1
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Zha J, Liu D, Ren J, Liu Z, Wu X. Advances in Metabolic Engineering of Pichia pastoris Strains as Powerful Cell Factories. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1027. [PMID: 37888283 PMCID: PMC10608127 DOI: 10.3390/jof9101027] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pichia pastoris is the most widely used microorganism for the production of secreted industrial proteins and therapeutic proteins. Recently, this yeast has been repurposed as a cell factory for the production of chemicals and natural products. In this review, the general physiological properties of P. pastoris are summarized and the readily available genetic tools and elements are described, including strains, expression vectors, promoters, gene editing technology mediated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9, and adaptive laboratory evolution. Moreover, the recent achievements in P. pastoris-based biosynthesis of proteins, natural products, and other compounds are highlighted. The existing issues and possible solutions are also discussed for the construction of efficient P. pastoris cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zha
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China; (D.L.); (J.R.); (Z.L.)
| | | | | | | | - Xia Wu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China; (D.L.); (J.R.); (Z.L.)
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2
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Inoue K, Ohsawa S, Ito S, Yurimoto H, Sakai Y. Phosphoregulation of the transcription factor Mxr1 plays a crucial role in the concentration-regulated methanol induction in Komagataella phaffii. Mol Microbiol 2022; 118:683-697. [PMID: 36268798 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Methylotrophic yeasts can utilize methanol as the sole carbon and energy source, and the expression of their methanol-induced genes is regulated based on the environmental methanol concentration. Our understanding of the function of transcription factors and Wsc family of proteins in methanol-induced gene expression and methanol sensing is expanding, but the methanol signal transduction mechanism remains undetermined. Our study has revealed that the transcription factor KpMxr1 is involved in the concentration-regulated methanol induction (CRMI) in Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) and that the phosphorylation state of KpMxr1 changes based on methanol concentration. We identified the functional regions of KpMxr1 and determined its multiple phosphorylation sites. Non-phosphorylatable substitution mutations of these newly identified phosphorylated threonine and serine residues resulted in significant defects in CRMI. We revealed that KpMxr1 receives the methanol signal from Wsc family proteins via KpPkc1 independent of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade and speculate that the activity of KpPkc1 influences KpMxr1 phosphorylation state. We propose that the CRMI pathway from Wsc to KpMxr1 diverges from KpPkc1 and that phosphoregulation of KpMxr1 plays a crucial role in CRMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Inoue
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shin Ohsawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinji Ito
- Medical Research Support Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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3
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Zhu Q, Liu Q, Yao C, Zhang Y, Cai M. Yeast transcriptional device libraries enable precise synthesis of value-added chemicals from methanol. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10187-10199. [PMID: 36095129 PMCID: PMC9508829 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural methylotrophs are attractive methanol utilization hosts, but lack flexible expression tools. In this study, we developed yeast transcriptional device libraries for precise synthesis of value-added chemicals from methanol. We synthesized transcriptional devices by fusing bacterial DNA-binding proteins (DBPs) with yeast transactivation domains, and linking bacterial binding sequences (BSs) with the yeast core promoter. Three DBP–BS pairs showed good activity when working with transactivation domains and the core promoter of PAOX1 in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Fine-tuning of the tandem BSs, spacers and differentiated input promoters further enabled a constitutive transcriptional device library (cTRDL) composed of 126 transcriptional devices with an expression strength of 16–520% and an inducible TRDL (iTRDL) composed of 162 methanol-inducible transcriptional devices with an expression strength of 30–500%, compared with PAOX1. Selected devices from iTRDL were adapted to the dihydromonacolin L biosynthetic pathway by orthogonal experimental design, reaching 5.5-fold the production from the PAOX1-driven pathway. The full factorial design of the selected devices from the cTRDL was adapted to the downstream pathway of dihydromonacolin L to monacolin J. Monacolin J production from methanol reached 3.0-fold the production from the PAOX1-driven pathway. Our engineered toolsets ensured multilevel pathway control of chemical synthesis in methylotrophic yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Chaoying Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
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4
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Gupta A, Rangarajan PN. Coordinate regulation of methanol utilization pathway genes of Komagataella phaffii by transcription factors and chromatin modifiers. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:991192. [PMID: 36147846 PMCID: PMC9485576 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.991192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii (a.k.a. Pichia pastoris) harbors a methanol utilization (MUT) pathway, enabling it to utilize methanol as the sole source of carbon. The nexus between transcription factors such as Mxr1p and Trm1p and chromatin-modifying enzymes in the regulation of genes of MUT pathway has not been well studied in K. phaffii. Using transcriptomics, we demonstrate that Gcn5, a histone acetyltransferase, and Gal83, one of the beta subunits of nuclear-localized SNF1 (sucrose non-fermenting 1) kinase complex are essential for the transcriptional regulation by the zinc finger transcription factors Mxr1p and Trm1p. We conclude that interactions among Gcn5, Snf1, Mxr1p, and Trm1p play a critical role in the transcriptional regulation of genes of MUT pathway of K. phaffii.
