代谢工程改造酿酒酵母提高法尼醇产量

【目的】法尼醇(FOH,C_(15)H_(26)O)是一种具有芳香气味的非环状倍半萜醇,被广泛应用于化妆品和医学药物的工业化生产,也可作为航空燃料的理想替代品。具有食品级安全性的酿酒酵母细胞能够合成内源性法尼醇,但其产量很低,无法满足工业生产的需要。因此,需要采用代谢工程手段,改造法尼醇合成途径,以有效提高法尼醇在酿酒酵母中的产量。【方法】以酿酒酵母工业菌株CEN.PK2-1D为底盘细胞,强化甲羟戊酸途径中关键酶的表达水平和弱化麦角固醇合成分支途径,以提高法尼醇合成所需的直接前体物质法尼基焦磷酸(FPP);并分别表达催化FPP合成法尼醇的五种内源磷酸酶和两种异源合酶,筛选能高效合成法尼醇的磷酸酶或合酶。【结果】通过在CEN.PK2-1D(法尼醇产量0.1mg/L)中强化表达甲羟戊酸途径中截短形式的HMG-CoA还原酶(tHMGR1)和FPP合酶(ERG20),使法尼醇产量提高约50.8倍,达到5.08 mg/L;使用HXT1启动子替换鲨烯合酶编码基因ERG9启动子以下调其表达水平,使法尼醇产量进一步提升47.1倍,达到239.17 mg/L。在此基础上,筛选发现,表达酿酒酵母内源性磷酸酶PAH1时,获得最高产量法尼醇,达到393.13 mg/L。【结论】采用代谢工程策略对酿酒酵母法尼醇合成途径进行改造,有效提高法尼醇产量至393.13 mg/L,为目前报道的在酿酒酵母中摇瓶培养条件下的最高产量。     

产玉米黄质的人工酵母细胞的构建

为了实现微生物异源合成天然类胡萝卜素玉米黄质,以一株产β-胡萝卜素的酿酒酵母为底盘细胞,利用合成生物学技术构建人工酵母细胞。通过在染色体整合玉米黄质生物合成关键酶-β-胡萝卜素羟化酶（CrtZ）,并对其9种来源进行筛选,发现整合欧文氏菌来源的β-胡萝卜素羟化酶的菌株获得玉米黄质的最高产量。法尼基焦磷酸（FPP）作为合成萜烯类天然产物的重要前体,通过敲除 Lpp1和Dpp1 基因,削减法尼基焦磷酸向法呢醇的转化,为玉米黄质的合成提供更多的前体,使玉米黄质的产量提高了1.27倍（从29 mg/L提高到36.8 mg/L）。在此基础上,通过增加欧文氏菌来源CrtZ的基因拷贝数及调节其启动子的强弱来增强β-胡萝卜素羟化酶的表达强度,使得玉米黄质的摇瓶产量达到96.2 mg/L,是目前公开报道中产量最高的。     

稳定表达MVA途径基因提高番茄红素产量

萜类化合物的直接前体物质异戊烯焦磷酸(IPP)和二甲基烯丙基焦磷酸酯(DMAPP)可以由2-甲基-D-赤藻糖醇-4-磷酸途径(MEP途径)和甲羟戊酸途径(MVA途径)合成。在已经优化MEP合成途径、番茄红素合成途径关键基因表达的重组大肠杆菌LYC101中,引入MVA途径基因,进一步提高重组大肠杆菌合成萜类化合物的能力。质粒pALV23和pALV145是本实验室在研究MVA途径基因协调表达时,用核糖体结合位点(RBS)文库连接MVA途径各基因构建质粒文库,而筛选到的有效提高β-胡萝卜素产量的质粒。首先比较了两个质粒分别在低产和高产番茄红素的菌株中对番茄红素合成的影响。结果表明,两个质粒在高、低产番茄红素的菌株中都可以有效提高番茄红素产量。在高产菌LYC101中pALV23比pALV145使番茄红素产量更高。然后,用CRISPR-Cas9系统辅助同源重组的方法,将MVA途经基因和启动子一共6.7kb的条带整合到LYC101菌株的染色体上,得到遗传稳定的菌株LYC102。LYC102的番茄红素产率达40.9mg/g,是出发菌株LYC101产率的2.19倍,比用质粒表达MVA途径基因的菌株提高了20%。在重组大肠杆菌中同时表达MVA途径和MEP途径,可以有效提高萜类化合物产率;文中构建了不含质粒的、遗传稳定的高产番茄红素菌株,为产业化合成番茄红素提供基础;同时构建平台菌株,可以用于其他萜类化合物合成。     

