Peroxisome deficiency represses the expression of n-alkane-inducible YlALK1 encoding cytochrome P450ALK1 in Yarrowia lipolytica

SNF1 plays a crucial role in the utilization of n-alkane and transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in it in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica is an ascomycetous yeast that can assimilate hydrophobic carbon sources including oil and n-alkane. The sucrose non-fermenting 1/AMP-activated protein kinase (Snf1/AMPK) complex is involved in the assimilation of non-fermentable carbon sources in various yeasts. However, the role of the Snf1/AMPK complex in n-alkane assimilation in Y. lipolytica has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to clarify the role of Y. lipolytica SNF1 (YlSNF1) in the utilization of n-alkane. The deletion mutant of YlSNF1 (ΔYlsnf1) exhibited substantial growth defects on n-alkanes of various lengths (C10, C12, C14, and C16), and its growth was restored through the introduction of YlSNF1. Microscopic observations revealed that YlSnf1 tagged with enhanced green fluorescence protein showed dot-like distribution patterns in some cells cultured in the medium containing n-decane, which were not observed in cells cultured in the medium containing glucose or glycerol. The RNA sequencing analysis of ΔYlsnf1 cultured in the medium containing n-decane exhibited 302 downregulated and 131 upregulated genes compared with the wild-type strain cultured in the same medium. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses suggested that a significant fraction of the downregulated genes functioned in peroxisomes or were involved in the metabolism of n-alkane and fatty acids. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis confirmed the downregulation of 12 genes involved in the metabolism of n-alkane and fatty acid, ALK1-ALK3, ALK5, ADH7, PAT1, POT1, POX2, PEX3, PEX11, YAS1, and HFD3. Furthermore, ΔYlsnf1 exhibited growth defects on the medium containing the metabolites of n-alkane (fatty alcohol and fatty aldehyde). These findings suggest that YlSNF1 plays a crucial role in the utilization of n-alkane in Y. lipolytica. This study provides important insights into the advanced biotechnological applications of this yeast, including the bioconversion of n-alkane to useful chemicals and the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated environments.

Engineering co-utilization of glucose and xylose for chemical overproduction from lignocellulose

Bio-refining lignocellulose could provide a sustainable supply of fuels and fine chemicals; however, the challenges associated with the co-utilization of xylose and glucose typically compromise the efficiency of lignocellulose conversion. Here we engineered the industrial yeast Ogataea polymorpha (Hansenula polymorpha) for lignocellulose biorefinery by facilitating the co-utilization of glucose and xylose to optimize the production of free fatty acids (FFAs) and 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from lignocellulose. We rewired the central metabolism for the enhanced supply of acetyl-coenzyme A and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen, obtaining 30.0 g l-1 of FFAs from glucose, with productivity of up to 0.27 g l-1 h-1. Strengthening xylose uptake and catabolism promoted the synchronous utilization of glucose and xylose, which enabled the production of 38.2 g l-1 and 7.0 g l-1 FFAs from the glucose-xylose mixture and lignocellulosic hydrolysates, respectively. Finally, this efficient cell factory was metabolically transformed for 3-HP production with the highest titer of 79.6 g l-1 in fed-batch fermentation in mixed glucose and xylose.

Triacetic acid lactone production using 2-pyrone synthase expressing Yarrowia lipolytica via targeted gene deletion

An environmentally sustainable world can be realized by using microorganisms to produce value-added materials from renewable biomass. Triacetic acid lactone (TAL) is a high-value-added compound that is used as a precursor of various organic compounds such as food additives and pharmaceuticals. In this study, we used metabolic engineering to produce TAL from glucose using an oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. We first introduced TAL-producing gene 2-pyrone synthase into Y. lipolytica, which enabled TAL production. Next, we increased TAL production by engineering acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA biosynthesis pathways by redirecting carbon flux to glycolysis. Finally, we optimized the carbon and nitrogen ratios in the medium, culminating in the production of 4078 mg/L TAL. The strategy presented in this study had the potential to improve the titer and yield of polyketide biosynthesis.