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5
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Farre JC, Carolino K, Devanneaux L, Subramani S. OXPHOS deficiencies affect peroxisome proliferation by downregulating genes controlled by the SNF1 signaling pathway. eLife 2022; 11:e75143. [PMID: 35467529 PMCID: PMC9094750 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
How environmental cues influence peroxisome proliferation, particularly through organelles, remains largely unknown. Yeast peroxisomes metabolize fatty acids (FA), and methylotrophic yeasts also metabolize methanol. NADH and acetyl-CoA, produced by these pathways enter mitochondria for ATP production and for anabolic reactions. During the metabolism of FA and/or methanol, the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway accepts NADH for ATP production and maintains cellular redox balance. Remarkably, peroxisome proliferation in Pichia pastoris was abolished in NADH-shuttling- and OXPHOS mutants affecting complex I or III, or by the mitochondrial uncoupler, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), indicating ATP depletion causes the phenotype. We show that mitochondrial OXPHOS deficiency inhibits expression of several peroxisomal proteins implicated in FA and methanol metabolism, as well as in peroxisome division and proliferation. These genes are regulated by the Snf1 complex (SNF1), a pathway generally activated by a high AMP/ATP ratio. In OXPHOS mutants, Snf1 is activated by phosphorylation, but Gal83, its interacting subunit, fails to translocate to the nucleus. Phenotypic defects in peroxisome proliferation observed in the OXPHOS mutants, and phenocopied by the Δgal83 mutant, were rescued by deletion of three transcriptional repressor genes (MIG1, MIG2, and NRG1) controlled by SNF1 signaling. Our results are interpreted in terms of a mechanism by which peroxisomal and mitochondrial proteins and/or metabolites influence redox and energy metabolism, while also influencing peroxisome biogenesis and proliferation, thereby exemplifying interorganellar communication and interplay involving peroxisomes, mitochondria, cytosol, and the nucleus. We discuss the physiological relevance of this work in the context of human OXPHOS deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Claude Farre
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Krypton Carolino
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Lou Devanneaux
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Suresh Subramani
- Section of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
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6
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Ohsawa S, Oku M, Yurimoto H, Sakai Y. Regulation of Peroxisome Homeostasis by Post-Translational Modification in the Methylotrophic Yeast Komagataella phaffii. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:887806. [PMID: 35517506 PMCID: PMC9061947 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.887806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii (synoym Pichia pastoris) can grow on methanol with an associated proliferation of peroxisomes, which are subsequently degraded by pexophagy upon depletion of methanol. Two cell wall integrity and stress response component (WSC) family proteins (Wsc1 and Wsc3) sense the extracellular methanol concentration and transmit the methanol signal to Rom2. This stimulates the activation of transcription factors (Mxr1, Trm1, and Mit1 etc.), leading to the induction of methanol-metabolizing enzymes (methanol-induced gene expression) and synthesis of huge peroxisomes. Methanol-induced gene expression is repressed by the addition of ethanol (ethanol repression). This repression is not conducted directly by ethanol but rather by acetyl-CoA synthesized from ethanol by sequential reactions, including alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases, and acetyl-CoA synthetase. During ethanol repression, Mxr1 is inactivated by phosphorylation. Peroxisomes are degraded by pexophagy on depletion of methanol and this event is triggered by phosphorylation of Atg30 located at the peroxisome membrane. In the presence of methanol, Wsc1 and Wsc3 repress pexophagy by transmitting the methanol signal via the MAPK cascade to the transcription factor Rlm1, which induces phosphatases involved in dephosphorylation of Atg30. Upon methanol consumption, repression of Atg30 phosphorylation is released, resulting in initiation of pexophagy. Physiological significance of these machineries involved in peroxisome homeostasis and their post-translational modification is also discussed in association with the lifestyle of methylotrophic yeast in the phyllosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Ohsawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masahide Oku
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioenvironmental Science, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- *Correspondence: Yasuyoshi Sakai,
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7
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Liu Q, Song L, Peng Q, Zhu Q, Shi X, Xu M, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Cai M. A programmable high-expression yeast platform responsive to user-defined signals. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl5166. [PMID: 35148182 PMCID: PMC8836803 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl5166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Rapidly growing yeasts with appropriate posttranslational modifications are favored hosts for protein production in the biopharmaceutical industry. However, limited production capacity and intricate transcription regulation restrict their application and adaptability. Here, we describe a programmable high-expression yeast platform, SynPic-X, which responds to defined signals and is broadly applicable. We demonstrated that a synthetic improved transcriptional signal amplification device (iTSAD) with a bacterial-yeast transactivator and bacterial-yeast promoter markedly increased expression capacity in Pichia pastoris. CRISPR activation and interference devices were designed to strictly regulate iTSAD in response to defined signals. Engineered switches were then constructed to exemplify the response of SynPic-X to exogenous signals. Expression of α-amylase by SynPic-R, a specific SynPic-X, in a bioreactor proved a methanol-free high-production process of recombinant protein. Our SynPic-X platform provides opportunities for protein production in customizable yeast hosts with high expression and regulatory flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lili Song
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qiangqiang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qiaoyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaona Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Mingqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qiyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Corresponding author.
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8
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Transcriptome Analysis Unveils the Effects of Proline on Gene Expression in the Yeast Komagataella phaffii. Microorganisms 2021; 10:microorganisms10010067. [PMID: 35056516 PMCID: PMC8778476 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Komagataella phaffii yeast is one of the most important biocompounds producing microorganisms in modern biotechnology. Optimization of media recipes and cultivation strategies is key to successful synthesis of recombinant proteins. The complex effects of proline on gene expression in the yeast K. phaffii was analyzed on the transcriptome level in this work. Our analysis revealed drastic changes in gene expression when K. phaffii was grown in proline-containing media in comparison to ammonium sulphate-containing media. Around 18.9% of all protein-encoding genes were differentially expressed in the experimental conditions. Proline is catabolized by K. phaffii even in the presence of other nitrogen, carbon and energy sources. This results in the repression of genes involved in the utilization of other element sources, namely methanol. We also found that the repression of AOX1 gene promoter with proline can be partially reversed by the deletion of the KpPUT4.2 gene.