spt15突变基因对酿酒酵母木糖利用的影响

利用基因工程手段得到重组菌YPH499-3中的spt15有效突变基因,通过表达载体pYX212转化入酿酒酵母原始菌株YPH499中,重新获得酿酒酵母重组菌株。对其性状进行研究,结果表明该菌株能有效利用木糖并共发酵木糖和葡萄糖。在30oC、200r/min,发酵72h时,50g/L木糖的利用率为82.0%,乙醇产率为28.4%;当木糖和葡萄糖以质量比1:1混合发酵时,木糖和葡萄糖的利用率分别为80.4%和100%,乙醇产率为31.4%;同时发现木糖醇的含量极低。从而验证了有效突变基因spt15-10对酿酒酵母共发酵木糖和葡萄糖产酒精的影响。     

代谢工程改造酿酒酵母合成柠檬烯及其衍生物

柠檬烯及其衍生物紫苏酸作为重要的生物活性天然产物，广泛应用于食品、化妆品、保健品和医药等行业。然而，低效率的植物提取与高能耗的化工合成限制了柠檬烯和紫苏酸的工业合成。本研究在酿酒酵母中通过过氧化物酶体区室化表达绿薄荷来源的柠檬烯合酶，构建获得重组菌株，柠檬烯产量为0.038 mg/L。采用模块化工程分步表达参与柠檬烯合成的基因ERG10、ERG13、tHMGR、ERG12、ERG8、IDI1、MVD1、ERG20ww以及tLS，以研究其对柠檬烯产量的影响。通过增加前体模块，柠檬烯产量增加至1.14 mg/L。采用高拷贝数的质粒表达上述关键基因，柠檬烯的产量显著提高，达到86.74 mg/L，提高至初始菌株产量的4 337倍。以构建的柠檬烯生产菌株为出发菌株，通过表达丹参来源的细胞色素P450酶基因，实现了紫苏酸的生成，其产量达4.42 mg/L，为利用酿酒酵母构建高产单萜类天然产物的细胞工厂奠定了基础。     

代谢工程改造酿酒酵母合成肌醇

【目的】肌醇别名环己六醇,是一种具有生物活性的糖醇,在医药、食品和饲料等领域具有重要的应用价值。为获得生产肌醇的微生物细胞工厂,通过代谢工程改造,构建生产肌醇的酿酒酵母工程菌株。【方法】对酿酒酵母肌醇合成途径的正负调控同时改造,过表达肌醇-3-磷酸合成酶基因ino1,敲除肌醇生物合成的转录抑制子基因opi1和抗性基因kan MX,获得重组菌。利用气相色谱法检测重组菌发酵液中肌醇含量。【结果】构建了生物安全性的产肌醇基因工程菌株,摇瓶培养产量为1.021 g/L。【结论】通过过表达ino1和敲除opi1来改造酿酒酵母,能够有效提高重组菌的肌醇产量,为下一步的微生物发酵法产肌醇的工业应用奠定基础。     

