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Systematic Metabolic Engineering for the Production of Azaphilones in Monascus purpureus HJ11

Yali Duan1, Yun Du1, Zhiqiang Yi1

  • 1College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, China.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|January 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic engineering significantly boosted fungal azaphilone production. This study presents a systematic strategy to enhance Monascus azaphilones (MAs) yield and titer in Monascus purpureus, offering a new pathway for high-value chemical production.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Metabolic Engineering
  • Fungal Biotechnology

Background:

  • Fungal azaphilones show promise in food and pharmaceuticals.
  • Low production yields and genetic manipulation challenges hinder their industrial application.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and demonstrate a systematic metabolic engineering strategy for enhancing Monascus azaphilone (MA) production in *Monascus purpureus*.
  • To overcome the limitations of low yields and genetic tractability in azaphilone-producing fungi.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic metabolic engineering of *Monascus purpureus* HJ11.
  • Utilized promoter engineering, gene knockout, enzyme overexpression, pathway repression, enzyme engineering, and metabolic rebalancing.

Main Results:

  • Achieved a maximum MA yield of 906 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW).
  • Reached a maximum MA titer of 14.6 g/L, representing a 2.6-fold increase in yield and a 3.7-fold increase in titer compared to literature values.

Conclusions:

  • The developed metabolic engineering strategy provides an efficient method for improving azaphilone production.
  • This model highlights the potential of systematic metabolic engineering in nonmodel fungi for producing high-value chemicals.
Keywords:
Monascus purpureusazaphilonemetabolic balancessystematic metabolic engineering

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