| Plant cell culture is an established
technique for growing suspension cells of higher plants. Our research emphasizes
cell cultures for production of valuable chemicals and for carrying out
plant propagation though somatic embryogenesis. An overall goal is to biochemically
and genetically understand such systems and rationally manipulate them from
commercial benefit. In particular, experimental and theoretical analysis
of the California poppy plant has been extensively investigated in our labs
with emphasis on product t extraction and other techniques for redirecting
metabolite synthesis and transport. Additionally, a specific system for
the development of somatic embryos from carrot suspension cultures in small
bioreactor system has been studied and we have found that embryogenesis
is partly regulated by extracellular, proteins factors.
Chemical and biochemical sensing with fiber optic waveguides is an area
of interest in a variety of process industries. Within the diverse field
that is bioprocess technology, fermentation monitoring and control is
an area that can greatly benefit from ongoing advances in photonics researchÑthe
technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant
energy whose quantum unit is the photon. Currently, it is typical that
on-line analysis and fermentation control are carried out within the confines
of information obtained from electrochemical probes for pH and dissolve
oxygen along with a small variety of exhaust gas analyzers. Recent developments,
however, promise to greatly expand these boundaries by including the use
of new technologies employing photonics in combination with optical fibers
or imaging systems. This technology, dubbed biophotonics, has application
to non-invasive or minimally-invasive compositional analysis in a fermentation
broth as well as in associated upstream and downstream processing steps.
It is also appropriate for cell mass detection in a ferment and monitoring
of the metabolic state of cells in situ. In combination with currently
available analytical techniques, a much more robust description of the
state of bioprocesses can be obtained. This translates, in the end, to
more accurate control and more productive bioprocessing strategies for
the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and the whole host
of biotechnology associated products.
|
Recent Publications
Pedersen, H., Yarmush, M.L. (1995).
Biochemical Engineering,
Current Opinion in Biotechnology 6: 189-181.
Dutta, A., Chin, C.-K., Pedersen, H. (1994).
Two-Phase Culture System for Plant Cells,
Biochemical Eng. VIII
745: 251-260
Byun, S.Y. and Pedersen, H. (1994).
Two-Phase Airlift Fermentor Operation with Elicitation for the enhanced
Production of Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids in Cell Suspensions of Eschscholtzia
californica,
Biotechnol. Bioeng. 44: 14-20
Pedersen, H., Alex, T., Chu, H.L., Chung, W-J. and Sigel, G.H. Thin
(1993).
Polymer films as Active Components of Fiber Optic Chemical Sensor,
in Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors
IV (R.A.
Lieberman, Ed.). Proc. SPIE, vol. 1796, 135-140.
Yarmush, M.L. and Pedersen, H. (eds) . (1993). Biochemical Engineering,
Current Opinion in Biotechnology 4: 181-261.
Pedersen, H. Chin, C-K., and Dutta, A.. (1993).
Vanilla production by plant cell culture in Proceedings of the International
Symposium on Natural Flavors and Colorants,
Seoul, Korea, S-U. Kim, [Ed]. RCNBMA.
Byun, S.Y. and Pedersen, H. (1993).
Elicitation of Sanguinarine Production in Two-Phase Cultures of Eschscholtzia
californica.
J. Ferment. Bioeng. 73: 380-385
|