细胞膜合成途径模块化调控与形态改造提高大肠杆菌β-胡萝卜素的积累与产量

β-胡萝卜素是类胡萝卜素家族中的典型代表,属于疏水性较强的化合物,前期研究表明,改变细胞膜形态以及增加3-磷酸甘油二酯的供给,均可容纳更多的β-胡萝卜素,从而提高其产量。然而在之前的研究中,没有对细胞膜的磷脂中主要组分磷脂酰乙醇胺的合成途径对β-胡萝卜素积累的影响进行系统的讨论。本研究将磷脂酰乙醇胺的合成途径分为上中下游3个模块,对它们的多种表达组合策略进行比较。首先过表达了上游模块1,菌株CAR016的β-胡萝卜素的产量与单位细胞的β-胡萝卜素产量均有显著提高,分别可达到44 mg/L以及13.7 mg/g DCW。与对照菌株相比,分别提高30.5%与35.6%。过表达磷脂酰乙醇胺合成的中游模块,β-胡萝卜素的产量以及单位细胞的β-胡萝卜素的产量分别为103.5 mg/L DCW与19.8 mg/g DCW。与对照菌株CAR016(pACYC184-M)相比,分别提高1.4倍与53.5%。将上游模块1与中游模块2共表达,菌株CAR016(pModule1,pModule2)单位细胞的β-胡萝卜素产量为22.3 mg/g DCW。与CAR016(pModule2)相比,单位细胞产量提高18%,与出发菌株CAR016(pTrc99A-M,pACYC184-M)相比,单位细胞的β-胡萝卜素产量提高122%。本研究找到了磷脂酰乙醇胺合成途径表达的最优组合策略,可以产生更大量的细胞膜,为储存β-胡萝卜素提供了更多的空间,从而进一步提高β-胡萝卜素的产量。细胞膜形态和合成途径的模块化改造,是今后提高类胡萝卜素产量的新方向。     

操纵子前导区的修饰及PRPP合成途径的加强对大肠杆菌积累L-组氨酸的影响

目的:基于转酮酶基因缺失菌株MG1655-ΔtktA,研究启动子替换L-组氨酸操纵子前导区及6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶基因zwf、6-磷酸葡萄糖酸脱氢酶基因gnd、PRPP合成酶基因prs的过表达对大肠杆菌产L-组氨酸的影响。方法:通过Red重组系统用T5启动子替换L-组氨酸操纵子前导区;构建gnd和zwf串联表达载体gnd-zwf-pSTV28,prs表达载体prs-pQE30。通过摇瓶发酵,考察上述改造对大肠杆菌积累L-组氨酸的影响。结果:测定结果显示,改造菌株的发酵液中均能实现L-组氨酸积累,平均分别为MG1655-ΔtktA-PT5,60.12 mg/L;MG1655-ΔtktA-PT5(prs-pQE30),66.47mg/L;MG1655-ΔtktA-PT5(zwf-gnd-pSTV28),89.69 mg/L;MG1655-ΔtktA-PT5(prs-pQE30,zwf-gnd-pSTV28),111.56 mg/L。结论:L-组氨酸操纵子前导区的修饰使菌株合成L-组氨酸的能力大大增强,而氧化戊糖磷酸途径的加强和PRPP合成酶活性的提高能够进一步提高产量。     