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9
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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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10
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Gupta A, Krishna Rao K, Sahu U, Rangarajan PN. Characterization of the transactivation and nuclear localization functions of Pichia pastoris zinc finger transcription factor Mxr1p. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101247. [PMID: 34582889 PMCID: PMC8526985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The zinc finger transcription factor Mxr1p regulates the transcription of genes involved in methanol, acetate, and amino acid metabolism of the industrial yeast Pichia pastoris (a.k.a. Komagataella phaffii) by binding to Mxr1p response elements in their promoters. Here, we demonstrate that Mxr1p is a key regulator of ethanol metabolism as well. Using transcriptomic analysis, we identified target genes of Mxr1p that mediate ethanol metabolism, including ALD6-1 encoding an aldehyde dehydrogenase. ALD6-1 is essential for ethanol metabolism, and the ALD6-1 promoter harbors three Mxr1p response elements to which Mxr1p binds in vitro and activates transcription in vivo. We show that a nine-amino acid transactivation domain located between amino acids 365 and 373 of Mxr1p is essential for the transactivation of ALD6-1 to facilitate ethanol metabolism. Mxr1N250, containing the N-terminal 250 amino acids of Mxr1p, localized to the nucleus of cells metabolizing ethanol dependent on basic amino acid residues present between amino acids 75 and 85. While the N-terminal 400 amino acids of Mxr1p are sufficient for the activation of target genes essential for ethanol metabolism, the region between amino acids 401 and 1155 was also required for the regulation of genes essential for methanol metabolism. Finally, we identified several novel genes whose expression is differentially regulated by Mxr1p during methanol metabolism by DNA microarray. This study demonstrates that Mxr1p is a key regulator of ethanol metabolism and provides new insights into the mechanism by which Mxr1p functions as a global regulator of multiple metabolic pathways of P. pastoris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Umakant Sahu
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Pundi N Rangarajan
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
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11
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Yoko-O T, Komatsuzaki A, Yoshihara E, Zhao S, Umemura M, Gao XD, Chiba Y. Regulation of alcohol oxidase gene expression in methylotrophic yeast Ogataea minuta. J Biosci Bioeng 2021; 132:437-444. [PMID: 34462231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ogataea minuta is a methylotrophic yeast that is closely related to Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha. Like other methylotrophic yeasts, O. minuta possesses strongly methanol-inducible genes, such as AOX1. We have focused on O. minuta as a host for the production of heterologous glycoproteins. However, it remained unknown how the AOX1 promoter is regulated in O. minuta. To elucidate regulation mechanisms of the AOX1 promoter, we adopted an assay system to quantitate AOX1 promoter activity using the PHO5 gene, which encodes an acid phosphatase, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The promoter activity assay revealed that glycerol, as well as glucose, cause strong catabolite repression of AOX1 expression in O. minuta. To investigate what factors are involved in transcription of the AOX1 promoter in O. minuta, we cloned three putative transcription factor genes, TRM1, TRM2, and MPP1, as homologues of other methylotrophic yeast species. Deletion mutants of these genes all showed decreased induction of the AOX1 promoter when methanol was added as the sole carbon source, indicating that these genes are indeed involved in AOX1 promoter regulation in O. minuta. Double deletion and constitutive expression of these transcription factor genes indicated that TRM1 and MPP1 regulate the transcription of AOX1 in the same pathway, while TRM2 regulates it in another pathway. By reverse transcription-qPCR, we also found that these two pathways compensate for each other and have crosstalk mechanisms with each other. A possible model for regulation of the AOX1 promoter in O. minuta was shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiko Yoko-O
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan.
| | - Akiko Komatsuzaki
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan
| | - Erina Yoshihara
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; The School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Song Zhao
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Mariko Umemura
- The School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Xiao-Dong Gao
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yasunori Chiba
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan
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12
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Ohsawa S, Inoue K, Isoda T, Oku M, Yurimoto H, Sakai Y. The methanol sensor Wsc1 and MAPK Mpk1 suppress degradation of methanol-induced peroxisomes in methylotrophic yeast. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:jcs.254714. [PMID: 33771930 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.254714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In nature, methanol is produced during the hydrolysis of pectin in plant cell walls. Methanol on plant leaves shows circadian dynamics, to which methanol-utilizing phyllosphere microorganisms adapt. In the methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii (Kp; also known as Pichia pastoris), the plasma membrane protein KpWsc1 senses environmental methanol concentrations and transmits this information to induce the expression of genes for methanol metabolism and the formation of huge peroxisomes. In this study, we show that KpWsc1 and its downstream MAPK, KpMpk1, negatively regulate pexophagy in the presence of methanol concentrations greater than 0.15%. Although KpMpk1 was not necessary for expression of methanol-inducible genes and peroxisome biogenesis, KpMpk1, the transcription factor KpRlm1 and phosphatases were found to suppress pexophagy by controlling phosphorylation of KpAtg30, the key factor in regulation of pexophagy. We reveal at the molecular level how the single methanol sensor KpWsc1 commits the cell to peroxisome synthesis and degradation according to the methanol concentration, and we discuss the physiological significance of regulating pexophagy for survival in the phyllosphere. This article has an associated First Person interview with Shin Ohsawa, joint first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Ohsawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Koichi Inoue
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takahiro Isoda
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Masahide Oku
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioenvironmental Science, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Sogabecho Nanjo Otani, Kameoka 621-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.,Research Unit for Physiological Chemistry, the Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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13
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Song W, Zhang N, Yang M, Zhou Y, He N, Zhang G. Multiple strategies to improve the yield of chitinase a from Bacillus licheniformis in Pichia pastoris to obtain plant growth enhancer and GlcNAc. Microb Cell Fact 2020; 19:181. [PMID: 32933546 PMCID: PMC7493387 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-01440-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitinase and chitin-oligosaccaride can be used in multiple field, so it is important to develop a high-yield chitinase producing strain. Here, a recombinant Pichia pastoris with 4 copies of ChiA gene from Bacillus licheniformis and co-expression of molecular chaperon HAC1 was constructed. The amount of recombinant ChiA in the supernatant of high-cell-density fermentation reaches a maximum of 12.7 mg/mL, which is 24-fold higher than that reported in the previous study. The recombinant ChiA can hydrolyze 30% collodidal chitin with 74% conversion ratio, and GlcNAc is the most abundant hydrolysis product, followed by N, N′-diacetylchitobiose. Combined with BsNagZ, the hydrolysate of ChiA can be further transformed into GlcNAc with 88% conversion ratio. Additionally, the hydrolysate of ChiA can obviously accelerate the germination growth of rice and wheat, increasing the seedling height and root length by at least 1.6 folds within 10 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Nuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Mo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yuling Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Nisha He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
| | - Guimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
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14
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Transcriptional regulatory proteins in central carbon metabolism of Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:7273-7311. [PMID: 32651601 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10680-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
System-wide interactions in living cells and discovery of the diverse roles of transcriptional regulatory proteins that are mediator proteins with catalytic domains and regulatory subunits and transcription factors in the cellular pathways have become crucial for understanding the cellular response to environmental conditions. This review provides information for future metabolic engineering strategies through analyses on the highly interconnected regulatory networks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris and identifying their components. We discuss the current knowledge on the carbon catabolite repression (CCR) mechanism, interconnecting regulatory system of the central metabolic pathways that regulate cell metabolism based on nutrient availability in the industrial yeasts. The regulatory proteins and their functions in the CCR signalling pathways in both yeasts are presented and discussed. We highlight the importance of metabolic signalling networks by signifying ways on how effective engineering strategies can be designed for generating novel regulatory circuits, furthermore to activate pathways that reconfigure the network architecture. We summarize the evidence that engineering of multilayer regulation is needed for directed evolution of the cellular network by putting the transcriptional control into a new perspective for the regulation of central carbon metabolism of the industrial yeasts; furthermore, we suggest research directions that may help to enhance production of recombinant products in the widely used, creatively engineered, but relatively less studied P. pastoris through de novo metabolic engineering strategies based on the discovery of components of signalling pathways in CCR metabolism. KEY POINTS: • Transcriptional regulation and control is the key phenomenon in the cellular processes. • Designing de novo metabolic engineering strategies depends on the discovery of signalling pathways in CCR metabolism. • Crosstalk between pathways occurs through essential parts of transcriptional machinery connected to specific catalytic domains. • In S. cerevisiae, a major part of CCR metabolism is controlled through Snf1 kinase, Glc7 phosphatase, and Srb10 kinase. • In P. pastoris, signalling pathways in CCR metabolism have not yet been clearly known yet. • Cellular regulations on the transcription of promoters are controlled with carbon sources.
