Combinatorial Metabolic Engineering in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> for the Enhanced Production of the FPP-Derived Sesquiterpene Germacrene

Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP)-derived isoprenoids represent a diverse group of plant secondary metabolites with great economic potential. To enable their efficient production in the heterologous host <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, we refined a metabolic engineering strategy using the CRIS...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jan Niklas Bröker, Boje Müller, Dirk Prüfer, Christian Schulze Gronover
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Bioengineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/7/4/135
Description
Summary:Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP)-derived isoprenoids represent a diverse group of plant secondary metabolites with great economic potential. To enable their efficient production in the heterologous host <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, we refined a metabolic engineering strategy using the CRISPR/Cas9 system with the aim of increasing the availability of FPP for downstream reactions. The strategy included the overexpression of mevalonate pathway (MVA) genes, the redirection of metabolic flux towards desired product formation and the knockout of genes responsible for competitive reactions. Following the optimisation of culture conditions, the availability of the improved FPP biosynthesis for downstream reactions was demonstrated by the expression of a germacrene synthase from dandelion. Subsequently, biosynthesis of significant amounts of germacrene-A was observed in the most productive strain compared to the wild type. Thus, the presented strategy is an excellent tool to increase FPP-derived isoprenoid biosynthesis in yeast.
ISSN:2306-5354