Overexpression of YALI0B07117g Encoding Erythrose Reductase Homolog Results in Enhanced Erythritol Synthesis From Glycerol by the Yeast Yarrowia Lipolytica.

BackgroundPolyols are a group of sweet alcohols, frequently used as food additives. The constantly rising demand for polyols requires the application of new strategies to increase the production. Erythritol is synthesized by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica under high osmotic pressure as an osmoprotectant. The metabolic pathway resulting in erythritol production remains partially unknown. However, the last reaction resulting in erythritol synthesis is conducted by an erythrose reductase (ER).ResultsThe Y. lipolytica strain was genetically modified to increase the erythritol yield and productivity, using glycerol as a sole carbon source. The modification focused on the ER homologue YALI0B07117g after the in silico analysis of the protein sequences of all reported ER homologues. Initial results in shake-flask experiments proved the influence of the gene YALI0B07117g in erythritol synthesis. Deletion of the gene resulted in 3-fold and 2-fold increased production of mannitol and arabitol, respectively. Overexpression of the native ER homologue gene showed a positive influence on erythritol production. Bath cultures were conducted and the obtained strain reached the yield of 0.4 g/g. The specific consumption rate (qs) increased from 5.83 g/g/L for the WT strain to 8.49 g/g/L for the engineered strain, while the productivity of erythritol increased from 0.28 g/L/h for the A101 strain to 0.41 g/L/h for the modified strain.ConclusionsOverexpression of the gene YALI0B07117g resulted in increased production of erythritol in the yeast Y. lipolytica. Disruption of the metabolic pathway by deletion of the gene results in higher production titers of mannitol and arabitol. Application of the research may prove positive for shortening the cultivation time due to the increased consumption rate of the substrate combined with increased parameters of erythritol synthesis.