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Wang S, Sun X, Han Y, Li Z, Lu X, Shi H, Zhang CY, Wong A, Yu A. Sustainable biosynthesis of squalene from waste cooking oil by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Metab Eng Commun 2024; 18:e00240. [PMID: 38948667 PMCID: PMC11214311 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2024.e00240] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Squalene is a highly sought-after triterpene compound in growing demand, and its production offers a promising avenue for circular economy practices. In this study, we applied metabolic engineering principles to enhance squalene production in the nonconventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, using waste cooking oil as a substrate. By overexpressing key enzymes in the mevalonate pathway - specifically ERG9 encoding squalene synthase, ERG20 encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase, and HMGR encoding hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase - we achieved a yield of 779.9 mg/L of squalene. Further co-overexpression of DGA1, encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and CAT2, encoding carnitine acetyltransferase, in combination with prior metabolic enhancements, boosted squalene production to 1381.4 mg/L in the engineered strain Po1g17. To enhance the supply of the precursor acetyl-CoA and inhibit downstream squalene conversion, we supplemented with 6 g/L pyruvic acid and 0.7 mg/L terbinafine, resulting in an overall squalene titer of 2594.1 mg/L. These advancements underscore the potential for sustainable, large-scale squalene production using Y. lipolytica cell factories, contributing to circular economy initiatives by valorizing waste materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Xu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Yuqing Han
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Zhuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Xiaocong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Hongrui Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Cui-ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Adison Wong
- Food, Chemical and Biotechnology Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, 138683, Singapore
| | - Aiqun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No.29 the 13th Street TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
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Ma Y, Shang Y, Stephanopoulos G. Engineering peroxisomal biosynthetic pathways for maximization of triterpene production in Yarrowia lipolytica. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314798121. [PMID: 38261612 PMCID: PMC10835042 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314798121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Constructing efficient cell factories for product synthesis is frequently hampered by competing pathways and/or insufficient precursor supply. This is particularly evident in the case of triterpenoid biosynthesis in Yarrowia lipolytica, where squalene biosynthesis is tightly coupled to cytosolic biosynthesis of sterols essential for cell viability. Here, we addressed this problem by reconstructing the complete squalene biosynthetic pathway, starting from acetyl-CoA, in the peroxisome, thus harnessing peroxisomal acetyl-CoA pool and sequestering squalene synthesis in this organelle from competing cytosolic reactions. This strategy led to increasing the squalene levels by 1,300-fold relatively to native cytosolic synthesis. Subsequent enhancement of the peroxisomal acetyl-CoA supply by two independent approaches, 1) converting cellular lipid pool to peroxisomal acetyl-CoA and 2) establishing an orthogonal acetyl-CoA shortcut from CO2-derived acetate in the peroxisome, further significantly improved local squalene accumulation. Using these approaches, we constructed squalene-producing strains capable of yielding 32.8 g/L from glucose, and 31.6 g/L from acetate by employing a cofeeding strategy, in bioreactor fermentations. Our findings provide a feasible strategy for protecting intermediate metabolites that can be claimed by multiple reactions by engineering peroxisomes in Y. lipolytica as microfactories for the production of such intermediates and in particular acetyl-CoA-derived metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongshuo Ma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02142
| | - Yi Shang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Potato Biology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)-Yunnan Normal University (YNNU)-YINMORE Joint Academy of Potato Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming650500, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy (Ministry of Education), Yunnan Normal University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Gregory Stephanopoulos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02142
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Lykins WR, Fox CB. Practical Considerations for Next-Generation Adjuvant Development and Translation. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1850. [PMID: 37514037 PMCID: PMC10385070 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071850] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last several years, there has been increased interest from academia and the pharmaceutical/biotech industry in the development of vaccine adjuvants for new and emerging vaccine modalities. Despite this, vaccine adjuvant development still has some of the longest timelines in the pharmaceutical space, from discovery to clinical approval. The reasons for this are manyfold and range from complexities in translation from animal to human models, concerns about safety or reactogenicity, to challenges in sourcing the necessary raw materials at scale. In this review, we will describe the current state of the art for many adjuvant technologies and how they should be approached or applied in the development of new vaccine products. We postulate that there are many factors to be considered and tools to be applied earlier on in the vaccine development pipeline to improve the likelihood of clinical success. These recommendations may require a modified approach to some of the common practices in new product development but would result in more accessible and practical adjuvant-containing products.
