Serum-free cultured meat production by using Pichia pastoris-derived recombinant albumin

Cultured meat production involves the growth, differentiation, and food processing of muscle satellite cells. However, its heavy reliance on fetal bovine serum (FBS) significantly increases production costs, which has prompted interest in developing alternative serum substitutes. In this study, we aimed to enhance the economic viability and scalability of cultured meat production by cultivating and differentiating bovine muscle satellite cells (bMuSCs) in media supplemented with Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris)-derived bovine recombinant albumin (Br-A) or porcine recombinant albumin (Pr-A). As a result, P. pastoris-derived recombinant albumin (rAlbumin) effectively supported the proliferation of bMuSCs while maintaining their differentiation potential. In addition, the expression of the satellite cell marker Paired-box7 (Pax7) was upregulated. Moreover, P. pastoris-derived rAlbumin effectively induced myotube formation in the differentiation process. These results highlight the potential of P. pastoris-derived rAlbumin as a cost-effective and scalable alternative to serum components, providing a promising solution for serum-free media in the cultured meat industry.