Genetic analysis of mating type and alkane utilization in Saccharomycopsis lipolytica

Physiology and genetics of the dimorphic fungus Yarrowia lipolytica

The ascomycetous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (formerly Candida, Endomycopsis, or Saccharomyces lipolytica) is one of the more intensively studied 'non-conventional' yeast species. This yeast is quite different from the well-studied yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe with respect to its phylogenetic evolution, physiology, genetics, and molecular biology. However, Y. lipolytica is not only of interest for fundamental research, but also for biotechnological applications. It secretes several metabolites in large amounts (i.e. organic acids, extracellular proteins) and the tools are available for overproduction and secretion of foreign proteins. This review presents a comprehensive overview on the available data on physiology, cell biology, molecular biology and genetics of Y. lipolytica.

Radiosensitivity of haplont yeast cells irradiated with sparsely and densely ionizing radiations

Five haploid and three diploid yeast strains of various species (Yarrowia lipolytica, Pichia pinus and Pichia guilliermondii) were irradiated with alpha-particles from 239Pu and gamma-rays from 137Cs or 60Co in the stationary phase of growth. A common feature of these species is that they exhibit a haploid state as a normal vegetative state in natural conditions. It was shown that the transition from the haploid to the diploid state is not accompanied by increased radioresistance, and diploid strains were unable to perform liquid-holding recovery. The absence of diploid-specific recovery in diploid strains was also supported by the fact that the RBE of alpha-particles was almost identical for haploid and the corresponding diploid strains being much smaller than that observed in typical wild-type diploid strains capable of diploid-specific recovery. The results suggest that haplont yeast may have evolved to diplont yeast via the development of a specific repair system conferring specific resistance in the diploid state.

Study on fatty acid binding by proteins in yeast. Dissimilar results in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica

1. The presence of soluble proteins with fatty acid binding activity was investigated in cell-free extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica cultures. 2. No significant fatty acid binding by proteins was detected in S. cerevisiae, even when grown on a fatty acid-rich medium, thus indicating that such proteins are not essential to fatty acid metabolism. 3. An inducible fatty acid binding protein (K0.5 = 3-4 microM) was found in Y. lipolytica which had grown on a minimal medium with palmitate as the sole source of carbon and energy. 4. The relative molecular mass of this protein was 100,000 as inferred from Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration.

Expression of invertase activity in Yarrowia lipolytica and its use as a selective marker

Few selective markers are available for the transformation of the industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, and those that are require the use of specialized hosts (e.g., auxotrophs, antibiotic sensitive). To enable the transformation of any Y. lipolytica strain, we used the property that Y. lipolytica cannot use sucrose as a sole carbon source. We have constructed a gene fusion where the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUC2 gene is placed under the control of the promoter and signal sequence of the Y. lipolytica XPR2 gene, which encodes an Alkaline Extracellular Protease (AEP). Strains bearing this fusion express invertase activity and grow on sucrose as a carbon source. The activity follows the same regulation as does the alkaline extracellular protease, is secreted into the periplasm and confers a Suc+ phenotype. It was shown that this chimeric gene could be used as a dominant marker for transformation in a one-step procedure.

Genetic manipulation of non-conventional yeasts by conventional and non-conventional methods

In recent years, yeasts other than those belonging to the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe have become increasingly important in industrial processes. Species such as Pichia stipitis, Hansenula polymorpha, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Saccharomyces exiguus, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Yarrowia lipolytica and others whose perfect stage is known, can be manipulated genetically by classical methods, but those belonging to the genera Candida (C. utilis, C. tropicalis, C. bombicola, C. zeylanoides, C. boidinii, etc.), Brettanomyces, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, and others of the different form genera, cannot be treated in this way. Some, such as Schwanniomyces and Debaryomyces spp., which have a perfect stage, are still difficult to manipulate by conventional means. Genetic manipulation of these yeasts can be approached from two points of view; the first involving improvement of strains by cross-breeding within one species, and the second, the introduction of desirable genes from unrelated species and even from plants or animals. Two techniques are available for construction of industrially-useful strains from these yeasts: protoplast fusion and transformation with chimaeric plasmids containing the gene(s) it is desired to introduce into the recipient strain. The methods for the latter procedure are well known but can be laborious and time-consuming, especially if it is desired to introduce genes from plant or animal sources for production of enzymes, hormones, vaccines and similar products. Protoplast fusion is a simple technique which can be utilized in most laboratories and used for construction of improved yeast strains for brewing, baking, ethanol production and wine-making, either by the fusion of desirable strains of the same species which do not sporulate, or by introduction of genes from non-Saccharomyces species. Methods for fusion of species from different genera and isolation of the desired hybrids have been improved considerably in recent years. We have developed a method for isolation of strains carrying the desired genes by fusing a non-Saccharomyces species with an auxotrophic strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and selecting hybrids having the desired characteristics on appropriate media, after which the genes are transferred to the industrial strain by rare-mating, repeated protoplast fusion, or classical mating as required. The advantages and limitations of the method are under investigation.

Nonconventional yeasts: their genetics and biotechnological applications

To date, more than 500 species of yeasts have been described. Most of the genetic and biochemical studies have, however, been carried out with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although a considerable amount of knowledge has been accumulated on fundamental processes and biotechnological applications of this industrially important yeast, the large variety of other yeast genera and species may offer various advantages for experimental study as well as for product formation in biotechnology. The genetic investigation of these so-called unconventional yeasts is poorly developed and information about corresponding data is dispersed. It is the aim of this review to summarize and discuss the main results of genetic studies and biotechnological applications of unconventional yeasts and to serve as a guide for scientists who wish to enter this field or are interested in only some aspects of these yeasts.

Parasexual process in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

Genetic studies of several events of the life cycle of Y. lipolytica demonstrated that diploid strains were unstable and produced mitotic segregants by haploidization. A screening system was developed which enabled us to show that parasexual processes can take place in addition to the sexual life cycle. This haploidization occurred through aneuploid intermediates as was proven statistically by the deviations from the segregation pattern as well as by the segregation data of the clones. The direction of the cross, was--with respect to the resistance to 2-deoxyglucose of A- or B-strain--not important for selection of mitotic segregants.

Improvement of sporulation in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

Strains of Yarrowia lipolytica forming exclusively spherical ascospores were developed through inbreeding. These strains are more suitable for micromanipulation than other inbred strains forming helm-shaped ascospores. External factors affecting sporulation frequency and tetrad formation in this yeast were investigated. Optimal formation of complete tetrads occurred at a narrow range of pH values around 6.0. Citrate was found to stimulate sporulation strongly. A synthetic medium containing citrate was developed to obtain standard conditions for maximum sporulation.

Genetic studies on the yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica. