ATUM

ATUM is an American biotechnology contract research organization headquartered in Newark, California. The company supplies gene synthesis, protein engineering, protein expression, cell-line development, and related bioinformatics services to biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical developers, academic laboratories, and government organizations. Its work supports the discovery, characterization, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, enzymes, research proteins, and other engineered biological products. The business began in 2003 in Menlo Park under the name DNA2.0, initially focusing on synthetic gene production. A central part of its early offering was computational codon optimization: because multiple DNA codons can encode the same amino acid, software can select sequences that are more likely to express efficiently in a chosen host organism. DNA2.0 developed algorithms for this purpose and later commercialized them under the GeneGPS name. The company became part of the broader transition from conventional molecular cloning toward made-to-order gene synthesis, sometimes described as the emergence of biotechnology foundries. DNA2.0 expanded its visibility through scientific and media coverage. Its codon-design algorithms were recognized by The Scientist in 2009 as a life-sciences innovation. The company also appeared in programs including PBS Nova ScienceNow and Dan Rather Reports, where synthetic biology and the practical creation of designed DNA were discussed. In 2008, DNA2.0 supplied DNA segments used in work involving the construction of a synthetic bacterial genome. The company broadened its capabilities during the 2010s. Protein-expression services were added in 2015, and in 2016 DNA2.0 acquired Molecular Immunology General Solutions, or MIGS, a New Hampshire company associated with machine-learning approaches to antibody expression. Following the acquisition, DNA2.0 adopted the ATUM name. The renamed organization combined sequence design, protein engineering, expression optimization, and cell-line development into an integrated service model. ATUM's technology portfolio is built around computational design and biological production systems. GeneGPS is used across gene-design, protein-expression, and cell-line projects, while ProteinGPS applies related computational approaches to protein expression and properties such as antibody or enzyme performance. The company also develops transposase-based integration systems, mammalian expression platforms, antibody-engineering tools, cloning systems, and research software. ATUM remains privately held and conducts research, development, and production in California, including facilities in Newark. Its customers and collaborators span drug discovery, biologics manufacturing, industrial biotechnology, academic research, and public-sector science. The company also participates in educational and research partnerships, including support for BioBuilder and collaborations involving HIV vaccine research, plant-based pharmaceuticals, antibody discovery, microbial strain development, and industrial enzyme engineering.

ATUM was established in 2003 in Menlo Park, California, as DNA2.0. Its original business centered on synthetic gene production at a time when gene synthesis was becoming a practical alternative to the manual cloning of DNA fragments. Rather than treating synthesis as a purely fabrication-oriented service, DNA2.0 emphasized computational sequence design. Its software evaluated alternative codons and selected sequences intended to improve the expression of a desired protein in a particular biological host. This work became associated with GeneGPS, a platform and set of design methods used to optimize genes for downstream expression. The approach addressed an important limitation of basic gene synthesis: a sequence can be chemically correct yet perform poorly once introduced into a living cell. By linking sequence design to expected expression behavior, DNA2.0 positioned itself as a technology-enabled partner for researchers developing proteins, genes, and biological production systems. The company gained attention during the growth of synthetic biology. In 2008, DNA2.0 supplied DNA stretches used in research involving a synthetic bacterial genome. It was also featured in public science programming, including PBS Nova ScienceNow and Dan Rather Reports, which presented gene synthesis and synthetic biology to general audiences. In 2009, The Scientist recognized the company's codon-design algorithms as a notable life-sciences innovation. DNA2.0's business subsequently moved beyond the delivery of synthetic DNA. In 2015, it added protein-expression capabilities, allowing customers to proceed from designed sequences toward experimental production and characterization. In 2016, the company acquired Molecular Immunology General Solutions, or MIGS, a New Hampshire-based organization associated with machine-learning methods for antibody expression. After the transaction, DNA2.0 changed its corporate identity to ATUM, reflecting a broader platform spanning computational design, protein engineering, and cell biology. Under the ATUM name, the company developed or commercialized systems for integrating genes into host cells, producing antibodies and other proteins, and supporting biologics development. Its Leap-In Transposase technology uses transposon-mediated integration to place genes of interest into cell lines, with the aim of obtaining more reliable expression than random integration approaches. Related offerings include miCHO and discoCHO, both based on CHO cell biology but intended for different stages of development. ATUM also introduced tools for antibody assembly and screening, including Lock-In for bispecific-antibody light-chain pairing and lightningHEK for transient expression and early characterization. The company's portfolio includes computational and laboratory tools in addition to fee-based services. Gene Designer supports sequence design, cloning, and validation; its CRISPR-related tools assist with guide-RNA design; and DNA ATLAS provides plasmid mapping and annotation functions. ProteinGPS extends the company's computational approach to protein characteristics and expression, supporting antibody and enzyme-engineering projects. ATUM has worked with academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies, and industrial biotechnology organizations. Reported collaborations have included the University of Pennsylvania's Gene Therapy Program for HIV-1 vaccine-related expression work, St George's University of London on plant-based pharmaceuticals, Adimab on antibody libraries and biomanufacturing, Cytovance Biologics on microbial strain development, and Archer Daniels Midland on industrial enzyme engineering. ATUM has also sponsored BioBuilder, an educational initiative associated with synthetic-biology teaching. The company is privately held. Its research, development, and production activities remain based in California, with Newark serving as its headquarters and principal facility location. ATUM's current identity is that of an integrated biotechnology contract research and development provider rather than a single-product gene-synthesis vendor.

