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Rußmayer H, Buchetics M, Mattanovich M, Neubauer S, Steiger M, Graf AB, Koellensperger G, Hann S, Sauer M, Gasser B, Mattanovich D. Customizing amino acid metabolism of Pichia pastoris for recombinant protein production. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2300033. [PMID: 37668396 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. In this respect, a reciprocal effect of recombinant protein production on amino acid biosynthesis as well as the impact of the availability of free amino acids on protein production can be anticipated. In this study, the impact of engineering the amino acid metabolism on the production of recombinant proteins was investigated in the yeast Pichia pastoris (syn Komagataella phaffii). Based on comprehensive systems-level analyses of the metabolomes and transcriptomes of different P. pastoris strains secreting antibody fragments, cell engineering targets were selected. Our working hypothesis that increasing intracellular amino acid levels could help unburden cellular metabolism and improve recombinant protein production was examined by constitutive overexpression of genes related to amino acid metabolism. In addition to 12 genes involved in specific amino acid biosynthetic pathways, the transcription factor GCN4 responsible for regulation of amino acid biosynthetic genes was overexpressed. The production of the used model protein, a secreted carboxylesterase (CES) from Sphingopyxis macrogoltabida, was increased by overexpression of pathway genes for alanine and for aromatic amino acids, and most pronounced, when overexpressing the regulator GCN4. The analysis of intracellular amino acid levels of selected clones indicated a direct linkage of improved recombinant protein production to the increased availability of intracellular amino acids. Finally, fed batch cultures showed that overexpression of GCN4 increased CES titers 2.6-fold, while the positive effect of other amino acid synthesis genes could not be transferred from screening to bioreactor cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Rußmayer
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Buchetics
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Mattanovich
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stefan Neubauer
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Steiger
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra B Graf
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
- School of Bioengineering, University of Applied Sciences FH Campus Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gunda Koellensperger
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan Hann
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Gasser
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diethard Mattanovich
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
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Velastegui E, Quezada J, Altamirano C, Berrios J, Fickers P. Co-feeding strategy alleviates hypoxic stress in large-scale bioreactor for optimal production of secretory recombinant proteins in Pichia pastoris. J Biotechnol 2023; 373:20-23. [PMID: 37379887 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The loss of mixing efficiency inherent to bioreactor process operated at large-scale yields to the formation of concentration gradient and thus to heterogeneous culture conditions. For processes operated with methanol feeding, P. pastoris faces oscillatory culture conditions that significantly affect the cell ability to produce secretory recombinant proteins at high yield. Extended cell residence time in microenvironments of high methanol concentration and low oxygen availability that are typically found in the upper part of the bioreactor near the feeding point, triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR) and thus impairs proper protein secretion. Methanol co-feeding with sorbitol was shown herein to reduce the UPR response and to restore productivity of secreted protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Velastegui
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Microbial Processes and Interactions, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Johan Quezada
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Claudia Altamirano
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Julio Berrios
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Patrick Fickers
- Microbial Processes and Interactions, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium
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Wefelmeier K, Schmitz S, Haut AM, Otten J, Jülich T, Blank LM. Engineering the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha for lactate production from methanol. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1223726. [PMID: 37456718 PMCID: PMC10347679 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1223726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Lactate has gained increasing attention as a platform chemical, particularly for the production of the bioplastic poly-lactic acid (PLA). While current microbial lactate production processes primarily rely on the use of sugars as carbon sources, it is possible to envision a future where lactate can be produced from sustainable, non-food substrates. Methanol could be such a potential substrate, as it can be produced by (electro)chemical hydrogenation from CO2. Methods: In this study, the use of the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha as a host organism for lactate production from methanol was explored. To enable lactate production in Ogataea polymorpha, four different lactate dehydrogenases were expressed under the control of the methanol-inducible MOX promoter. The L-lactate dehydrogenase of Lactobacillus helveticus performed well in the yeast, and the lactate production of this engineered strain could additionally be improved by conducting methanol fed-batch experiments in shake flasks. Further, the impact of different nitrogen sources and the resulting pH levels on production was examined more closely. In order to increase methanol assimilation of the lactate-producing strain, an adaptive laboratory evolution experiment was performed. Results and Discussion: The growth rate of the lactate-producing strain on methanol was increased by 55%, while at the same time lactate production was preserved. The highest lactate titer of 3.8 g/L in this study was obtained by cultivating this evolved strain in a methanol fed-batch experiment in shake flasks with urea as nitrogen source. This study provides a proof of principle that Ogataea polymorpha is a suitable host organism for the production of lactate using methanol as carbon source. In addition, it offers guidance for the engineering of methylotrophic organisms that produce platform chemicals from CO2-derived substrates. With reduced land use, this technology will promote the development of a sustainable industrial biotechnology in the future.
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Velastegui E, Quezada J, Guerrero K, Altamirano C, Martinez JA, Berrios J, Fickers P. Is heterogeneity in large-scale bioreactors a real problem in recombinant protein synthesis by Pichia pastoris? Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2223-2233. [PMID: 36843194 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12434-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Culture medium heterogeneity is inherent in industrial bioreactors. The loss of mixing efficiency in a large-scale bioreactor yields to the formation of concentration gradients. Consequently, cells face oscillatory culture conditions that may deeply affect their metabolism. Herein, cell response to transient perturbations, namely high methanol concentration combined with hypoxia, has been investigated using a two stirred-tank reactor compartiments (STR-STR) scale-down system and a Pichia pastoris strain expressing the gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the alcohol oxidase 1 (AOX1) promoter. Cell residence times under transient stressing conditions were calculated based on the typical hydraulic circulation times of bioreactors of tens and hundreds cubic metres. A significant increase in methanol and oxygen uptake rates was observed as the cell residence time was increased. Stressful culture conditions impaired biomass formation and triggered cell flocculation. More importantly, both expression levels of genes under the control of pAOX1 promoter and eGFP specific fluorescence were higher in those oscillatory culture conditions, suggesting that those a priori unfavourable culture conditions in fact benefit to recombinant protein productivity. Flocculent cells were also identified as the most productive as compared to ovoid cells. KEY POINTS: • Transient hypoxia and high methanol trigger high level of recombinant protein synthesis • In Pichia pastoris, pAOX1 induction is higher in flocculent cells • Medium heterogeneity leads to morphological diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Velastegui
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av Brasil 2085, Valparaiso, 2340000, Chile
- Microbial Processes and Interactions, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Johan Quezada
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av Brasil 2085, Valparaiso, 2340000, Chile
| | - Karlo Guerrero
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av Brasil 2085, Valparaiso, 2340000, Chile
| | - Claudia Altamirano
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av Brasil 2085, Valparaiso, 2340000, Chile
| | - Juan Andres Martinez
- Microbial Processes and Interactions, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Julio Berrios
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av Brasil 2085, Valparaiso, 2340000, Chile.
| | - Patrick Fickers
- Microbial Processes and Interactions, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium
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Role of Dissimilative Pathway of Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris): Formaldehyde Toxicity and Energy Metabolism. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071466. [PMID: 35889185 PMCID: PMC9321669 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Komagataella phaffii (aka Pichia pastoris) is a yeast able to grow in methanol as the sole carbon and energy source. This substrate is converted into formaldehyde, a toxic intermediary that can either be assimilated to biomass or dissimilated to CO2 through the enzymes formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FLD) and formate dehydrogenase, also producing energy in the form of NADH. The dissimilative pathway has been described as an energy producing and a detoxifying route, but conclusive evidence has not been provided for this. In order to elucidate this theory, we generated mutants lacking the FLD activity (Δfld1) and used flux analysis to evaluate the metabolic impact of this disrupted pathway. Unexpectedly, we found that the specific growth rate of the Δfld1 strain was only slightly lower (92%) than the control. In contrast, the sensitivity to formaldehyde pulses (up to 8mM) was significantly higher in the Δfld1 mutant strain and was associated with a higher maintenance energy. In addition, the intracellular flux estimation revealed a high metabolic flexibility of K. phaffii in response to the disrupted pathway. Our results suggest that the role of the dissimilative pathway is mainly to protect the cells from the harmful effect of formaldehyde, as they were able to compensate for the energy provided from this pathway when disrupted.