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15
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Takagi S, Tsutsumi N, Terui Y, Kong X, Yurimoto H, Sakai Y. Engineering the expression system for Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris): an attempt to develop a methanol-free expression system. FEMS Yeast Res 2020; 19:5549515. [PMID: 31408151 PMCID: PMC6736287 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foz059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The construction of a methanol-free expression system of Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) was attempted by engineering a strong methanol-inducible DAS1 promoter using Citrobacter braakii phytase production as a model case. Constitutive expression of KpTRM1, formerly PRM1-a positive transcription regulator for methanol-utilization (MUT) genes of K. phaffii,was demonstrated to produce phytase without addition of methanol, especially when a DAS1 promoter was used but not an AOX1 promoter. Another positive regulator, Mxr1p, did not have the same effect on the DAS1 promoter, while it was more effective than KpTrmp1 on the AOX1 promoter. Removing a potential upstream repression sequence (URS) and multiplying UAS1DAS1 in the DAS1 promoter significantly enhanced the yield of C. braakii phytase with methanol-feeding, which surpassed the native AOX1 promoter by 80%. However, multiplying UAS1DAS1 did not affect the yield of methanol-free expression by constitutive KpTrm1p. Another important region to enhance the effect of KpTrm1p under a methanol-free condition was identified in the DAS1 promoter, and was termed ESPDAS1. Nevertheless, methanol-free phytase production using an engineered DAS1 promoter outperformed phytase production with the GAP promoter by 25%. Difference in regulation by known transcription factors on the AOX1 promoter and the DAS1 promoter was also illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinobu Takagi
- Novozymes Japan Ltd, CB-6 MTG, 1-3 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8501, Japan
| | - Noriko Tsutsumi
- Novozymes Japan Ltd, CB-6 MTG, 1-3 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8501, Japan
| | - Yuji Terui
- Novozymes Japan Ltd, CB-6 MTG, 1-3 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8501, Japan
| | - XiangYu Kong
- Novozymes (China) Investment Co. Ltd, 14 Xinxi Road, Shangdi Zone, Haidian District, 100085 Beijing, China
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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16
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Zhang C, Ma Y, Miao H, Tang X, Xu B, Wu Q, Mu Y, Huang Z. Transcriptomic Analysis of Pichia pastoris ( Komagataella phaffii) GS115 During Heterologous Protein Production Using a High-Cell-Density Fed-Batch Cultivation Strategy. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:463. [PMID: 32265887 PMCID: PMC7098997 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) is a methylotrophic yeast that is widely used in industry as a host system for heterologous protein expression. Heterologous gene expression is typically facilitated by strongly inducible promoters derived from methanol utilization genes or constitutive glycolytic promoters. However, protein production is usually accomplished by a fed-batch induction process, which is known to negatively affect cell physiology, resulting in limited protein yields and quality. To assess how yields of exogenous proteins can be increased and to further understand the physiological response of P. pastoris to the carbon conversion of glycerol and methanol, as well as the continuous induction of methanol, we analyzed recombinant protein production in a 10,000-L fed-batch culture. Furthermore, we investigated gene expression during the yeast cell culture phase, glycerol feed phase, glycerol-methanol mixture feed (GM) phase, and at different time points following methanol induction using RNA-Seq. We report that the addition of the GM phase may help to alleviate the adverse effects of methanol addition (alone) on P. pastoris cells. Secondly, enhanced upregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was observed in P. pastoris following methanol induction. The MAPK signaling pathway may be related to P. pastoris cell growth and may regulate the alcohol oxidase1 (AOX1) promoter via regulatory factors activated by methanol-mediated stimulation. Thirdly, the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathways were not significantly upregulated during the methanol induction period. These results imply that the presence of unfolded or misfolded phytase protein did not represent a serious problem in our study. Finally, the upregulation of the autophagy pathway during the methanol induction phase may be related to the degradation of damaged peroxisomes but not to the production of phytase. This work describes the metabolic characteristics of P. pastoris during heterologous protein production under high-cell-density fed-batch cultivation. We believe that the results of this study will aid further in-depth studies of P. pastoris heterologous protein expression, regulation, and secretory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbo Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Yu Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Huabiao Miao
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Xianghua Tang
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Bo Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Yuelin Mu
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Zunxi Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
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17
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Cámara E, Monforte S, Albiol J, Ferrer P. Deregulation of methanol metabolism reverts transcriptional limitations of recombinant Pichia pastoris (Komagataella spp) with multiple expression cassettes under control of the AOX1 promoter. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:1710-1720. [PMID: 30712270 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The methanol-regulated alcohol oxidase promoter (PAOX1 ) of Pichia pastoris (syn. Komagataella spp. ) is one of the strongest promoters for heterologous gene expression. Although increasing the gene dosage is a common strategy to improve recombinant protein productivities, P. pastoris strains harboring more than two copies of a Rhizopus oryzae lipase gene (ROL) have previously shown a decrease in cell growth, lipase production, and substrate consumption, as well as a significant transcriptional downregulation of methanol metabolism. This pointed to a potential titration effect of key transcriptional factors methanol expression regulator 1 (Mxr1) and methanol-induced transcription factor (Mit1) regulating methanol metabolism caused by the insertion of multiple expression vectors. To prove this hypothesis, a set of strains carrying one and four copies of ROL (1C and 4C, respectively) were engineered to coexpress one or two copies of MXR1*, coding for an Mxr1 variant insensitive to repression by 14-3-3 regulatory proteins, or one copy of MIT1. Small-scale cultures revealed that growth, Rol productivity, and methanol consumption were improved in the 4C-MXR1* and 4C-MIT1, strains growing on methanol as a sole carbon source, whereas only a slight increase in productivity was observed for re-engineered 1C strains. We further verified the improved performance of these strains in glycerol-/methanol-limited chemostat cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cámara
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sergi Monforte
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Albiol
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Pau Ferrer
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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18
