Metabolic Engineering for Expanding the Substrate Range of Yarrowia lipolytica. Issue 10 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ledesma-Amaro, Rodrigo; Nicaud, Jean-Marc
• Is Part Of: Trends in biotechnology. Volume 34:Issue 10(2016)
• Page Start: 798
• Page End: 809
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: substrate engineering -- synthetic biology -- Yarrowia lipolytica -- lignocellulosic biomass -- microbial biotechnology -- industrial microbiology; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biochemical engineering -- Periodicals; Genetic engineering -- Periodicals; Industrial microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.04.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-7799

Abstract

Abstract : Economically viable biotechnology processes must be characterized by a favorable ratio between the production costs and the product market price. In the bioproduction of bulk chemicals, costs must be minimized so that the process is competitive relative to petroleum-based production. The substrate costs must thus be reduced by employing inexpensive carbon sources, such as industrial wastes. Unfortunately, the most convenient microorganisms for a bioconversion are typically unable to degrade such substrates. Fortunately, the discovery of new enzymes together with advances in synthetic biology has moved metabolic engineering forward, expanding substrate ranges. Here we review the latest advances made using the industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, which can exploit various carbon sources to produce biofuels and chemicals. Trends: Even when bioconversion yields are high, biotechnology processes may be economically unviable because of the high and/or unstable cost of common substrates. Raw, inexpensive carbon sources, usually complex sugar polymers, are preferred. Although these substrates can be pretreated using chemical/enzymatic processes to release their subunits, all-in-one consolidated bioprocesses are preferred. Most industrial microorganisms are unable to degrade raw substrates such as lignocellulosic biomass or even certain monosaccharide subunits. They must therefore be engineered to fully degrade target substrates. Metabolic engineering has successfully expanded the range of simple and complex substrates that industrial microbes can degrade. For example, the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has been engineered to break down carbon sources that it cannot degrade naturally.