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

• Main Authors: 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
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-12-01
• Series: Metabolic Engineering Communications
• Subjects: 13C-isotope tracing; β-carotene; Catabolite repression; Dimorphism; Metabolic network
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214030120300080

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.