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Collaboration Delivers 42× Increase in Ovalbumin Production Using Computational Sequence Optimization and Automated High-Throughput Screening

Alagene Ltd, Ramot – Tel Aviv University’s Tech Transfer Company, and Prof. Tamir Tuller’s Lab | August 2025

Key Words: Food-tech | Computational Design | Automation

Rehovot, Israel, presenting a food-tech achievement, Alagene Ltd., in collaboration with Ramot - Tel Aviv University’s Tech Transfer Company and Prof. Tamir Tuller’s Lab, was able to successfully design a yeast strain capable of producing forty-two times more ovalbumin protein (OVA) than previously reported, and notably, without the use of methanol. The DNA of the successful yeast strain was optimized based on the unique algorithms developed in the Tuller laboratory.

The achievement was further reinforced and validated by comprehensive fermentation and purification optimization, underscoring the strain’s strong production potential. The discovery was made possible through an integrated pipeline combining computational sequence optimization and automated high-throughput screening with process optimization. This synergy has the potential to slash development timeline from months to weeks.

“Achieving this kind of yield improvement required the innovation of academic research, the agility and precision of industrial biotech, and the strategic vision to connect them,” said Dr. Neta Agmon, VP R&D at Alagene.

The Partnership Advantage:

1. Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s Tech Transfer Company provided the commercialization pathway, IP strategy, and access to the latest academic innovation.

2. Prof. Tamir Tuller’s Lab contributed state-of-the-art computational synthetic biology tools, designing DNA sequences with predictive accuracy for high expression.

3. Alagene translated these insights into an industrial-grade discovery system, leveraging automation and data analytics to deliver results faster and at lower cost.

Industry Impact:

This result underscores the power of combining computational design and automated industrial execution. For the novel food-tech sector, higher-yield OVA production could accelerate the transition to cost-competitive, sustainable ingredients.

“By integrating our computational models and AI with Alagene’s high-throughput robotics, we’ve delivered a super-producing strain as well as proven a replicable model for rapid bioprocess optimization,” said Prof. Tamir Tuller.

About Alagene:

Alagene is a pioneering contract research organization (CRO) dedicated to advancing synthetic biology and transforming innovation into real-world solutions. By providing state-of-the-art R&D services, Alagene empowers industries, academic institutions, and entrepreneurs to overcome technological and operational barriers, driving breakthroughs, facilitating and accelerating their developments.