The Yaohai Novagen R&D team has recently achieved another breakthrough in synthetic biology: highly hydroxylated recombinant humanized collagen was successfully expressed using an Escherichia coli system, and its helical structure was observed under an electron microscope for the first time.

Key Manufacturing Challenges

Traditional extraction from animal sources carries risks of residual pathogens and immunogenicity, while mammalian-cell expression systems face high costs and limited yields. When recombinant collagen is produced through genetic engineering—commonly using expression systems such as Escherichia coli or yeast—the key technical challenge is ensuring correct folding and maintaining a stable triple-helix structure. This typically requires overcoming challenges such as hydroxylation modification.

Yaohai Novagen developed this helical recombinant humanized collagen through innovative gene-sequence design, codon optimization, and controlled expression conditions, achieving soluble expression in Escherichia coli. Its proline hydroxylation rate is approximately 35%, approaching the natural level found in animal collagen, which is about 37%.

Structural Characterization and Verification

The triple-helix structure of natural collagen consists of three α peptide chains coiled around a repeating Gly-X-Y sequence. Through intermolecular interactions, these chains intertwine to form collagen fibers. Under electron microscopy, they appear as multiple fibers intertwined and aggregated into rope-like bundles.

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of natural collagen and its triple-helix structure

Figure 2. Helical recombinant collagen developed by Yaohai Novagen under electron microscopy

The helical structure was also confirmed through circular dichroism spectroscopy, which showed a negative peak near 195 nm and a positive peak near 220 nm.

Figure 3. Circular dichroism spectrum of natural collagen

Figure 4. Helical recombinant humanized collagen developed by Yaohai Novagen

Technical Advantages and Application Potential

● Technical Advancement: This achievement overcomes a major limitation of prokaryotic expression systems in producing complex structural proteins.

● Industrialization Potential: Escherichia coli fermentation is mature and cost-efficient, making it well suited to large-scale production.

About Yaohai Novagen

Leveraging synthetic biology, Yaohai Novagen focuses on the innovative development of functional medical-aesthetic ingredients and products and is committed to supporting natural, healthy beauty.

Contact: Manager Xu Tel: 19952981075 Address: Building G29, No. 801 Jiankang Avenue, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China