Innovative Tools and Strategies for Optimizing Yeast Cell Factories

Trends Biotechnol. 2021 May;39(5):488-504. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.08.010. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Abstract

Metabolic engineering (ME) aims to develop efficient microbial cell factories that can produce a wide variety of valuable compounds, ideally at the highest yield and from various feedstocks. We summarize recent developments in ME methods for tailoring different yeast cell factories (YCFs). In particular, we highlight the most timely and cutting-edge molecular tools and strategies for biosynthetic pathway optimization (including genome-editing tools), combinatorial transcriptional and post-transcriptional engineering (cis/trans regulators), dynamic control of metabolic fluxes (e.g., rewiring of primary metabolism), and spatial reconfiguration of metabolic pathways. Finally, we discuss challenges and perspectives for adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) of yeast to advance ME of microbial cell factories.

Keywords: adaptive laboratory evolution; cis/trans regulators; genome editing; metabolic engineering; metabolic fluxes; subcellular compartmentation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biosynthetic Pathways
  • Gene Editing
  • Metabolic Engineering* / trends
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Yeasts* / genetics
  • Yeasts* / metabolism