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Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Determining the Crystal 

Structure of the aa-CoA 

Synthase Npht7

Cooperative Research and 

Development Final Report

CRADA Number: CRD-13-533

NREL Technical Contact: Vladimir Lunin

CRADA Report

NREL/TP-2700-63771

February 2015
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Cooperative Research and Development Final Report

In accordance with Requirements set forth in Article XI, A(3) of the CRADA document, this document is 

the final CRADA report, including a list of Subject Inventions, to be forwarded to the Office of Science 

and Technical Information as part of the commitment to the public to demonstrate results of federally 

funded research.

Parties to the Agreement: OPX Biotechnologies

CRADA Number: CRD-13-533

CRADA Title: Determining the Crystal Structure of the aa-CoA Synthase Npht7

Joint Work Statement Funding Table Showing DOE Commitment: 

Estimated Costs NREL Shared Resources

Year 1 $ 25,000.00

TOTALS $ 25,000.00

Abstract of CRADA Work:

Attempt to obtain crystals of diffractable quality from protein sample provided by OPX and solve the 

structure of the aa-CoA synthase enzyme.

Summary of Research Results:

OPX Biotechnologies lost interest in pursuing the goal of the CRADA after discovering that they cannot 

provide stable protein samples. All received protein batches precipitated in a very short time (overnight 

after receiving the samples). Standard methods of improving protein stability / increasing solubility did 

not help much and the company decided to abandon the project at that early stage. Therefore no 

crystallization trials were set up, no crystals were obtained, and no crystals’ structures were solved.

Subject Inventions Listing: None

Report Date: 1/12/2015

Responsible Technical Contact at Alliance/NREL: Vladimir Lunin

This document contains NO confidential, protectable, or proprietary information.