Integrated fermentative process for lipid and β-carotene production from acetogenic syngas fermentation using an engineered oleaginous Yarrowia lipolytica yeast

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG

[Abstract] An engineered Yarrowia lipolytica strain was successfully employed to produce β-carotene and lipids from acetic acid, a product of syngas fermentation by Clostridium aceticum. The strain showed acetic acid tolerance up to concentrations of 20 g/L. Flask experiments yielded a peak lipid content of 33.7 % and β-carotene concentration of 13.6 mg/g under specific nutrient conditions. The study also investigated pH effects on production in bioreactors, revealing optimal lipid and β-carotene contents at pH 6.0, reaching 22.9 % and 44 mg/g, respectively. Lipid profiles were consistent across experiments, with C18:1 being the dominant compound at approximately 50 %. This research underscores a green revolution in bioprocessing, showing how biocatalysts can convert syngas, a potentially polluting byproduct, into valuable β-carotene and lipids with a Y. lipolytica strain.

This study is financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation in conjunction with European FEDER funding (Grant No. PID2020-117805RB-I00). Financial support of RR's doctoral scholarship was also provided by the same Ministry (Contract ID: E-15-2019-0344365). Additionally, the research team, part of the BIOENGIN group, is grateful to Xunta de Galicia for its financial contributions to Competitive Reference Research Groups under grant ED431C 2021/55. Funding for open access publication provided by Universidade da Coruña/CISUG.

Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2021/55