1. 2016MIGS acquisition and rebranding as ATUM

   DNA2.0 acquires Molecular Immunology General Solutions and subsequently changes its name to ATUM.

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2. 2015Protein-expression services are added

   DNA2.0 expands its service portfolio from gene synthesis and sequence design into protein expression.

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3. 2009Codon-design algorithms receive industry recognition

   The Scientist recognizes DNA2.0's codon-design algorithms among its notable life-sciences innovations.

   Source
4. 2008DNA2.0 contributes DNA segments to synthetic-genome research

   DNA2.0 supplies DNA stretches used in work involving the construction of a synthetic bacterial genome.

   Source
5. 2003DNA2.0 is founded

   The company is founded in Menlo Park, California, initially operating as a gene-synthesis business.

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An integrated synthetic-biology and biotechnology services provider that combines machine-learning-assisted sequence design with gene synthesis, protein expression, cell engineering, and biologics development.

• GeneGPSGene design and codon optimization

  GeneGPS is ATUM's computational gene-design platform and methodology for selecting DNA sequences intended to improve protein expression in a chosen host. It uses the redundancy of the genetic code to evaluate alternative codon choices and supports projects ranging from gene synthesis to protein expression and cell-line development. The platform reflects ATUM's effort to connect sequence construction with downstream biological performance rather than treating gene synthesis as an isolated fabrication step.

• ProteinGPSProtein engineering

  ProteinGPS applies computational design approaches to protein expression and characteristics. ATUM uses it in specialized protein-engineering work involving antibodies and enzymes, where sequence choices can affect expression, stability, activity, or other development attributes. The offering extends the company's original sequence-optimization capabilities into broader protein-development programs.

• Leap-In TransposaseCell-line engineering

  Leap-In Transposase is a gene-integration system designed to insert genes of interest into host cell lines through a transposase-mediated mechanism. The system is intended to provide more controlled and reproducible integration and expression than conventional random-integration workflows. ATUM positions it for biologics development and manufacturing applications, particularly where stable production cell lines are required.

• miCHOMammalian cell line

  miCHO is a CHO-K1-derived host-cell platform designed for use with Leap-In transposase integration. Chinese hamster ovary cells are widely used for recombinant biologics, and miCHO is intended to provide a development-ready cellular background for integrating and expressing therapeutic proteins. It forms part of ATUM's broader effort to combine vector technology with compatible production hosts.

