Dr U. Kettling, Direvo Biotech, Germany

This presentation outlined Direvo’s approach to highlighting the usefulness of the Recombination Chain Reaction (RCRTM), which in combination with directed evolution allows the exchange of positive mutations. The key to fast development of biocatalysts by this method is to screen the catalysts under application-relevant conditions in order to precisely hit the intended application conditions. This requires a highly flexible platform with all relevant steps being fully automated and with a high degree of miniaturisation. The best results are obtained by working at the optimum of evolutionary progress by means of error-threshold mutagenesis (ETM), RCR and other DNA variation technologies.