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High-oleate yeast oil without polyunsaturated fatty acids
Vasiliki Tsakraklides1, Annapurna Kamineni1, Andrew L Consiglio1
1Novogy, Inc, 85 Bolton Street, Cambridge, MA 02140 USA.
Biotechnology for Biofuels
|May 16, 2018
Summary
Engineered yeast Yarrowia lipolytica now produces high-oleate triacylglycerides (>90% oleic acid). This bio-based oil offers high oxidative stability, outperforming plant and algal oils for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Metabolic Engineering
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Triacylglycerides enriched in oleic acid are ideal for lubricants needing high oxidative stability.
- Fatty acid composition, including chain length and saturation, dictates triacylglyceride properties.
- Manipulating fatty acid synthesis in organisms is key for developing tailored bio-based oils.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica for enhanced production of high-oleate triacylglycerides.
- To identify genetic modifications that increase oleic acid accumulation in yeast triglycerides.
Main Methods:
- Studied the impact of gene deletions and overexpression in fatty acid and triacylglyceride synthesis pathways.
- Replaced native enzymes with heterologous ones, including ∆9 fatty acid desaturase and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase.
- Incorporated deletion of ∆12 fatty acid desaturase and expression of a fatty acid elongase.
Main Results:
- Achieved significant accumulation of oleic acid in Y. lipolytica triglycerides.
- Eliminated polyunsaturated fatty acids through combined genetic modifications.
- Developed a Y. lipolytica strain accumulating triglycerides with over 90% oleate content.
Conclusions:
- The engineered triacylglyceride oil, with high oleate content and no polyunsaturates, differs from plant and algal oils.
- This unique lipid profile makes the oil suitable for applications demanding high oxidative stability.
- Demonstrates the potential of Y. lipolytica for producing customized lipid profiles for industrial use.
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