The existing lutein market has been dominated by the marigold flower extraction method, which possesses “chronic limitations” such as supply instability and quality variation due to climate change and cultivation environments.
Precision-fermented lutein is said to be a next-generation, high-value-added biomaterial intended to replace marigold flower extract-based lutein.
The microbial source technology was first developed by a team of researchers led by Professor Sang Yup Lee at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
It is now being transferred for industrial application, with pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients company Daebong Life Science (LS) leading the process.
National Research initiative
In fact, Daebong Life Science (LS) has been selected as the lead organization for a national R&D initiative under the Bio-Industry Technology Development Program.
Managed by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Program funds high-value biotechnology, medical devices, and bio-health innovations to boost national industrial competitiveness.
Together with GS Caltex, SilicoBio, and Dankook University, Daebong LS will carry out the project titled “Development of Biomanufacturing Processes and Material Commercialization Technology for Industrial Microbial-Based Mass Production of Lutein”.
“This project is a monumental endeavor where world-class precision fermentation technology and the specialized capabilities of each participating institution generate synergy,” the company said.
“By mobilizing all of Daebong LS’s Drug Delivery System (DDS) formulation know-how along with our cosmetics and health functional food commercialization capabilities, we will nurture fermented lutein into a flagship biomaterial representing South Korea on the global stage.”
Through cell factory design technology utilizing computer simulations, microorganisms can supply high-purity lutein in large quantities with high efficiency.
Compared with existing extraction methods, this approach is said to enable stable production and quality standardization.
“Furthermore, as stable supply of natural functional materials has become increasingly important, the demand for high-quality raw materials and differentiated formulation technologies is expanding, thereby further increasing its potential for application.”
Researchers’ report
Precision-fermented lutein is produced using the metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum, the research team led by Professor Sang Yup Lee at KAIST reported in the journal Nature Synthesis last July.
The researchers reported that they have engineered C. glutamicum to produce lycopene and introduced the lutein biosynthesis pathway.
They then enhanced lutein production through additional steps, including optimizing the haem pathway and utilizing an optimal electron-channelling scaffold system to improve electron transfer reactions to address the rate-limiting steps in lutein synthesis.
“This approach achieved a substantial increase in lutein production, reaching a concentration of 1.78 g l−1, with a content of 19.51 mg per gram dry cell weight and a productivity of 32.88 mg l−1 h−1 in fed-batch fermentation. This approach allows gram-per-litre-scale microbial production of lutein,“ the researchers wrote.
Lutein is a naturally occurring carotenoid with antioxidant properties, often utilized as an eye health ingredient in the dietary supplement and functional foods sector.
It is also gaining attention in the cosmetics industry for addressing oxidative stress and photoaging caused by ultraviolet rays and blue light.
56-month project
With a total budget of approximately KRW5bn (USD3.4m), the project is set to run from June 2026 to December 2030.
As the lead organization, Daebong LS will spearhead the entire process, from strategy building to the development of functional ingredients and application in health functional foods. This project aims to establish a full-cycle value chain encompassing microbial source technology, production processes, efficacy verification, formulation, and global commercialization.
Daebong LS will leverage its DDS-based delivery technology to develop high-performance ingredients with enhanced stability, while SilicoBio is responsible for advancing lutein production technology based on source strains and biomanufacturing techniques transferred from Professor Lee’s research team at KAIST.
Additionally, GS Caltex will contribute to high-purity lutein production through its process development capabilities, and the team at Dankook University will verify its applicability in animals and the efficacy of lutein for animal feed.