Engineering 4-coumaroyl-CoA derived polyketide production in Yarrowia lipolytica through a β-oxidation mediated strategy

Polyketides are a diverse class of molecules sought after for their valuable properties, including as potential pharmaceuticals. Previously, we demonstrated that the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is an optimal host for production of the simple polyketide, triacetic acid lactone (TAL). We here expand the capacities of this host by overcoming previous media challenges and enabling production of more complex polyketides. Specifically, we employ a β-oxidation related strategy to improve polyketide production directly from defined media. Beyond TAL production, we establish biosynthesis of the 4-coumaroyl-CoA derived polyketides: naringenin, resveratrol, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, as well as the diketide intermediate, (E)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxopent-4-enoic acid. In this background, we enable high-level de novo production of naringenin through import of both a heterologous pathway and a mutant Y. lipolytica allele. In doing so, we generated an averaged maximum titer of 898 mg/L naringenin, the highest titer reported to date in any host. These results demonstrate that Y. lipolytica is an ideal polyketide production host for more complex 4-coumaroyl-CoA derived products.

Iterative integration of multiple-copy pathway genes in Yarrowia lipolytica for heterologous β-carotene production

β-Carotene is a terpenoid molecule with high hydrophobicity that is often used as an additive in foods and feed. Previous work has demonstrated the heterologous biosynthesis of β-carotene from an intrinsic high flux of acetyl-CoA in 12 steps through 11 genes in Yarrowia lipolytica. Here, an efficient biosynthetic pathway capable of producing 100-fold more β-carotene than the baseline construct was generated using strong promoters and multiple gene copies for each of the 12 steps. Using fed-batch fermentation with an optimized medium, the engineered pathway could produce 4g/L β-carotene, which was stored in lipid droplets within engineered Y. lipolytica cells. Expansion of these cells for squalene production also demonstrated that Y. lipolytica could be an industrially relevant platform for hydrophobic terpenoid production.

Production of Long-Chain α,ω-Dicarboxylic Acids by Engineered Escherichia coli from Renewable Fatty Acids and Plant Oils

Long-chain α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (LDCAs, ≥ C12) are widely used as a raw material for preparing various commodities and polymers. In this study, a CYP450-monooxygenase-mediated ω-oxidation pathway system with high ω-regioselectivity was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli to produce DCAs from fatty acids. The resulting engineered E. coli produced a maximum of 41 mg/L of C12 DCA and 163 mg/L of C14 DCA from fatty acids (1 g/L), following 20 h of whole cell biotransformation. Addition of a heme precursor and the hydroxyl radical scavenger, thiourea, increased product concentration (159 mg/L of C12 DCA and 410 mg/L of C14 DCA) in a shorter culture duration than that of the corresponding controls. DCAs of various chain lengths were synthesized from coconut oil hydrolysate using the engineered E. coli. This novel synthetic biocatalytic system could be applied to produce high value DCAs in a cost-effective manner from renewable plant oils.

Expression of native and mutant extracellular lipases fromYarrowia lipolytica in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot produce extracellular lipase and utilize low-cost lipid substrates. This study aimed to express extracellular lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica in S. cerevisiae, construct recombinant oily substrate consumer strains, and compare the roles of native and mutant Y. lipolytica extracellular lipases in S. cerevisiae. The LIP2 gene of Y. lipolytica DSM3286 and its mutant Y. lipolytica U6 were isolated and cloned by expression vector in S. cerevisiae. New recombinant S. cerevisiae strains FDS100 containing the native LIP2 gene, and FDS101 containing the mutant LIP2 gene were produced 10 and 15 U ml (-1) extracellular lipase respectively, on a production medium containing olive oil. New recombinant S. cerevisiae strains produce acceptable amount of extracellular lipase in comparison with Y. lipolytica wild-type strains. These strains can utilize olive oil and lipids as low-cost substrates to produce bioethanol, single cell protein and other biotechnologically valuable products. The recombinant S. cerevisiae strain with mutant LIP2 produced lipase with 1.5-fold higher activity. The LIP2 gene of Y. lipolytica was expressed in S. cerevisiae as a heterologous protein without any modifications. Strong components of the Y. lipolytica expression/secretion system could be used for high-level production of recombinant proteins in S. cerevisiae.