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Fisher KJ, Kinsey R, Mohamath R, Phan T, Liang H, Orr MT, Lykins WR, Guderian JA, Bakken J, Argilla D, Ramer-Denisoff G, Larson E, Qi Y, Sivananthan S, Smolyar K, Carter D, Paddon CJ, Fox CB. Semi-synthetic terpenoids with differential adjuvant properties as sustainable replacements for shark squalene in vaccine emulsions. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:14. [PMID: 36797262 PMCID: PMC9935550 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00608-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology has allowed for the industrial production of supply-limited sesquiterpenoids such as the antimalarial drug artemisinin and β-farnesene. One of the only unmodified animal products used in medicine is squalene, a triterpenoid derived from shark liver oil, which when formulated into an emulsion is used as a vaccine adjuvant to enhance immune responses in licensed vaccines. However, overfishing is depleting deep-sea shark populations, leading to potential supply problems for squalene. We chemically generated over 20 squalene analogues from fermentation-derived β-farnesene and evaluated adjuvant activity of the emulsified compounds compared to shark squalene emulsion. By employing a desirability function approach that incorporated multiple immune readouts, we identified analogues with enhanced, equivalent, or decreased adjuvant activity compared to shark squalene emulsion. Availability of a library of structurally related analogues allowed elucidation of structure-function relationships. Thus, combining industrial synthetic biology with chemistry and immunology enabled generation of sustainable terpenoid-based vaccine adjuvants comparable to current shark squalene-based adjuvants while illuminating structural properties important for adjuvant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Kinsey
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Raodoh Mohamath
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tony Phan
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Neoleukin, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hong Liang
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mark T Orr
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - William R Lykins
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Guderian
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Julie Bakken
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David Argilla
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gabi Ramer-Denisoff
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elise Larson
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yizhi Qi
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sandra Sivananthan
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Darrick Carter
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- HDT Bio Corp., Seattle, WA, USA
- PAI Life Sciences Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Christopher B Fox
- Access to Advanced Health Institute, formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Patel A, Bettiga M, Rova U, Christakopoulos P, Matsakas L. Microbial genetic engineering approach to replace shark livering for squalene. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1261-1273. [PMID: 35450778 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Squalene is generally sourced from the liver oil of deep sea sharks (Squalus spp.), in which it accounts for 40-70% of liver mass. To meet the growing demand for squalene because of its beneficial effects for human health, three to six million deep sea sharks are slaughtered each year, profoundly endangering marine ecosystems. To overcome this unsustainable practice, microbial sources of squalene might offer a viable alternative to plant- or animal-based squalene, although only a few microorganisms have been found that are capable of synthesizing up to 30% squalene of dry biomass by native biosynthetic pathways. These squalene biosynthetic pathways, on the other hand, can be genetically manipulated to transform microorganisms into 'cellular factories' for squalene overproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Patel
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden.
| | - Maurizio Bettiga
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Bioeconomy Division, EviKrets Biobased Processes Consultants, Landvetter, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Rova
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
| | - Paul Christakopoulos
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
| | - Leonidas Matsakas
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
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Recent advances in the microbial production of squalene. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 38:91. [PMID: 35426523 PMCID: PMC9010451 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03273-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Squalene is a triterpene hydrocarbon, a biochemical precursor for all steroids in plants and animals. It is a principal component of human surface lipids, in particular of sebum. Squalene has several applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and medical sectors. It is essentially used as a dietary supplement, vaccine adjuvant, moisturizer, cardio-protective agent, anti-tumor agent and natural antioxidant. With the increased demand for squalene along with regulations on shark-derived squalene, there is a need to find alternatives for squalene production which are low-cost as well as sustainable. Microbial platforms are being considered as a potential option to meet such challenges. Considerable progress has been made using both wild-type and engineered microbial strains for improved productivity and yields of squalene. Native strains for squalene production are usually limited by low growth rates and lesser titers. Metabolic engineering, which is a rational strain engineering tool, has enabled the development of microbial strains such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica, to overproduce the squalene in high titers. This review focuses on key strain engineering strategies involving both in-silico and in-vitro techniques. Emphasis is made on gene manipulations for improved precursor pool, enzyme modifications, cofactor regeneration, up-regulation of limiting reactions, and downregulation of competing reactions during squalene production. Process strategies and challenges related to both upstream and downstream during mass cultivation are detailed.
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Zhu ZT, Du MM, Gao B, Tao XY, Zhao M, Ren YH, Wang FQ, Wei DZ. Metabolic compartmentalization in yeast mitochondria: Burden and solution for squalene overproduction. Metab Eng 2021; 68:232-245. [PMID: 34710614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Harnessing mitochondria is considered as a promising method for biosynthesis of terpenes due to the adequate supply of acetyl-CoA and redox equivalents in mitochondria. However, mitochondrial engineering often causes serious metabolic burden indicated by poor cell growth. Here, we systematically analyzed the metabolic burden caused by the compartmentalization of the MVA pathway in yeast mitochondria for squalene synthesis. The phosphorylated intermediates of the MVA pathway, especially mevalonate-5-P and mevalonate-5-PP, conferred serious toxicity within mitochondria, which significantly compromised its possible advantages for squalene synthesis and was difficult to be significantly improved by routine pathway optimization. These phosphorylated intermediates were converted into ATP analogues, which strongly inhibited ATP-related cell function, such as mitochondrial oxidative respiration. Fortunately, the introduction of a partial MVA pathway from acetyl-CoA to mevalonate in mitochondria as well as the augmentation of the synthesis of mevalonate in cytosol could significantly promote the growth of yeasts. Accordingly, a combinatorial strategy of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial engineering was proposed to alleviate the metabolic burden caused by the compartmentalized MVA pathway in mitochondria and improve cell growth. The strategy also displayed the superimposed effect of cytoplasmic engineering and mitochondrial engineering on squalene production. Through a two-stage fermentation process, the squalene titer reached 21.1 g/L with a specific squalene titer of 437.1 mg/g dcw, which was the highest at present. This provides new insight into the production of squalene and other terpenes in yeasts based on the advantages of mitochondrial engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Tao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Meng-Meng Du
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Bei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xin-Yi Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yu-Hong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Feng-Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Dong-Zhi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
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