Enzymatic detoxification platform for mycotoxin-safe corn production
An integrated platform leveraging enzyme discovery and engineering to detoxify mycotoxins in corn. Utilizing bioinformatics, AI, and protein engineering, this solution offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments, enhancing crop safety and sustainability.
Overview
The enzymatic detoxification platform developed by researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology aims to address the critical challenge of mycotoxin contamination in corn production. Mycotoxins such as Aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A are harmful fungal contaminants that threaten crop yield and quality. Current mitigation techniques, such as physical removal and chemical treatments, are often inadequate or costly. This platform offers a sustainable, enzyme-based solution using microbial enzymes that transform mycotoxins into less harmful substances under mild conditions, thus preserving nutritional quality and ensuring environmental safety.
Technical specifications
- Integrated Discovery and Engineering: Combines comparative bioinformatics with AI-based protein structure analysis to identify and optimize detoxification enzymes.
- Enzyme Selection: Utilizes genome and metagenome mining to discover bacterial and fungal enzymes capable of mycotoxin degradation.
- AI-Assisted Modeling: Employs AI-driven structural modeling to assess substrate binding and catalytic potential.
- Heterologous Expression and Validation: Selected genes are expressed in a controlled environment and validated through biochemical assays and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
- Scalability Testing: Evaluates enzyme efficiency in mycotoxin-contaminated corn matrices to ensure agricultural applicability.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating it has been validated in a laboratory environment. Further development and validation are underway to enhance its readiness for large-scale agricultural applications.
About New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT is a public polytechnic research university (Carnegie R1) in Newark, serving the New York–New Jersey innovation corridor. Industry engages on campus through VentureLink, the university’s startup incubator in University Heights Science Park and the Newark Innovation Zone, and via a large makerspace that supports prototyping for external partners. The New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), a corporation of NJIT, provides an industry‑facing gateway, including a venture‑studio model launched with the state’s economic‑development authority, to speed translation and scale. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE and DoD. An Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing Office manages IP, licensing and startup formation alongside NJII and VentureLink.
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