Discovery of new strains for furfural degradation using adaptive laboratory evolution in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Hanyu Wang; Qian Li; Zhengyue Zhang; Ellen Ayepa; Quanju Xiang; Xiumei Yu; Ke Zhao; Likou Zou; Yunfu Gu; Xi Li; Qiang Chen; Xiaoping Zhang; Yaojun Yang; Xuejiao Jin; Huadong Yin; Z Lewis Liu; Tianle Tang; Beidong Liu; Menggen Ma

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132090

Discovery of new strains for furfural degradation using adaptive laboratory evolution in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Oct 5:459:132090. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132090. Epub 2023 Jul 19.

Authors

Hanyu Wang¹, Qian Li², Zhengyue Zhang², Ellen Ayepa², Quanju Xiang³, Xiumei Yu³, Ke Zhao³, Likou Zou³, Yunfu Gu³, Xi Li⁴, Qiang Chen³, Xiaoping Zhang³, Yaojun Yang⁵, Xuejiao Jin⁶, Huadong Yin⁷, Z Lewis Liu⁸, Tianle Tang⁹, Beidong Liu¹⁰, Menggen Ma¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Resources and Geographic Information Technology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; College of Life Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan 614000, China; Bamboo Diseases and Pests Control and Resources Development Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan 614000, China.
² Institute of Resources and Geographic Information Technology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
³ Department of Applied Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
⁴ College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
⁵ College of Life Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan 614000, China; Bamboo Diseases and Pests Control and Resources Development Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan 614000, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China.
⁷ Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
⁸ The US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Bioenergy Research Unit, 1815 N University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA.
⁹ Key Laboratory of Tropical Transitional Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Haikou, Hainan 571199, China. Electronic address: tianle_tang@hainmc.edu.cn.
¹⁰ State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China; Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 9C, 413 90 Göteburg, Sweden. Electronic address: beidong.liu@cmb.gu.se.
¹¹ Institute of Resources and Geographic Information Technology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Department of Applied Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China. Electronic address: mgen@sicau.edu.cn.

PMID: 37480608
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132090

Abstract

In industrial production, the excessive discharge of furfural can pose harm to soil microorganisms, aquatic animals and plants, as well as humans. Therefore, it is crucial to develop efficient and cost-effective methods for degrading furfural in the environment. Currently, the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for furfural degradation in water has shown effectiveness, but there is a need to explore improved efficiency and tolerance in S. cerevisiae for this purpose. In this study, we isolated and evolved highly efficient furfural degradation strains, namely YBA_08 and F60C. These strains exhibited remarkable capabilities, degrading 59% and 99% furfural in the YPD medium after 72 h of incubation, significantly higher than the 31% achieved by the model strain S288C. Through analysis of the efficient degradation mechanism in the evolutionary strain F60C, we discovered a 326% increase in the total amount of NADH and NADPH. This increase likely promotes faster furfural degradation through intracellular aldehyde reductases. Moreover, the decrease in NADPH content led to a 406% increase in glutathione content at the background level, which protects cells from damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Mutations and differential expression related to cell cycle and cell wall synthesis were observed, enabling cell survival in the presence of furfural and facilitating rapid furfural degradation and growth recovery. Based on these findings, it is speculated that strains YBA_08 and F60C have the potential to contribute to furfural degradation in water and the production of furfuryl alcohol, ethanol, and FDCA in biorefinery processes.

Keywords: Adaptive laboratory evolution; Degradation; Environmental protection; Furfural; Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
Animals
Body Fluids*
Furaldehyde*
Humans
NADP
Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics

Substances

Furaldehyde
NADP
Aldehyde Oxidoreductases