UK-based LeafyColl and QFF Commence Contract Development for Mutant Creation in Tobacco Seeds via Neutron Beam Irradiation

UK-based LeafyColl and QFF have commenced contract development.

Quantum Flowers & Foods Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Co-Founder, CEO & CTO: Hakuo Kikuchi, hereinafter "QFF") and LeafyColl Ltd., a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, UK, have initiated a contract development project aimed at creating mutants in tobacco (Nicotiana) seeds through neutron beam irradiation.

LeafyColl is a company that utilizes plants as a production platform for developing high-value proteins for the food, nutrition, healthcare, and beauty sectors. The company combines Plant Molecular Farming and synthetic biology to produce plant-derived proteins, including bioidentical collagen.

In this contract development, QFF's non-GMO mutagenesis technology, "Neutron Beam Speedy Breeding®," will be used to introduce diverse genetic mutations into tobacco seeds, thereby supporting the advancement of LeafyColl's plant-based production platform research and development.

Background and Objectives

In recent years, Plant Molecular Farming, which uses plants as a production platform for pharmaceuticals and functional proteins, has garnered global attention. As plants can be cultivated on a large scale, they are expected to serve as a sustainable protein production base.

LeafyColl aims for high-yield production of high-value structural proteins, including bioidentical collagen, by leveraging synthetic biology and precise genetic engineering approaches to control protein expression and accumulation within plants.

To enhance the performance of such plant-based production systems, it is crucial to explore genetic diversity that affects growth and protein accumulation.

This contract development project will introduce diverse genetic mutations into tobacco seeds through neutron beam irradiation. Based on the resulting strain groups, it will support the search for promising strains that can lead to improved protein production capabilities in the future, as well as the establishment of a foundation for research and development and scale-up manufacturing.

This project is supported by the "Global Explorers initiative," an international R&D collaboration support program for UK SMEs by Innovate UK, a UK innovation support agency.

Content of Contract Development (Planned)

This development will create candidate mutant tobacco plants through the following steps:

- Neutron beam irradiation of tobacco seeds - Induction of diverse genetic mutations while maintaining viability - Construction of a candidate mutant population - Provision of materials for future research and development

Features of Neutron Beam Technology

Neutron beams have the characteristic of inducing diverse genetic mutations in DNA, including not only point mutations but also deletions, insertions, and structural variations.

QFF's neutron beam technology is characterized by its ability to introduce mutational diversity without extremely reducing viability, thus supporting mutant screening tailored to research and development objectives.

Furthermore, this technology is a non-GMO technique that does not involve genetic recombination, making it an accessible technology from the perspective of future industrial application and social acceptance.

Mechanism of QFF's Neutron Beam Speedy Breeding® Technology (Non-GMO Technology)

Future Outlook

The knowledge gained from this contract development is expected to contribute to the advancement of plant-based high-value protein production platforms. QFF will continue to collaborate with domestic and international companies and research institutions, supporting research and development aimed at exploring new biological functions and their application to the bio-industry through non-GMO mutagenesis technology using neutron beams.

Representative's Comment

Quantum Flowers & Foods Co., Ltd.

Representative Director CEO/CTO Hakuo Kikuchi "Protein production utilizing plants is a research area attracting attention across a wide range of fields, including food, medical, and bio-industries. Through this contract development, we will verify the potential of non-GMO mutagenesis technology using neutron beams to contribute to the development of such new production technologies."

QFF Representative Director CEO/CTO Hakuo Kikuchi

Company Profile

Company Name: Quantum Flowers & Foods Co., Ltd. Location: Le Reve Mikawa 2-101, 2563-77 Mikawa-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture Representative: Representative Director CEO Hakuo Kikuchi Business Activities: Provision of Neutron Beam Speedy Breeding® service, R&D of quantum biotechnology Established: July 2018 URL: https://qff.jp

<Contact Information Regarding This Matter>

Quantum Flowers & Foods Co., Ltd. CMO (Marketing/Sales Manager): Naito E-mail: shunsuke.naito@qff.jp Tel: 03-6661-1611

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