Targeted transcriptomic study of the implication of central metabolic pathways in mannosylerythritol lipids biosynthesis in Pseudozyma antarctica T-34

PLoS One. 2020 Jan 10;15(1):e0227295. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227295. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Pseudozyma antarctica is a nonpathogenic phyllosphere yeast known as an excellent producer of industrial lipases and mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which are multi-functional glycolipids. The fungus produces a much higher amount of MELs from vegetable oil than from glucose, whereas its close relative, Ustilago maydis UM521, produces a lower amount of MELs from vegetable oil. In the present study, we used previous gene expression profiles measured by DNA microarray analyses after culturing on two carbon sources, glucose and soybean oil, to further characterize MEL biosynthesis in P. antarctica T-34. A total of 264 genes were found with induction ratios and expression intensities under oily conditions with similar tendencies to those of MEL cluster genes. Of these, 93 were categorized as metabolic genes using the Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups classification. Within this metabolic category, amino acids, carbohydrates, inorganic ions, and secondary metabolite metabolism, as well as energy production and conversion, but not lipid metabolism, were enriched. Furthermore, genes involved in central metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, were highly induced in P. antarctica T-34 under oily conditions, whereas they were suppressed in U. maydis UM521. These results suggest that the central metabolism of P. antarctica T-34 under oily conditions contributes to its excellent oil utilization and extracellular glycolipid production.

MeSH terms

  • Citric Acid Cycle / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glycolipids / biosynthesis*
  • Glycolysis / genetics
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics*
  • Multigene Family
  • Soybean Oil / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*
  • Ustilago / genetics*
  • Ustilago / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glycolipids
  • mannosylerythritol lipid
  • Soybean Oil
  • Glucose

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.