Metabolic Engineering Communications (Dec 2020)

Analysis of Yarrowia lipolytica growth, catabolism, and terpenoid biosynthesis during utilization of lipid-derived feedstock

  • Alyssa M. Worland,
  • Jeffrey J. Czajka,
  • Yun Xing,
  • Willie F. Harper, Jr.,
  • Aryiana Moore,
  • Zhengyang Xiao,
  • Zhenlin Han,
  • Yechun Wang,
  • Wei Wen Su,
  • Yinjie J. Tang

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11
p. e00130

Abstract

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This study employs biomass growth analyses and 13C-isotope tracing to investigate lipid feedstock utilization by Yarrowia lipolytica. Compared to glucose, oil-feedstock in the minimal medium increases the yeast's biomass yields and cell sizes, but decreases its protein content (<20% of total biomass) and enzyme abundances for product synthesis. Labeling results indicate a segregated metabolic network (the glycolysis vs. the TCA cycle) during co-catabolism of sugars (glucose or glycerol) with fatty acid substrates, which facilitates resource allocations for biosynthesis without catabolite repressions. This study has also examined the performance of a β-carotene producing strain in different growth mediums. Canola oil-containing yeast-peptone (YP) has resulted in the best β-carotene titer (121 ± 13 mg/L), two-fold higher than the glucose based YP medium. These results highlight the potential of Y. lipolytica for the valorization of waste-derived lipid feedstock.

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