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Transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal global behaviour of a genetically engineered methanol-independent Pichia pastoris strain. Process Biochem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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19
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Chang CH, Hsiung HA, Hong KL, Huang CT. Enhancing the efficiency of the Pichia pastoris AOX1 promoter via the synthetic positive feedback circuit of transcription factor Mxr1. BMC Biotechnol 2018; 18:81. [PMID: 30587177 PMCID: PMC6307218 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-018-0492-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The methanol-regulated AOX1 promoter (PAOX1) is the most widely used promoter in the production of recombinant proteins in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. However, as the tight regulation and methanol dependence of PAOX1 restricts its application, it is necessary to develop a flexible induction system to avoid the problems of methanol without losing the advantages of PAOX1. The availability of synthetic biology tools enables researchers to reprogram the cellular behaviour of P. pastoris to achieve this goal. Results The characteristics of PAOX1 are highly related to the expression profile of methanol expression regulator 1 (Mxr1). In this study, we applied a biologically inspired strategy to reprogram regulatory networks in P. pastoris. A reprogrammed P. pastoris was constructed by inserting a synthetic positive feedback circuit of Mxr1 driven by a weak AOX2 promoter (PAOX2). This novel approach enhanced PAOX1 efficiency by providing extra Mxr1 and generated switchable Mxr1 expression to allow PAOX1 to be induced under glycerol starvation or carbon-free conditions. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of glycerol on PAOX1 was retained because the synthetic circuit was not activated in response to glycerol. Using green fluorescent protein as a demonstration, this reprogrammed P. pastoris strain displayed stronger fluorescence intensity than non-reprogrammed cells under both methanol induction and glycerol starvation. Moreover, with single-chain variable fragment (scFv) as the model protein, increases in extracellular scFv productivity of 98 and 269% were observed in Mxr1-reprogrammed cells under methanol induction and glycerol starvation, respectively, compared to productivity in non-reprogrammed cells under methanol induction. Conclusions We successfully demonstrate that the synthetic positive feedback circuit of Mxr1 enhances recombinant protein production efficiency in P. pastoris and create a methanol-free induction system to eliminate the potential risks of methanol. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12896-018-0492-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hsiang Chang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hao-An Hsiung
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Lin Hong
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Tsan Huang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
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20
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Ohsawa S, Nishida S, Oku M, Sakai Y, Yurimoto H. Ethanol represses the expression of methanol-inducible genes via acetyl-CoA synthesis in the yeast Komagataella phaffii. Sci Rep 2018; 8:18051. [PMID: 30575795 PMCID: PMC6303403 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36732-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In methylotrophic yeasts, the expression of methanol-inducible genes is repressed by ethanol even in the presence of methanol, a phenomenon called ethanol repression. The mechanism of ethanol repression in Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) was studied, and acetyl-CoA synthesis from ethanol by sequential reactions of alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) was involved in ethanol repression. Molecular analysis of the ACS-encoding gene product KpAcs1 revealed that its N-terminal motif, which is conserved in methylotrophic yeasts, was required for ethanol repression. ACS activity was downregulated during methanol-induced gene expression, which partially depended on autophagy. In addition, acetyl-CoA synthesis and phosphorylation of a transcription factor KpMxr1 were found to contribute to ethanol repression in a synergistic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Ohsawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Susumu Nishida
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Masahide Oku
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.,Research Unit for Physiological Chemistry, the Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
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21
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Dey T, Krishna Rao K, Khatun J, Rangarajan PN. The nuclear transcription factor Rtg1p functions as a cytosolic, post-transcriptional regulator in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:16647-16660. [PMID: 30185617 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Rtg1p and Rtg3p are two basic helix-loop-helix, retrograde transcription factors in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Both factors heterodimerize to activate the transcription of nuclear genes in response to mitochondrial dysfunction and glutamate auxotrophy, but are not well characterized in other yeasts. Here, we demonstrate that the Rtg1p/Rtg3p-mediated retrograde signaling pathway is absent in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris We observed that P. pastoris Rtg1p (PpRtg1p) heterodimerizes with S. cerevisiae Rtg3p and functions as a nuclear, retrograde transcription factor in S. cerevisiae, but not in P. pastoris. We noted that P. pastoris Rtg3p lacks a functional leucine zipper and interacts with neither S. cerevisiae Rtg1p (ScRtg1p) nor PpRtg1p. In the absence of an interaction with Rtg3p, PpRtg1p has apparently acquired a novel function as a cytosolic regulator of multiple P. pastoris metabolic pathways, including biosynthesis of glutamate dehydrogenase 2 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase required for the utilization of glutamate as the sole carbon source. PpRtg1p also had an essential role in methanol metabolism and regulated alcohol oxidase synthesis and was required for the metabolism of ethanol, acetate, and oleic acid, but not of glucose and glycerol. Although PpRtg1p could functionally complement ScRtg1p, ScRtg1p could not complement PpRtg1p, indicating that ScRtg1p is not a functional PpRtg1p homolog. Thus, PpRtg1p functions as a nuclear, retrograde transcription factor in S. cerevisiae and as a cytosolic, post-transcriptional regulator in P. pastoris We conclude that PpRtg1p is a key component of a signaling pathway that regulates multiple metabolic processes in P. pastoris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trishna Dey
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 60012, India
| | - Kamisetty Krishna Rao
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 60012, India
| | - Jesminara Khatun
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 60012, India
| | - Pundi N Rangarajan
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 60012, India
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22
