Kluyveromyces lactis: An emerging tool in biotechnology

Sebastian C Spohner; Vivienne Schaum; Hendrich Quitmann; Peter Czermak

doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.023

Kluyveromyces lactis: An emerging tool in biotechnology

J Biotechnol. 2016 Mar 20:222:104-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.023. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Authors

Sebastian C Spohner¹, Vivienne Schaum², Hendrich Quitmann², Peter Czermak³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Giessen, Germany.
² Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany.
³ Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Giessen, Germany; Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA. Electronic address: peter.czermak@kmub.thm.de.

PMID: 26912289
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.023

Abstract

Kluyveromyces lactis has emerged as one of the most important yeast species for research and industrial biotechnology. This Crabtree-negative species is suitable for the production of metabolites and heterologous proteins, and its ability to achieve high levels of protein secretion makes it an attractive alternative for industrial protein production. Since 1991, almost 100 recombinant proteins have been expressed in K. lactis, 20% of which have been produced in the last 2 years. This review provides an overview of the genetic modifications used to accomplish heterologous gene expression in K. lactis, as well as fermentation techniques, and recent examples of industrial proteins produced in this species.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; Kluyveromyces lactis; Model organism; Protein expression; Strain design.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

CRISPR-Cas Systems
Genetic Engineering / methods*
Kluyveromyces*
Recombinant Proteins*

Substances

Recombinant Proteins