The surge in DNA sequence information available to mankind over the last ten years has sparked an unprecedented interest in gene synthesis and engineering. As a result, a plethora of opportunities has emerged exploiting this knowledge to improve industrial processes and engineer genomes with superior traits. Further applications include engineering metabolic processes and using DNA as a data storage medium. However, a prerequisite towards facilitating these endeavours is a significantly improved DNA synthesis to provide efficient access to high-fidelity DNA. Our team at Evonetix has set out to develop a novel, highly disruptive gene synthesis approach based on a key principle; a highly scalable platform with up to ten thousand miniaturised reaction sites, at each of which there is exquisite control of the synthesis process (Figure. 1). Our patented approach manages the synthesis of high-fidelity DNA in a streamlined and efficient process by using a unique silicon chip that allows for a large-scale synthesis of oligonucleotides to occur in parallel rather than creating oligonucleotides in physically separated wells. The highlight for the talk will be on our thermally controlled chemistry involving the development of a thermally cleavable linker, a surface attached group of molecules on each reaction site, together with our thermolabile protecting groups that have been developed to enable site-specific control via thermal engineering without impacting any of their neighbours, allowing thousands of sites to operate simultaneously and independently. We believe that this highly disruptive DNA synthesis technology will greatly facilitate gene synthesis by simplifying fluid handling and reducing reagent usage, which increases time efficiency and reduces material costs respectively. This, thus, stimulates innovation in synthetic biology, neighbouring research sectors and industries.

Evonetix Ð towards scalable and high-fidelity gene synthesis

2019 Spring National Meeting

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