A Cheaper Route to mRNA: Biocatalytic Synthesis of Pseudouridine
Biocatalytic Synthesis of Pseudouridine Could Make mRNA Vaccines Cheaper
Scientists have developed a new biocatalytic method to synthesize pseudouridine, a crucial component of mRNA vaccines. This method could make mRNA vaccines more affordable and widely available.
Pseudouridine, or “Ψ” as it’s often known, is an important component of mRNA vaccines. It helps stabilize the mRNA molecule so that it can induce an immune response. However, Ψ is expensive and difficult to produce synthetically, which has hindered the widespread use of mRNA vaccines.
Now, scientists at the University of Vienna, Austria, have developed a new method for synthesizing Ψ in a biocatalytic way. This method is much cheaper and more efficient than the current synthetic methods. It uses enzymes to produce Ψ, which helps reduce the cost and makes the production process more sustainable. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Chemistry.
This new method could revolutionize the production of mRNA vaccines and make them much more accessible and affordable. It could also help make mRNA vaccines a more viable solution for global health challenges.
source: Phys.org