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Zhu J, Gong R, Zhu Q, He Q, Xu N, Xu Y, Cai M, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Zhou M. Genome-Wide Determination of Gene Essentiality by Transposon Insertion Sequencing in Yeast Pichia pastoris. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10223. [PMID: 29976927 PMCID: PMC6033949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28217-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In many prokaryotes but limited eukaryotic species, the combination of transposon mutagenesis and high-throughput sequencing has greatly accelerated the identification of essential genes. Here we successfully applied this technique to the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and classified its conditionally essential/non-essential gene sets. Firstly, we showed that two DNA transposons, TcBuster and Sleeping beauty, had high transposition activities in P. pastoris. By merging their insertion libraries and performing Tn-seq, we identified a total of 202,858 unique insertions under glucose supported growth condition. We then developed a machine learning method to classify the 5,040 annotated genes into putatively essential, putatively non-essential, ambig1 and ambig2 groups, and validated the accuracy of this classification model. Besides, Tn-seq was also performed under methanol supported growth condition and methanol specific essential genes were identified. The comparison of conditionally essential genes between glucose and methanol supported growth conditions helped to reveal potential novel targets involved in methanol metabolism and signaling. Our findings suggest that transposon mutagenesis and Tn-seq could be applied in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris to classify conditionally essential/non-essential gene sets. Our work also shows that determining gene essentiality under different culture conditions could help to screen for novel functional components specifically involved in methanol metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxiang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ruiqing Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Qiaoyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Qiulin He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ning Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yichun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xiangshan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Mian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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23
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Duan X, Gao J, Zhou YJ. Advances in engineering methylotrophic yeast for biosynthesis of valuable chemicals from methanol. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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24
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Transcriptome analysis of Δmig1Δmig2 mutant reveals their roles in methanol catabolism, peroxisome biogenesis and autophagy in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Genes Genomics 2017; 40:399-412. [PMID: 29892842 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-017-0641-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Two catabolite repressor genes (MIG1 and MIG2) were previously identified in Pichia pastoris, and the derepression of alcohol oxidase (AOX) expression was realized in Δmig1 or Δmig1Δmig2 mutants grown in glycerol, but not in glucose. In this study, genome-wide RNA-seq analysis of Δmig1Δmig2 and the wild-type strain grown in glycerol revealed that the expression of numerous genes was greatly altered. Nearly 7% (357 genes) of approximately 5276 genes annotated in P. pastoris were significantly upregulated, with at least a two-fold differential expression in Δmig1Δmig2; the genes were mainly related to cell metabolism. Approximately 23% (1197 genes) were significantly downregulated; these were mainly correlated with the physiological characteristics of the cell. The methanol catabolism and peroxisome biogenesis pathways were remarkably enhanced, and the genes AOX1 and AOX2 were upregulated higher than 30-fold, which was consistent with the experimental results of AOX expression. The Mig proteins had a slight effect on autophagy when cells were grown in glycerol. The expression analysis of transcription factors showed that deletion of MIG1 and MIG2 significantly upregulated the binding of an essential transcription activator, Mit1p, with the AOX1 promoter, which suggested that Mig proteins might regulate the AOX1 promoter through the regulation of Mit1p. This work provides a reference for the further exploration of the methanol induction and catabolite repression mechanisms of AOX expression in methylotrophic yeasts.
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Portela RMC, Vogl T, Ebner K, Oliveira R, Glieder A. Pichia pastoris Alcohol Oxidase 1
(AOX1
) Core Promoter Engineering by High Resolution Systematic Mutagenesis. Biotechnol J 2017; 13:e1700340. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rui M. C. Portela
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa; 2829-516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Thomas Vogl
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, NAWI Graz University of Technology; Petersgasse 14/1 8010 Graz Austria
| | - Katharina Ebner
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, NAWI Graz University of Technology; Petersgasse 14/1 8010 Graz Austria
| | - Rui Oliveira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa; 2829-516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Anton Glieder
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, NAWI Graz University of Technology; Petersgasse 14/1 8010 Graz Austria
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Li X, Yang Y, Zhan C, Zhang Z, Liu X, Liu H, Bai Z. Transcriptional analysis of impacts of glycerol transporter 1 on methanol and glycerol metabolism in Pichia pastoris. FEMS Yeast Res 2017; 18:4582313. [DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fox081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yankun Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chunjun Zhan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhenyang Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiuxia Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hebin Liu
- Department of Biological Science, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren’ai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhonghu Bai
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
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27
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Sahu U, Rajendra VKH, Kapnoor SS, Bhagavat R, Chandra N, Rangarajan PN. Methionine synthase is localized to the nucleus in Pichia pastoris and Candida albicans and to the cytoplasm in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:14730-14746. [PMID: 28701466 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.783019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine synthase (MS) catalyzes methylation of homocysteine, the last step in the biosynthesis of methionine, which is essential for the regeneration of tetrahydrofolate and biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine. Here, we report that MS is localized to the nucleus of Pichia pastoris and Candida albicans but is cytoplasmic in Saccharomyces cerevisiae The P. pastoris strain carrying a deletion of the MET6 gene encoding MS (Ppmet6) exhibits methionine as well as adenine auxotrophy indicating that MS is required for methionine as well as adenine biosynthesis. Nuclear localization of P. pastoris MS (PpMS) was abrogated by the deletion of 107 C-terminal amino acids or the R742A mutation. In silico analysis of the PpMS structure indicated that PpMS may exist in a dimer-like configuration in which Arg-742 of a monomer forms a salt bridge with Asp-113 of another monomer. Biochemical studies indicate that R742A as well as D113R mutations abrogate nuclear localization of PpMS and its ability to reverse methionine auxotrophy of Ppmet6 Thus, association of two PpMS monomers through the interaction of Arg-742 and Asp-113 is essential for catalytic activity and nuclear localization. When PpMS is targeted to the cytoplasm employing a heterologous nuclear export signal, it is expressed at very low levels and is unable to reverse methionine and adenine auxotrophy of Ppmet6 Thus, nuclear localization is essential for the stability and function of MS in P. pastoris. We conclude that nuclear localization of MS is a unique feature of respiratory yeasts such as P. pastoris and C. albicans, and it may have novel moonlighting functions in the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umakant Sahu
