Efficient conversion of plant cell wall hemicellulose into high-value biochemicals and bioproducts by engineered yeast

Date:17 August 2021

Country: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of

Application

• The applications of this project include the production of high-value biochemicals like triacetic acid lactone (TAL) and vitamin A from lignocellulosic biomass, improving the sustainability and efficiency of biofuel and bioproduct production.

Description

This project, led by Liang Sun and colleagues, focuses on enhancing the bioconversion of plant cell wall hemicellulose into high-value bioproducts by engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The team developed a strategy to efficiently co-consume acetate and xylose, two major components of hemicellulose hydrolysates, overcoming the toxicity of acetate. By genetically modifying yeast, they achieved enhanced production of acetyl-CoA derivatives like triacetic acid lactone (TAL) and vitamin A. This approach not only detoxifies acetate but also boosts acetyl-CoA supply, facilitating the economic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into valuable chemicals, with promising results in bioreactor fermentation.

Pathway Description:

The project uses genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae to co-consume xylose and acetate under aerobic conditions. Xylose is processed for growth, while acetate is converted into acetyl-CoA, which is then used to produce high-value products like triacetic acid lactone (TAL) and vitamin A. This method improves the bioconversion of plant cell wall hydrolysates and reduces acetate toxicity.