甲羟戊酸途径限速步骤研究及其在产番茄红素重组大肠杆菌中的应用

甲羟戊酸途径(MVA途径)被引入重组大肠杆菌中,能够提高重组大肠杆菌中萜类化合物的合成能力。但因重组大肠杆菌中萜类化合物合成途径中间产物积累,导致细胞生长和萜类化合物合成受到限制。本研究在稳定表达MVA途径以及优化2-甲基-D-赤藻糖醇-4-磷酸途径(MEP途径)、番茄红素合成途径关键基因表达的重组大肠杆菌LYC103中,用质粒高表达MVA途径和番茄红素合成途径关键基因,挖掘该途径的限速步骤。结果表明,ispA、crtE、mvaK1、idi和mvaD基因过表达后,细胞生长没有明显变化,番茄红素产量依次提高了13.5%、16.5%、17.95%、33.7%和61.1%,说明这几个基因可能是合成番茄红素的限速步骤。mvaK1、mvaK2、mvaD三个基因在同一操纵子上,用mRNA稳定区(RNA stabilizing region)进行启动子文库(mRSL)调控mvaK1,相当于对3个基因同时调控。用高效基因组编辑技术(CAGO)对mvaK1基因的mRNA稳定区进行启动子文库的调控,得到菌株LYC104。番茄红素产量与对照菌株LYC103相比增加了2倍,细胞生长提高了32%。然后,利用CRISPR-Cas9技术在染色体lacZ位点整合idi基因,得到LYC105菌株。与出发菌株LYC103相比,细胞生长提高了147%,番茄红素产量增加了2.28倍。本研究在染色体上具有完整MVA途径的基础上,利用质粒高表达单个基因挖掘限速步骤,用同源重组方法整合限速基因、解除限速,为代谢工程构建高产菌株提供新策略。     

挖掘与调控乙酸胁迫响应基因提高重组酿酒酵母合成番茄红素水平

【背景】乙酰辅酶A是酿酒酵母异源合成番茄红素的重要中间产物,胞质中乙酰辅酶A主要来自乙酰辅酶A合成酶催化乙酸合成。【目的】通过外源添加乙酸盐结合调控乙酸胁迫应答基因增加胞内乙酰辅酶A含量,改善细胞生长,促进番茄红素合成。【方法】在合成番茄红素的重组酵母菌中过表达乙酰辅酶A合成酶编码基因(acs2),在发酵过程中添加10g/L乙酸盐,结合转录组学分析挖掘乙酸胁迫响应基因,进行单一和组合调控。【结果】添加乙酸盐后,重组菌Y02中番茄红素含量增加了19.14%,但细胞生长受到抑制,转录组学结果表明adk2、fap7、hem13、elo3、pdc5、set5、pmt5、hst4、clb2和swe1表达水平增加,因此构建了单基因和双基因过表达菌株,其中Y02-set5-hst4菌在添加乙酸盐后细胞生长得到了显著改善,同时胞内乙酰辅酶A浓度提高了78.21%,番茄红素含量和产量达到12.62 mg/g-DCW和108.67 mg/L,与对照菌Y02相比分别提高了42.76%和67.13%。同时该菌中甲羟戊酸途径中关键基因erg12、erg20和hmg1的表达量与对照菌相比分别上调了1.70、1.4...     

Synthesis of FAEEs from glycerol in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae using endogenously produced ethanol by heterologous expression of an unspecific bacterial acyltransferase

The high price of petroleum-based diesel fuel has led to the development of alternative fuels, such as ethanol. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was metabolically engineered to utilize glycerol as a substrate for ethanol production. For the synthesis of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) by engineered S. cerevisiae that utilize glycerol as substrate, heterologous expression of an unspecific acyltransferase from Acinetobacter baylyi with glycerol utilizing genes was established. As a result, the engineered YPH499 (pGcyaDak, pGupWs-DgaTCas) strain produced 0.24 g/L FAEEs using endogenous ethanol produced from glycerol. And this study also demonstrated the possibility of increasing FAEE production by enhancing ethanol production by minimizing the synthesis of glycerol. The overall FAEE production in strain YPH499 fps1Δ gpd2Δ (pGcyaDak, pGupWs-DgaTCas) was 2.1-fold more than in YPH499 (pGcyaDak, pGupWs-DgaTCas), with approximately 0.52 g/L FAEEs produced, while nearly 17 g/L of glycerol was consumed. These results clearly indicated that FAEEs were synthesized in engineered S. cerevisiae by esterifying exogenous fatty acids with endogenously produced ethanol from glycerol. This microbial system acts as a platform in applying metabolic engineering that allows the production of FAEEs from cheap and abundant substrates specifically glycerol through the use of endogenous bioethanol.     