Construction and characterization of a Yarrowia lipolytica mutant lacking genes encoding cytochromes P450 subfamily 52

The initial hydroxylation of n-alkane is catalyzed by cytochrome P450ALK of the CYP52 family in the n-alkane-assimilating yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. A mutant with a deletion of all 12 genes, ALK1 to ALK12, which are deduced to encode cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 family in Y. lipolytica, was successfully constructed. This deletion mutant, Δalk1-12, completely lost the ability to grow on n-alkanes of 10-16 carbons. In contrast, Δalk1-12 grew on the metabolite of n-dodecane, i.e., n-dodecanol, n-dodecanal, or n-dodecanoic acid, as well as the wild-type strain. In addition, production of n-dodecanoic acid was not observed when Δalk1-12 was incubated in the presence of n-dodecane. These results indicate the essential roles of P450ALKs in the oxidation of n-alkane. Δalk1-12 will be valuable as a host strain to express an individual ALK gene to elucidate the molecular function and substrate specificity of each P450ALK. Transcriptional activation of the ALK1 promoter by n-alkanes was observed in Δalk1-12 as in the wild-type strain, implying that n-alkanes per se, but not their metabolites, trigger n-alkane-induced transcriptional activation in Y. lipolytica.

The biochemistry of oleate induction: Transcriptional upregulation and peroxisome proliferation

Unicellular organisms such as yeast constantly monitor their environment and respond to nutritional cues. Rapid adaptation to ambient changes may include modification and degradation of proteins; alterations in mRNA stability; and differential rates of translation. However, for a more prolonged response, changes are initiated in the expression of genes involved in the utilization of energy sources whose availability constantly fluctuates. For example, in the presence of oleic acid as a sole carbon source, yeast cells induce the expression of a discrete set of enzymes for fatty acid beta-oxidation as well as proteins involved in the expansion of the peroxisomal compartment containing this process. In this review chapter, we discuss the factors regulating oleate induction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and we also deal with peroxisome proliferation in other organisms, briefly mentioning fatty acid-independent signals that can trigger this process.

Hydrophobic substrate utilisation by the yeast , and its potential applications

The alkane-assimilating yeast Yarrowia lipolytica degrades very efficiently hydrophobic substrates such as n-alkanes, fatty acids, fats and oils for which it has specific metabolic pathways. An overview of the oxidative degradation pathways for alkanes and triglycerides in Y. lipolytica is given, with new insights arising from the recent genome sequencing of this yeast. This includes the interaction of hydrophobic substrates with yeast cells, their uptake and transport, the primary alkane oxidation to the corresponding fatty alcohols and then by different enzymes to fatty acids, and the subsequent degradation in peroxisomal beta-oxidation or storage into lipid bodies. Several enzymes involved in hydrophobic substrate utilisation belong to multigene families, such as lipases/esterases (LIP genes), cytochromes P450 (ALK genes) and peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidases (POX genes). Examples are presented demonstrating that wild-type and genetically engineered strains of Y. lipolytica can be used for alkane and fatty-acid bioconversion, such as aroma production, for production of SCP and SCO, for citric acid production, in bioremediation, in fine chemistry, for steroid biotransformation, and in food industry. These examples demonstrate distinct advantages of Y. lipolytica for their use in bioconversion reactions of biotechnologically interesting hydrophobic substrates.