Xinping Lin

A multi-omic map of the lipid-producing yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides

Triacylglycerols are among the most attractive alternative raw materials for biofuel development. Current oil plant-based technologies are limited in terms of triacylglycerol production capacity and rate. These limitations may be circumvented by biotransformation of carbohydrates into lipids; however, our understanding of microbial oleaginicity remains limited. Here we present the results of a multi-omic analysis of Rhodosporidium toruloides, a robust triacylglycerol-producing fungus. The assembly of genome and transcriptome sequencing data reveals a genome of 20.2 Mb containing 8,171 protein-coding genes, the majority of which have multiple introns. Genes including a novel fatty acid synthase are predicted to participate in metabolic pathways absent in non-oleaginous yeasts. Transcriptomic and proteomic data suggest that lipid accumulation under nitrogen-limited conditions correlates with the induction of lipogenesis, nitrogenous compound recycling, macromolecule metabolism and autophagy. The multi-omic map of R. toruloides therefore provides a valuable resource for efforts to rationally engineer lipid-production pathways.

Dynamics of the Lipid Droplet Proteome of the Oleaginous Yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides

ABSTRACT Lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous organelles that serve as a neutral lipid reservoir and a hub for lipid metabolism. Manipulating LD formation, evolution, and mobilization in oleaginous species may lead to the production of fatty acid-derived biofuels and chemicals. However, key factors regulating LD dynamics remain poorly characterized. Here we purified the LDs and identified LD-associated proteins from cells of the lipid-producing yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides cultured under nutrient-rich, nitrogen-limited, and phosphorus-limited conditions. The LD proteome consisted of 226 proteins, many of which are involved in lipid metabolism and LD formation and evolution. Further analysis of our previous comparative transcriptome and proteome data sets indicated that the transcription level of 85 genes and protein abundance of 77 proteins changed under nutrient-limited conditions. Such changes were highly relevant to lipid accumulation and partially confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. We demonstrated that the major LD structure protein Ldp1 is an LD marker protein being upregulated in lipid-rich cells. When overexpressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ldp1 localized on the LD surface and facilitated giant LD formation, suggesting that Ldp1 plays an important role in controlling LD dynamics. Our results significantly advance the understanding of the molecular basis of lipid overproduction and storage in oleaginous yeasts and will be valuable for the development of superior lipid producers.

Determining the Extremes of the Cellular NAD(H) Level by Using an Escherichia coli NAD-Auxotrophic Mutant

ABSTRACT NAD (NAD+) and its reduced form (NADH) are omnipresent cofactors in biological systems. However, it is difficult to determine the extremes of the cellular NAD(H) level in live cells because the NAD+ level is tightly controlled by a biosynthesis regulation mechanism. Here, we developed a strategy to determine the extreme NAD(H) levels in Escherichia coli cells that were genetically engineered to be NAD+ auxotrophic. First, we expressed the ntt4 gene encoding the NAD(H) transporter in the E. coli mutant YJE001, which had a deletion of the nadC gene responsible for NAD+ de novo biosynthesis, and we showed NTT4 conferred on the mutant strain better growth in the presence of exogenous NAD+. We then constructed the NAD+-auxotrophic mutant YJE003 by disrupting the essential gene nadE, which is responsible for the last step of NAD+ biosynthesis in cells harboring the ntt4 gene. The minimal NAD+ level was determined in M9 medium in proliferating YJE003 cells that were preloaded with NAD+, while the maximal NAD(H) level was determined by exposing the cells to high concentrations of exogenous NAD(H). Compared with supplementation of NADH, cells grew faster and had a higher intracellular NAD(H) level when NAD+ was fed. The intracellular NAD(H) level increased with the increase of exogenous NAD+ concentration, until it reached a plateau. Thus, a minimal NAD(H) level of 0.039 mM and a maximum of 8.49 mM were determined, which were 0.044× and 9.6× those of wild-type cells, respectively. Finally, the potential application of this strategy in biotechnology is briefly discussed.

Cloning and evaluation of different constitutive promoters in the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides.

The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides is an unconventional yeast species that can accumulate a high content of lipids. Because it belongs to the basidiomycetous group of fungus, limited tools and functional elements are available for genetic engineering of R. toruloides and related red yeasts. Here we report the functional evaluation of five constitutive promoters from this yeast. We assembled a reporter gene expression cassette, consisting of a promoter, the hygromycin gene (HYG) and the nos terminator, and inserted it into the binary vector pZPK. Hygromycin‐resistant transformants were obtained when R. toruloides cells were co‐cultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens AGL1 cells harbouring the engineered vector. Genomic integration of the reporter cassette was verified by successful amplification of target DNA fragments. Quantitative PCR analysis suggested that the transformant had only one copy of the reporter cassette. The strength of these promoters was demonstrated at the phenotypic level on the hygromycin‐gradient plate and at the transcriptional level by real‐time quantitative PCR. It was found that the strengths of these promoters varied no more than five‐fold and followed a decreasing sequence of PPGI, PPGK, PFBA, PTPI, and PGPD. This study established new genetic elements for the construction of superior R. toruloides strains to produce advanced biofuels and related chemicals. Copyright

Characterization of the mitochondrial NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase of the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides

Early biochemical studies have demonstrated that lipid accumulation by oleaginous yeasts is linked to the activity of the NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh). However, molecular study of Idh of oleaginous microorganisms remains limited. Here, we present the cloning of a mitochondrial NAD+-specific Idh from Rhodosporidium toruloides (RtIdh), an excellent microbial lipid producer that uses carbohydrates as the carbon source. The evolutionary relationship analyses among RtIdhs and other yeast Idhs revealed that RtIdh had a closer relationship with the Idhs of Ustilago maydis and Schizophyllum commune. We expressed the RtIDH gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae idhΔ mutant. Under the nitrogen-limited condition, the intracellular lipid content and extracellular citrate concentration of the culture of the S. cerevisiae idhΔ carrying the RtIDH gene increased as the carbon/nitrogen molar ratio of the media increased, while the wild-type S. cerevisiae strain showed no correlation. Our data provided valuable information for elucidating the molecular mechanism of microbial oleaginicity and for engineering microorganisms to produce metabolites of fatty acid pathway.