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Vinod K H Rajendra
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Shankar S Kapnoor
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Raghu Bhagavat
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Nagasuma Chandra
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Pundi N Rangarajan
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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28
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Moser JW, Prielhofer R, Gerner SM, Graf AB, Wilson IBH, Mattanovich D, Dragosits M. Implications of evolutionary engineering for growth and recombinant protein production in methanol-based growth media in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Microb Cell Fact 2017; 16:49. [PMID: 28302114 PMCID: PMC5356285 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-017-0661-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pichia pastoris is a widely used eukaryotic expression host for recombinant protein production. Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) has been applied in a wide range of studies in order to improve strains for biotechnological purposes. In this context, the impact of long-term carbon source adaptation in P. pastoris has not been addressed so far. Thus, we performed a pilot experiment in order to analyze the applicability and potential benefits of ALE towards improved growth and recombinant protein production in P. pastoris. RESULTS Adaptation towards growth on methanol was performed in replicate cultures in rich and minimal growth medium for 250 generations. Increased growth rates on these growth media were observed at the population and single clone level. Evolved populations showed various degrees of growth advantages and trade-offs in non-evolutionary growth conditions. Genome resequencing revealed a wide variety of potential genetic targets associated with improved growth performance on methanol-based growth media. Alcohol oxidase represented a mutational hotspot since four out of seven evolved P. pastoris clones harbored mutations in this gene, resulting in decreased Aox activity, despite increased growth rates. Selected clones displayed strain-dependent variations for AOX-promoter based recombinant protein expression yield. One particularly interesting clone showed increased product titers ranging from a 2.5-fold increase in shake flask batch culture to a 1.8-fold increase during fed batch cultivation. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate a complex correlation of carbon source, growth context and recombinant protein production. While similar experiments have already shown their potential in other biotechnological areas where microbes were evolutionary engineered for improved stress resistance and growth, the current dataset encourages the analysis of the potential of ALE for improved protein production in P. pastoris on a broader scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef W Moser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Prielhofer
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 1190, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Samuel M Gerner
- University of Applied Sciences FH-Campus Wien, Bioengineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra B Graf
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 1190, Vienna, Austria.,University of Applied Sciences FH-Campus Wien, Bioengineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iain B H Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diethard Mattanovich
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 1190, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Dragosits
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Zhan C, Yang Y, Zhang Z, Li X, Liu X, Bai Z. Transcription factor Mxr1 promotes the expression of Aox1 by repressing glycerol transporter 1 in Pichia pastoris. FEMS Yeast Res 2017; 17:3061371. [DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fox015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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30
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Ohsawa S, Yurimoto H, Sakai Y. Novel function of Wsc proteins as a methanol-sensing machinery in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Mol Microbiol 2017; 104:349-363. [PMID: 28127815 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Wsc family proteins are plasma membrane spanning sensor proteins conserved from yeasts to mammalian cells. We studied the functional roles of Wsc family proteins in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, and found that PpWsc1 and PpWsc3 function as methanol-sensors during growth on methanol. PpWsc1 responds to a lower range of methanol concentrations than PpWsc3. PpWsc1, but not PpWsc3, also functions during high temperature stress, but PpWsc1 senses methanol as a signal that is distinct from high-temperature stress. We also found that PpRom2, which is known to function downstream of the Wsc family proteins in the cell wall integrity pathway, was also involved in sensing methanol. Based on these results, these PpWsc family proteins were demonstrated to be involved in sensing methanol and transmitting the signal via their cytoplasmic tail to the nucleus via PpRom2, which plays a critical role in regulating expression of a subset of methanol-inducible genes to coordinate well-balanced methanol metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Ohsawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yurimoto
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Sakai
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.,Research Unit for Physiological Chemistry, the Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University, Japan
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31
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Methanol-Independent Protein Expression by AOX1 Promoter with trans-Acting Elements Engineering and Glucose-Glycerol-Shift Induction in Pichia pastoris. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41850. [PMID: 28150747 PMCID: PMC5288789 DOI: 10.1038/srep41850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The alcohol oxidase 1 promoter (PAOX1) of Pichia pastoris is commonly used for high level expression of recombinant proteins. While the safety risk of methanol and tough process control for methanol induction usually cause problems especially in large-scale fermentation. By testing the functions of trans-acting elements of PAOX1 and combinatorially engineering of them, we successfully constructed a methanol-free PAOX1 start-up strain, in which, three transcription repressors were identified and deleted and, one transcription activator were overexpressed. The strain expressed 77% GFP levels in glycerol compared to the wide-type in methanol. Then, insulin precursor (IP) was expressed, taking which as a model, we developed a novel glucose-glycerol-shift induced PAOX1 start-up for this methanol-free strain. A batch phase with glucose of 40 g/L followed by controlling residual glucose not lower than 20 g/L was compatible for supporting cell growth and suppressing PAOX1. Then, glycerol induction was started after glucose used up. Accordingly, an optimal bioprocess was further determined, generating a high IP production of 2.46 g/L in a 5-L bioreactor with dramatical decrease of oxygen consumption and heat evolution comparing with the wild-type in methanol. This mutant and bioprocess represent a safe and efficient alternative to the traditional glycerol-repressed/methanol-induced PAOX1 system.
