川大团队“解题式”科研：合成生物破局亚精胺量产｜创新药观察

Core Viewpoint - The research team at Sichuan University is leveraging synthetic biology to develop a cost-effective production method for spermidine, a natural polyamine with significant applications in anti-aging and cardiovascular disease prevention, which is projected to become a billion-dollar bioactive molecule [2][3]. Group 1: Technology and Innovation - The production of spermidine has been hampered by high costs and technical bottlenecks, with traditional extraction methods yielding only 1% purity and chemical synthesis being prohibitively expensive [3][4]. - The team has utilized machine learning algorithms to simulate yeast metabolic networks, significantly enhancing spermidine synthesis efficiency [4]. - A breakthrough was achieved by discovering an extracellular secretion mechanism that allows spermidine to be actively expelled from cells, improving purity and reducing energy consumption during extraction [5]. Group 2: Market and Application - Spermidine is positioned to drive multiple billion-dollar industries, with products in the food sector entering trial production and clinical trials for cardiovascular disease prevention underway in the pharmaceutical sector [7]. - A report from McKinsey Global Institute indicates that 60% of industrial products could be manufactured using biotechnology, with synthetic biology expected to generate $2-4 trillion in direct economic benefits annually between 2030 and 2040 [7]. Group 3: Policy and Industry Collaboration - Chengdu has emerged as a hub for synthetic biology, with various local governments implementing supportive policies, facilitating the transition from technology to market applications [8]. - The collaboration between universities and enterprises is crucial for addressing real market needs, ensuring that research is aligned with practical applications [9].