• discoCHOTransient expression system

  discoCHO is a CHO-K1 transient-expression system designed to approximate characteristics of manufacturing-oriented cell lines during earlier development work. It can help researchers examine critical quality attributes and follow their behavior before committing to a full manufacturing cell-line-development program. The system is intended to shorten the feedback loop between early protein production and later process development.

• Lock-InBispecific antibody platform

  Lock-In is an antibody-engineering platform designed to address light-chain mispairing in bispecific antibodies. Bispecific molecules contain components that must assemble correctly to produce the intended product, and incorrect pairing can reduce yield or complicate purification. ATUM developed Lock-In to support the design and construction of bispecific formats with improved assembly behavior.

• lightningHEKTransient antibody expression

  lightningHEK is a HEK-cell-based transient antibody-expression service for screening and early characterization. It is intended to translate antibody sequences, including computationally generated or virtual sequences, into small quantities of expressible protein suitable for high-throughput developability testing. This supports early decisions about sequence quality before more extensive cell-line and manufacturing work.

• Electra Vector SystemMolecular cloning system

  The Electra Vector System is a cloning workflow based on the Type IIS restriction enzyme SapI and T4 DNA ligase in a single-tube reaction. It is intended to simplify the assembly of genetic constructs and provide a standardized approach for building vectors used in research and biotechnology development.

• ProteinPaintboxSynthetic fluorescent proteins

  ProteinPaintbox is a collection of chromogenic and synthetic fluorescent proteins developed through protein-engineering work associated with ProteinGPS. The related DNA parts have been made available through open-access biological-parts resources, allowing researchers and educators to use engineered fluorescent proteins in synthetic-biology experiments and demonstrations.

• Gene DesignerBioinformatics software

  Gene Designer is a free software package for designing, cloning, and validating genetic sequences. It is intended for molecular biologists who need to plan constructs, inspect sequence features, and prepare DNA designs for experimental work.

• DNA ATLASPlasmid mapping software

  DNA ATLAS is an online plasmid-mapping tool that displays features such as promoters, selectable markers, restriction sites, and open reading frames in vector sequences. It provides a visual aid for analyzing and documenting DNA constructs.

• BioBuilder sponsorship

  United States · Global education

  ATUM has sponsored BioBuilder, an educational initiative that provides hands-on activities and instructional materials for teaching synthetic biology to middle-school and high-school students and educators.

  Outcome. The sponsorship supported broader access to synthetic-biology education resources; specific campaign metrics were not reported in the cited material.

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• 2016Acquisition of Molecular Immunology General SolutionsM&A

  MIGS brought capabilities associated with machine-learning approaches to antibody expression, complementing DNA2.0's gene-design and synthesis business.

  What changed. DNA2.0 acquired MIGS and subsequently changed its name to ATUM.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened the company's positioning toward integrated protein engineering, antibody expression, and cell-line development.

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• 2015Expansion from gene synthesis into protein expressionStrategy

  DNA2.0's initial identity was centered on synthetic gene production and computational sequence design, while customers also needed support producing and evaluating the resulting proteins.

  What changed. The company added protein-expression capabilities to broaden its role in biotechnology development programs.

  Aftermath. The expansion created a foundation for later services in protein engineering, antibody development, and cell-line engineering.

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• 2016DNA2.0 acquires MIGS and adopts the ATUM name

  DNA2.0 acquired Molecular Immunology General Solutions, a company focused on machine-learning approaches to antibody expression, and subsequently changed its name to ATUM.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2015DNA2.0 expands into protein expression

  The company broadened its service portfolio beyond gene synthesis by adding protein-expression capabilities.

  Product launch
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• 2009DNA2.0 receives recognition for codon-design algorithms

  The Scientist listed DNA2.0's codon-design algorithms, later associated with GeneGPS, among its notable life-sciences innovations of the year.

  Other
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1. ATUM
2. ATUM official website