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Ata Ö, Ergün BG, Fickers P, Heistinger L, Mattanovich D, Rebnegger C, Gasser B. What makes Komagataella phaffii non-conventional? FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:6440159. [PMID: 34849756 PMCID: PMC8709784 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The important industrial protein production host Komagataella phaffii (syn Pichia pastoris) is classified as a non-conventional yeast. But what exactly makes K. phaffii non-conventional? In this review, we set out to address the main differences to the 'conventional' yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but also pinpoint differences to other non-conventional yeasts used in biotechnology. Apart from its methylotrophic lifestyle, K. phaffii is a Crabtree-negative yeast species. But even within the methylotrophs, K. phaffii possesses distinct regulatory features such as glycerol-repression of the methanol-utilization pathway or the lack of nitrate assimilation. Rewiring of the transcriptional networks regulating carbon (and nitrogen) source utilization clearly contributes to our understanding of genetic events occurring during evolution of yeast species. The mechanisms of mating-type switching and the triggers of morphogenic phenotypes represent further examples for how K. phaffii is distinguished from the model yeast S. cerevisiae. With respect to heterologous protein production, K. phaffii features high secretory capacity but secretes only low amounts of endogenous proteins. Different to S. cerevisiae, the Golgi apparatus of K. phaffii is stacked like in mammals. While it is tempting to speculate that Golgi architecture is correlated to the high secretion levels or the different N-glycan structures observed in K. phaffii, there is recent evidence against this. We conclude that K. phaffii is a yeast with unique features that has a lot of potential to explore both fundamental research questions and industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özge Ata
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Burcu Gündüz Ergün
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Biotechnology Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Patrick Fickers
- Microbial Processes and Interactions, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Av. de la Faculté 2B, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Lina Heistinger
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Diethard Mattanovich
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Corinna Rebnegger
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Growth-Decoupled Protein Production in Yeast, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Gasser
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria.,Biotechnology Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara, Turkey
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Ergün BG, Berrios J, Binay B, Fickers P. Recombinant protein production in Pichia pastoris: From transcriptionally redesigned strains to bioprocess optimization and metabolic modelling. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:6424904. [PMID: 34755853 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pichia pastoris is one of the most widely used host for the production of recombinant proteins. Expression systems that rely mostly on promoters from genes encoding alcohol oxidase 1 or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase have been developed together with related bioreactor operation strategies based on carbon sources such as methanol, glycerol, or glucose. Although, these processes are relatively efficient and easy to use, there have been notable improvements over the last twenty years to better control gene expression from these promoters and their engineered variants. Methanol-free and more efficient protein production platforms have been developed by engineering promoters and transcription factors. The production window of P. pastoris has been also extended by using alternative feedstocks including ethanol, lactic acid, mannitol, sorbitol, sucrose, xylose, gluconate, formate, or rhamnose. Herein, the specific aspects that are emerging as key parameters for recombinant protein synthesis are discussed. For this purpose, a holistic approach has been considered to scrutinize protein production processes from strain design to bioprocess optimization, particularly focusing on promoter engineering, transcriptional circuitry redesign. This review also considers the optimization of bioprocess based on alternative carbon sources and derived co-feeding strategies. Optimization strategies for recombinant protein synthesis through metabolic modelling are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Gündüz Ergün
- Biotechnology Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 06330 Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.,UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Julio Berrios
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Barış Binay
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Patrick Fickers
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liege, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, Belgium
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Strategies for Optimizing the Production of Proteins and Peptides with Multiple Disulfide Bonds. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9090541. [PMID: 32858882 PMCID: PMC7558204 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9090541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can produce recombinant proteins quickly and cost effectively. However, their physiological properties limit their use for the production of proteins in their native form, especially polypeptides that are subjected to major post-translational modifications. Proteins that rely on disulfide bridges for their stability are difficult to produce in Escherichia coli. The bacterium offers the least costly, simplest, and fastest method for protein production. However, it is difficult to produce proteins with a very large size. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris are the most commonly used yeast species for protein production. At a low expense, yeasts can offer high protein yields, generate proteins with a molecular weight greater than 50 kDa, extract signal sequences, and glycosylate proteins. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic species maintain reducing conditions in the cytoplasm. Hence, the formation of disulfide bonds is inhibited. These bonds are formed in eukaryotic cells during the export cycle, under the oxidizing conditions of the endoplasmic reticulum. Bacteria do not have an advanced subcellular space, but in the oxidizing periplasm, they exhibit both export systems and enzymatic activities directed at the formation and quality of disulfide bonds. Here, we discuss current techniques used to target eukaryotic and prokaryotic species for the generation of correctly folded proteins with disulfide bonds.
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