Development of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for increasing the accumulation of triacylglycerol as a microbial oil feedstock for biodiesel production using glycerol as a substrate

Triacylglycerol (TAG) is a microbial oil feedstock for biodiesel production that uses an inexpensive substrate, such as glycerol. Here, we demonstrated the overproduction of TAG from glycerol in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae via the glycerol‐3‐phosphate (G3P) pathway by overexpressing the major TAG synthesis. The G3P accumulation was increased 2.4‐fold with the increased glycerol utilization gained by the overexpression of glycerol kinase (GUT1). By overexpressing diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGA1) and phospholipid diacylglycerol acyltransferase (LRO1), the engineered YPH499 (pGutDgaLro1) strain produced 23.0 mg/L lipids, whereas the YPH499 (pESC‐TRP) strain produced 6.2 mg/L total lipids and showed a lipid content that was increased 1.4‐fold compared with 3.6% for the wild‐type strain after 96 h of cultivation. After 96 h of cultivation using glycerol, the overall content of TAG in the engineered strain, YPH499 (pGutDgaLro1), yielded 8.2% TAG, representing a 2.3‐fold improvement, compared with 3.6% for the wild‐type strain. The results should allow a reduction of costs and a more sustainable production of biodiesel. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 343–347. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cloning and characterization of a panel of constitutive promoters for applications in pathway engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important platform organism for synthesis of chemicals and fuels. However, the promoters used in most pathway engineering studies in S. cerevisiae have not been characterized and compared in parallel under multiple conditions that are routinely operated in laboratory and the number of known promoters is rather limited for the construction of large biochemical pathways. Here a total of 14 constitutive promoters from S. cerevisiae were cloned and characterized using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter in a 2 μ vector pRS426, under varying glucose and oxygen concentrations. The strengths of these promoters varied no more than sixfold in the mean fluorescence intensity of GFP, with promoter TEF1p being the strongest and promoter PGI1p the weakest. As an example of application for these promoters in metabolic engineering, the genes involved in xylan degradation and zeaxanthin biosynthesis were subsequently cloned under the control of promoters with medium to high strength and assembled into a single pathway. The corresponding construct was transformed to a S. cerevisiae strain integrated with a D-xylose utilizing pathway. The resulting strain produced zeaxanthin with a titer of 0.74 ± 0.02 mg/L directly from birchwood xylan.     

Implementation of a transhydrogenase-like shunt to counter redox imbalance during xylose fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Three enzymes responsible for the transhydrogenase-like shunt, including malic enzyme (encoded by MAE1), malate dehydrogenase (MDH2), and pyruvate carboxylase (PYC2), were overexpressed to regulate the redox state in xylose-fermenting recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The YPH499XU/MAE1 strain was constructed by overexpressing native Mae1p in the YPH499XU strain expressing xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase from Scheffersomyces stipitis, and native xylulokinase. Analysis of the xylose fermentation profile under semi-anaerobic conditions revealed that the ethanol yield in the YPH499XU/MAE1 strain (0.38?±?0.01 g g^?1 xylose consumed) was improved from that of the control strain (0.31?±?0.01 g g^?1 xylose consumed). Reduced xylitol production was also observed in YPH499XU/MAE1, suggesting that the redox balance was altered by Mae1p overexpression. Analysis of intracellular metabolites showed that the redox imbalance during xylose fermentation was partly relieved in the transformant. The specific ethanol production rate in the YPH499XU/MAE1–MDH2 strain was 1.25-fold higher than that of YPH499XU/MAE1 due to the additional overexpression of Mdh2p, whereas the ethanol yield was identical to that of YPH499XU/MAE1. The specific xylose consumption rate was drastically increased in the YPH499XU/MAE1–MDH2–PYC2 strain. However, poor ethanol yield as well as increased production of xylitol was observed. These results demonstrate that the transhydrogenase function implemented in S. cerevisiae can regulate the redox state of yeast cells.     