Identification of UshA as a major enzyme for NAD degradation in Escherichia coli.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and its reduced form NADH are essential cofactors for many redox biocatalysts. Because these cofactors are consumed in stoichiometric amounts, whole-cell biocatalysts have been routinely employed in order to reduce the costs. To further improve the efficacy of redox biocatalysts, it is essential to maintain the stability of nicotinamide cofactors, for which it is attractive to block degradation pathways for NAD(H). While the biosynthesis of NAD(H) has been well studied, it is less understood how NAD(H) are degraded. Here we demonstrated that UshA was a major periplasmic enzyme for NAD degradation in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant UshA showed high pyrophosphatase activity with the catalytic efficiencies for hydrolysis of NAD and NADH at 3.7μM(-1)s(-1) and 1.4μM(-1)s(-1), respectively. Deletion of the ushA gene from the chromosome led to faster cell growth and improved extracellular NAD stability by 3-fold under conditions similar to whole-cell biocatalysis. These results significantly enriched our understanding on NAD metabolism, and should facilitate many applications including designing more robust redox biocatalysts.

Purification and characterization of a β-1,3-glucomannanase expressed in Pichia pastoris

The glycoside hydrolase β-1,3-glucomannanase is an enzyme that specifically breaks the β-1,3 glycosidic bond of the glucomannan, the main cell wall constituent of some yeasts. In this work, a codon optimized DNA sequence of the MAN5C gene from Penicillium lilacinum ATCC 36010 was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of AOX1 promoter. The recombinant protein plMAN5C was purified from the shake flask culture and the stirred-tank bioreactor culture in yields of 30.0mg/l and 224.0mg/l, respectively. The purified protein had a specific activity of 14.6 U/mg at 37 °C, pH 4.5. Biochemical analysis showed that the optimal temperature and pH for plMAN5C were 50 °C and 4.5, respectively. The recombinant plMAN5C was efficient in lysis of the cell wall of the red yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides to form protoplast. Our work provided an effective system for heterogeneous production of β-1,3-glucomannanase, which should facilitate a more convenient application of this enzyme in biotechnology and other related areas.

Highly-efficient colony PCR method for red yeasts and its application to identify mutations within two leucine auxotroph mutants

Red yeasts hold great promise in the production of microbial lipids and carotenoids. Genetic study of red yeasts has attracted much attention; however, rapid amplification of genes from red yeast samples remains technically challenging. Here a highly efficient method for the preparation of genomic DNA (gDNA) template, which could be directly used for PCR, was developed. Cells from colonies or liquid cultures were collected and sequentially treated by microwave, plMAN5C, proteinase K and boiling (MMPB) in a single tube to give cell lysates that were qualified as PCR templates. Single‐copied gDNA fragments o up to 2.8 kb were successfully amplified. We also demonstrated successful application of this method for species in the Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes and identification of two leucine auxotroph mutants of Rhodotorula glutinis. This method could be widely employed for the screening and genetic engineering of various yeasts. Copyright

Homologous gene targeting of a carotenoids biosynthetic gene in Rhodosporidium toruloides by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

ObjectivesTo target a carotenoid biosynthetic gene in the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides by using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (AMT) method.ResultsThe RHTO_04602 locus of R. toruloides NP11, previously assigned to code the carotenoid biosynthetic gene CRTI, was amplified from genomic DNA and cloned into the binary plasmid pZPK-mcs, resulting in pZPK-CRT. A HYG-expression cassette was inserted into the CRTI sequence of pZPK-CRT by utilizing the restriction-free clone strategy. The resulted plasmid was used to transform R. toruloides cells according to the AMT method, leading to a few white transformants. Sequencing analysis of those transformants confirmed homologous recombination and insertional inactivation of CRTI. When the white variants were transformed with a CRTI-expression cassette, cells became red and produced carotenoids as did the wild-type strain NP11.ConclusionsSuccessful homologous targeting of the CrtI locus confirmed the function of RHTO_04602 in carotenoids biosynthesis in R. toruloides. It provided valuable information for metabolic engineering of this non-model yeast species.

Characterization the carotenoid productions and profiles of three Rhodosporidium toruloides mutants from Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation

The red yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides is a known lipid producer capable of accumulating large amounts of triacylglycerols and carotenoids. However, it remains challenging to study its carotenoid production profiles owing to limited biochemical information and inefficient genetic tools. Here we used an Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation (ATMT) to change its carotenoid production and profiles. We constructed R. toruloides NP11 mutant libraries with ATMT, selected three mutants with different colours, characterized their carotenoid products by high‐pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS) analysis and assured differences among those strains in terms of carotenoid production and its composition profiles. We then located T‐DNA insertion sites using the genome walking technology and provided discussions in terms of the new phenotypes. This study is the first of its kind to change the carotenoid production profiles in R. toruloides. Copyright