Data mining of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants engineered for increased tolerance towards inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates
Review article, 2022

The use of renewable plant biomass, lignocellulose, to produce biofuels and biochemicals using microbial cell factories plays a fundamental role in the future bioeconomy. The development of cell factories capable of efficiently fermenting complex biomass streams will improve the cost-effectiveness of microbial conversion processes. At present, inhibitory compounds found in hydrolysates of lignocellulosic biomass substantially influence the performance of a cell factory and the economic feasibility of lignocellulosic biofuels and chemicals. Here, we present and statistically analyze data on Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants engineered for altered tolerance towards the most common inhibitors found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates: acetic acid, formic acid, furans, and phenolic compounds. We collected data from 7971 experiments including single overexpression or deletion of 3955 unique genes. The mutants included in the analysis had been shown to display increased or decreased tolerance to individual inhibitors or combinations of inhibitors found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Moreover, the data included mutants grown on synthetic hydrolysates, in which inhibitors were added at concentrations that mimicked those of lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Genetic engineering aimed at improving inhibitor or hydrolysate tolerance was shown to alter the specific growth rate or length of the lag phase, cell viability, and vitality, block fermentation, and decrease product yield. Different aspects of strain engineering aimed at improving hydrolysate tolerance, such as choice of strain and experimental set-up are discussed and put in relation to their biological relevance. While successful genetic engineering is often strain and condition dependent, we highlight the conserved role of regulators, transporters, and detoxifying enzymes in inhibitor tolerance. The compiled meta-analysis can guide future engineering attempts and aid the development of more efficient cell factories for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.

Strain improvement

Metabolic engineering

Acetic acid

Yeast

Lignocellulosic biomass

Screening

Robustness

Systems biology

Author

Elena Cámara

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Lisbeth Olsson

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Jan Zrimec

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology

Aleksej Zelezniak

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology

Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab)

Cecilia Geijer

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Yvonne Nygård

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Biotechnology Advances

0734-9750 (ISSN)

Vol. 57 107947

Subject Categories

Microbiology

Medical Biotechnology (with a focus on Cell Biology (including Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy)

Biocatalysis and Enzyme Technology

Other Industrial Biotechnology

DOI

10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107947

PubMed

35314324

More information

Latest update

4/21/2022