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Precision-fermented brazzein (sweet protein)

Brazzein is a small, very sweet protein first found in the fruit of the West African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana. In precision fermentation an engineered yeast, Komagataella phaffii, carries the brazzein gene and secretes the protein into its broth, which is then filtered, purified and dried to a powder. It is a boundary entry, since the yeast makes one protein and nothing is soured or turned to alcohol.

Fully documentedOther2 days

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedIndustrial amounts are not published. The process numbers below come from a 3 L lab bioreactor with 1 L working volume (Ravn 2026).
Engineered Komagataella phaffii strain carrying the brazzein geneThe FDA-reviewed ingredient used strain P-BRZ-013, derived from K. phaffii BG10[fda-grn1142]
Growth medium with glycerol, then a methanol feedLab fed-batch recipe; industrial media are not published[ravn2026]
Sodium chloride and sodium acetateMay be added to the finished powder as stabilisers[fda-grn1142]
Starterdefined culture: engineered Komagataella phaffii

Total time across the recorded steps: 2 days

Start
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shapes, not to countYeasts30 °CpH 6

What changes: Yeast multiplies on glycerol in a stirred, aerated tank

Step 1 of 4
Grow the yeast on glycerol
Time
29 h
Reported
Temperature
30 °C
Reported
Salt
None given
Acidity
pH 6
Reported
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Yeasts
Pichia pastoris

Output: dense yeast culture.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

yeast multiplies to a dense culture

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

Brazzein is a small, very sweet protein first found in the fruit of the West African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana. In precision fermentation an engineered yeast, Komagataella phaffii, carries the brazzein gene and secretes the protein into its broth, which is then filtered, purified and dried to a powder. It is a boundary entry, since the yeast makes one protein and nothing is soured or turned to alcohol. Made in 4 steps over 2 days. The longest step, grow the yeast on glycerol, takes 29 h (Ravn J 2026) and runs at 30 °C (Ravn J 2026). Komagataella phaffii does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main step29 hReported[ravn2026]Grow the yeast on glycerol
Temperature30 °CReported[ravn2026]Grow the yeast on glycerol
AciditypH 6Reported[ravn2026]Grow the yeast on glycerol

What makes this one different

Unlike traditional ferments, the yeast is a factory for one plant protein. The yeast is separated out and the protein is purified. The maker's specification still sets limits for microorganisms, including no Salmonella in 10 g.

Related ferments

Safety

FDA had no questions about the maker's conclusion that it is generally recognised as safe as a general-purpose sweetener (GRN 1142), and its letter says this is not an affirmation of that status. The notice excludes infant formula, foods intended for infants and foods under USDA jurisdiction. A 90-day rat study found no adverse effects at up to 2000 mg/kg body weight a day, the highest dose tested. The lab method feeds methanol, a flammable liquid that can damage the optic nerve and cause blindness, so this is a lab process and not a home recipe.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

FDA GRAS notice GRN 1142 (Oobli): received 18 April 2023, closed with a no-questions letter on 11 March 2024, for the 53-amino-acid form brazzein-53. A supplement received 5 August 2024 moved production to strain P-BRZ-336 for the 54-amino-acid form; the inventory lists a supplemental letter dated 2 September 2025.

  1. [fda-grn1142] US FDA, response letter to GRAS Notice GRN 001142 (Oobli, brazzein preparation produced by Komagataella phaffii P-BRZ-013), 2024; supplement letter on strain P-BRZ-336 at https://www.fda.gov/media/188593/downloadgov
  2. [fda-inventory] US FDA GRAS Notice Inventory, GRN No. 1142 (read 2026-10)gov
  3. [ravn2026] Ravn J., Raghavendran V., Geijer C. 2026, Engineering sweetness, zeocin-based strain screening to identify high-titer Komagataella phaffii clones for brazzein precision fermentation, Food Science and Biotechnology 35(7):1885–1894paper
  4. [niosh-methanol] US CDC NIOSH, Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Methyl alcoholgov
  5. [meetro2025] Meetro J., Nahian L., Phipps K.R. et al. 2025, Toxicological evaluation of the sweet protein brazzein derived from Komagataella phaffii for use as a sweetener in foods and beverages, Journal of Applied Toxicology 45(9):1867–1886 (abstract)paper