Enhanced lycopene production in Escherichia coli engineered to synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate from mevalonate

To increase expression of lycopene synthetic genes crtE, crtB, crtI, and ipiHP1, the four exogenous genes were cloned into a high copy pTrc99A vector with a strong trc promoter. Recombinant Escherichia coli harboring pT-LYCm4 produced 17 mg/L of lycopene. The mevalonate lower pathway, composed of mvaK1, mvaK2, mvaD, and idi, was engineered to produce pSSN12Didi for an efficient supply of the lycopene building blocks, isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). Mevalonate was supplied as a substrate for the mevalonate lower pathway. Lycopene production in E. coli harboring pT-LYCm4 and pSSN12Didi with supplementation of 3.3 mM mevalonate was more than threefold greater than bacteria with pT-LYCm4 only. Lycopene production was dependent on mevalonate concentration supplied in the culture. Clump formation was observed as cells accumulated more lycopene. Further clumping was prevented by adding the surfactant Tween 80 0.5% (w/v), which also increased lycopene production and cell growth. When recombinant E. coli harboring pT-LYCm4 and pSSN12Didi was cultivated in 2YT medium containing 2% (w/v) glycerol as a carbon source, 6.6 mM mevalonate for the mevalonate lower pathway, and 0.5% (w/v) Tween 80 to prevent clump formation, lycopene production was 102 mg/L and 22 mg/g dry cell weight, and cell growth had an OD(600) value of 15 for 72 h.     

Construction of yeast producing patchoulol by global metabolic engineering strategy

Patchoulol is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in the leaves of the patchouli plant that can be extracted by steam distillation. Notably, patchoulol is an essential natural product frequently used in the chemical industry. However, patchouli produces an insignificant amount of patchoulol, not to mention steam distillation, and requires a lot of energy and time. Recombinant microorganisms that can be cultured in mild conditions and can produce patchoulol from renewable biomass resources may be a promising alternative. We previously developed the global metabolic engineering strategy (GMES), which produces a comprehensive metabolic modification in yeast, using the cocktail δ-integration method. In this study, we aimed to produce patchoulol by modifying engineered yeast. The expression of nine genes involved in patchoulol synthesis was modulated using GMES. Regarding patchoulol production, the resultant strain, YPH499/PAT167/MVA442, showed a concentration of 42.1 mg/L, a production rate of 8.42 mg/L/d, and a yield of 2.05 mg/g-glucose, respectably. These concentration values, production rate, and yield obtained through batch-fermentation in this study were high level when compared to previously reported recombinant microorganism studies. GMES could be used as a potential strategy for producing secondary metabolites from plants in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

产对香豆酸酿酒酵母工程菌株的构建与优化

对香豆酸是黄酮类、芪类等天然活性化合物的重要前体,在生物医药、食品等行业应用广泛。与传统植物提取和化学合成相比,微生物合成对香豆酸因其具有生产周期短、转化效率高等优势而得到广泛关注。为构建高产对香豆酸酵母工程菌株,以酿酒酵母为出发菌,通过敲除酪氨酸合成竞争路径基因ARO10和PDC5,突变芳香族氨基酸合成调控基因ARO4~(K229L)与ARO7~(G141S)、解除酪氨酸负反馈抑制、并整合酪氨酸解氨酶FjTAL,获得的工程菌C001对香豆酸产量为296.73 mg/L。为进一步提高对香豆酸合成前体积累,分别敲除8个与氨基酸、糖类等转运相关基因并强化糖异生途径,分析其对对香豆酸积累的影响。结果表明,敲除GAL2及过表达EcppsA,对香豆酸产量提高至475.11 mg/L。最后,分析了FjTAL蛋白锚定至酵母液泡对产物积累的影响,结果表明其定位液泡后对香豆酸产量明显提升,达到593.04mg/L。通过强化前体物供应,阻断竞争旁路途径,利用亚细胞定位等策略有效提高对香豆酸产量,为后续黄酮类及芪类化合物的合成提供高效平台菌株,具有重要的应用前景。     