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32
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Wakayama K, Yamaguchi S, Takeuchi A, Mizumura T, Ozawa S, Tomizuka N, Hayakawa T, Nakagawa T. Regulation of intracellular formaldehyde toxicity during methanol metabolism of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia methanolica. J Biosci Bioeng 2016; 122:545-549. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2016.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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33
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Sahu U, Rangarajan PN. Methanol Expression Regulator 1 (Mxr1p) Is Essential for the Utilization of Amino Acids as the Sole Source of Carbon by the Methylotrophic Yeast, Pichia pastoris. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:20588-601. [PMID: 27519409 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.740191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris can assimilate amino acids as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. It can grow in media containing yeast extract and peptone (YP), yeast nitrogen base (YNB) + glutamate (YNB + Glu), or YNB + aspartate (YNB + Asp). Methanol expression regulator 1 (Mxr1p), a zinc finger transcription factor, is essential for growth in these media. Mxr1p regulates the expression of several genes involved in the utilization of amino acids as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. These include the following: (i) GDH2 encoding NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase; (ii) AAT1 and AAT2 encoding mitochondrial and cytosolic aspartate aminotransferases, respectively; (iii) MDH1 and MDH2 encoding mitochondrial and cytosolic malate dehydrogenases, respectively; and (iv) GLN1 encoding glutamine synthetase. Synthesis of all these enzymes is regulated by Mxr1p at the level of transcription except GDH2, whose synthesis is regulated at the level of translation. Mxr1p activates the transcription of AAT1, AAT2, and GLN1 in cells cultured in YP as well as in YNB + Glu media, whereas transcription of MDH1 and MDH2 is activated in cells cultured in YNB + Glu but not in YP. A truncated Mxr1p composed of 400 N-terminal amino acids activates transcription of target genes in cells cultured in YP but not in YNB + Glu. Mxr1p binds to Mxr1p response elements present in the promoters of AAT2, MDH2, and GLN1 We conclude that Mxr1p is essential for utilization of amino acids as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and it is a global regulator of multiple metabolic pathways in P. pastoris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umakant Sahu
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Pundi N Rangarajan
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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34
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Weninger A, Hatzl AM, Schmid C, Vogl T, Glieder A. Combinatorial optimization of CRISPR/Cas9 expression enables precision genome engineering in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. J Biotechnol 2016; 235:139-49. [PMID: 27015975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) is one of the most commonly used expression systems for heterologous protein production. However the recombination machinery in P. pastoris is less effective in contrast to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where efficient homologous recombination naturally facilitates genetic modifications. The lack of simple and efficient methods for gene disruption and specifically integrating cassettes has remained a bottleneck for strain engineering in P. pastoris. Therefore tools and methods for targeted genome modifications are of great interest. Here we report the establishment of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies for P. pastoris and demonstrate targeting efficiencies approaching 100%. However there appeared to be a narrow window of optimal conditions required for efficient CRISPR/Cas9 function for this host. We systematically tested combinations of various codon optimized DNA sequences of CAS9, different gRNA sequences, RNA Polymerase III and RNA Polymerase II promoters in combination with ribozymes for the expression of the gRNAs and RNA Polymerase II promoters for the expression of CAS9. Only 6 out of 95 constructs were functional for efficient genome editing. We used this optimized CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene disruption studies, to introduce multiplexed gene deletions and to test the targeted integration of homologous DNA cassettes. This system allows rapid, marker-less genome engineering in P. pastoris enabling unprecedented strain and metabolic engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Weninger
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Anna-Maria Hatzl
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Christian Schmid
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Vogl
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Anton Glieder
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria
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35
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Wang X, Wang Q, Wang J, Bai P, Shi L, Shen W, Zhou M, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Cai M. Mit1 Transcription Factor Mediates Methanol Signaling and Regulates the Alcohol Oxidase 1 (AOX1) Promoter in Pichia pastoris. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:6245-61. [PMID: 26828066 PMCID: PMC4813576 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.692053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The alcohol oxidase 1 (AOX1) promoter (PAOX1) of Pichia pastoris is the most powerful and commonly used promoter for driving protein expression. However, mechanisms regulating its transcriptional activity are unclear. Here, we identified a Zn(II)2Cys6-type methanol-induced transcription factor 1 (Mit1) and elucidated its roles in regulating PAOX1 activity in response to glycerol and methanol. Mit1 regulated the expression of many genes involved in methanol utilization pathway, including AOX1, but did not participate in peroxisome proliferation and transportation of peroxisomal proteins during methanol metabolism. Structural analysis of Mit1 by performing domain deletions confirmed its specific and critical role in the strict repression of PAOX1 in glycerol medium. Importantly, Mit1, Mxr1, and Prm1, which positively regulated PAOX1 in response to methanol, were bound to PAOX1 at different sites and did not interact with each other. However, these factors cooperatively activated PAOX1 through a cascade. Mxr1 mainly functioned during carbon derepression, whereas Mit1 and Prm1 functioned during methanol induction, with Prm1 transmitting methanol signal to Mit1 by binding to the MIT1 promoter (PMIT1), thus increasingly expressing Mit1 and subsequently activating PAOX1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Qi Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Jinjia Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Peng Bai
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Lei Shi
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Wei Shen
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Mian Zhou
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Xiangshan Zhou
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and the Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing (SCICB), Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Menghao Cai
- From the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China and
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36
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Sahu U, Rangarajan PN. Regulation of Acetate Metabolism and Acetyl Co-a Synthetase 1 (ACS1) Expression by Methanol Expression Regulator 1 (Mxr1p) in the Methylotrophic Yeast Pichia pastoris. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:3648-57. [PMID: 26663080 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.673640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanol expression regulator 1 (Mxr1p) is a zinc finger protein that regulates the expression of genes encoding enzymes of the methanol utilization pathway in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris by binding to Mxr1p response elements (MXREs) present in their promoters. Here we demonstrate that Mxr1p is a key regulator of acetate metabolism as well. Mxr1p is cytosolic in cells cultured in minimal medium containing a yeast nitrogen base, ammonium sulfate, and acetate (YNBA) but localizes to the nucleus of cells cultured in YNBA supplemented with glutamate or casamino acids as well as nutrient-rich medium containing yeast extract, peptone, and acetate (YPA). Deletion of Mxr1 retards the growth of P. pastoris cultured in YNBA supplemented with casamino acids as well as YPA. Mxr1p is a key regulator of ACS1 encoding acetyl-CoA synthetase in cells cultured in YPA. A truncated Mxr1p comprising 400 N-terminal amino acids activates ACS1 expression and enhances growth, indicating a crucial role for the N-terminal activation domain during acetate metabolism. The serine 215 residue, which is known to regulate the expression of Mxr1p-activated genes in a carbon source-dependent manner, has no role in the Mxr1p-mediated activation of ACS1 expression. The ACS1 promoter contains an Mxr1p response unit (MxRU) comprising two MXREs separated by a 30-bp spacer. Mutations that abrogate MxRU function in vivo abolish Mxr1p binding to MxRU in vitro. Mxr1p-dependent activation of ACS1 expression is most efficient in cells cultured in YPA. The fact that MXREs are conserved in genes outside of the methanol utilization pathway suggests that Mxr1p may be a key regulator of multiple metabolic pathways in P. pastoris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umakant Sahu
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Pundi N Rangarajan
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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