucial international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the region.

Trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, is a serious violation of the human rights of the victims, as well as an extremely profitable source of income to organized crime, and needs the attention and intervention of both governmental and non-governmental institutions in South Africa.

Speakers will include representatives from the United National Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Law Reform Commission, the Unit for Children’s Rights-UFS, and NGOs Molo Songololo and Terre Des Homes, that work with child trafficking victims in South Africa and around the world.

The media are invited to report on the conference, and interview speakers and presenters Attached find programme. For more info contact the following persons.

1. Beatri Kruger - 051 401 2108 / email: krugerh.rd@mail.ufs.ac.za
2. Susan Kreston - 051 401 9562 / email: krestons.rd@mail.ufs.ac.za
3. Elizabeth Snyman – 051 401 2268 / email: snymane.rd@mail.ufs.ac.za

Programme

Trafficking in human beings:
National & international perspectives

Presented by The Unit for Children’s Rights, Department Of Criminal & Medical Law , Faculty of Law, in Conjunction with The Centre for Continuing Legal Education, University of the Free State.

Funded through the Generosity of the United States Department of State

17 AUGUST, 2007 – CR SWART AUDITORIAM

8:00-8:30 Registration & Tea
8:30-8:45 Opening & Welcome
Prof. JJ Henning, Faculty of Law
8:45-9:40 Overview & Global Perspective
Prof. Susan Kreston - Unit for Children’s Rights, Faculty of Law-UFS

9:40-10:00 TEA

10:00-10:45 International Perspectives & the Role of Organized Crime in Trafficking
Wiesje Zikkenheiner, Associate Expert
United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, Pretoria
10:45-11:45 Identifying and Assisting Victims of Trafficking
Marija Nikolovska, Project Officer
International Organization for Migration, Pretoria

11:45-12:30 LUNCH

12:30-1:15 Prosecuting Trafficking Without Trafficking Laws
Adv. Nolwandle Qaba, Sexual Offences & Community Affairs Unit
National Prosecuting Authority, Pretoria
1:15-2:15 Recommendations for New Legislation in South Africa
Lowesa Stuurman - South African Law Reform Commission, Pretoria

2:15-2:30 TEA

2:30-2:50 The Role of Terre Des Homes in Fighting Trafficking in Children
Judith Mthombeni– Terre Des Homes, Pretoria
2:50-3:50 Trafficking in Children in South Africa – A Front Line Perspective
Patrick Solomon - Molo Songololo, Cape Town
3:50-4:00 Closing Remarks
Adv. Beatri Kruger
Department of Criminal & Medical Law - UFS

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