Characteristics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae gal1 Delta and gal1 Delta hxk2 Delta mutants expressing recombinant proteins from the GAL promoter

Galactose can be used not only as an inducer of the GAL promoters, but also as a carbon source by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which makes recombinant fermentation processes that use GAL promoters complicated and expensive. To overcome this problem during the cultivation of the recombinant strain expressing human serum albumin (HSA) from the GAL10 promoter, a gal1 Delta mutant strain was constructed and its induction kinetics investigated. As expected, the gal1 Delta strain did not use galactose, and showed high levels of HSA expression, even at extremely low galactose concentrations (0.05-0.1 g/L). However, the gal1 Delta strain produced much more ethanol, in a complex medium containing glucose, than the GAL1 strain. To improve the physiological properties of the gal1 Delta mutant strain as a host for heterologous protein production, a null mutation of either MIG1 or HXK2 was introduced into the gal1 Delta mutant strain, generating gal1 Delta mig1 Delta and gal1 Delta hxk2 Delta double strains. The gal1 Delta hxk2 Delta strain showed a decreased rate of ethanol synthesis, with an accelerated rate of ethanol consumption, compared to the gal1 Delta strain, whereas the gal1 Delta mig1 Delta strain showed similar patterns to the gal1 Delta strain. Furthermore, the gal1 Delta hxk2 Delta strain secreted much more recombinant proteins (HSA and HSA fusion proteins) than the other strains. The results suggest that the gal1 Delta hxk2 Delta strain would be useful for the large-scale production of heterologous proteins from the GAL10 promoter in S. cerevisiae.     

Participation of acetaldehyde dehydrogenases in ethanol and pyruvate metabolism of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

This work was undertaken to clarify the role of acetaldehyde dehydrogenases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolism during growth on respiratory substrates. Until now, there has been little agreement concerning the ability of mutants deleted in gene ALD4, encoding mitochondrial acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, to grow on ethanol. Therefore we constructed mutants in two parental strains (YPH499 and W303-1a). Some differences appeared in the growth characteristics of mutants obtained from these two parental strains. For these experiments we used ethanol, pyruvate or lactate as substrates. Mitochondria can oxidize lactate into pyruvate using an ATP synthesis-coupled pathway. The ald4Delta mutant derived from the YPH499 strain failed to grow on ethanol, but growth was possible for the ald4Delta mutant derived from the W303-1a strain. The co-disruption of ALD4 and PDA1 (encoding subunit E1alpha of pyruvate dehydrogenase) prevented the growth on pyruvate for both strains but prevented growth on lactate only in the double mutant derived from the YPH499 strain, indicating that the mutation effects are strain-dependent. To understand these differences, we measured the enzyme content of these different strains. We found the following: (a) the activity of cytosolic acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in YPH499 was relatively low compared to the W303-1a strain; (b) it was possible to restore the growth of the mutant derived from YPH499 either by addition of acetate in the media or by introduction into this mutant of a multicopy plasmid carrying the ALD6 gene encoding cytosolic acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Therefore, the lack of growth of the mutant derived from the YPH499 strain seemed to be related to the low activity of acetaldehyde oxidation. Therefore, when cultured on ethanol, the cytosolic acetaldehyde dehydrogenase can partially compensate for the lack of mitochondrial acetaldehyde dehydrogenase only when the activity of the cytosolic enzyme is sufficient. However, when cultured on pyruvate and in the absence of pyruvate dehydrogenase, the cytosolic acetaldehyde dehydrogenase cannot compensate for the lack of the mitochondrial enzyme because the mitochondrial form produces intramitochondrial NADH and consequently ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.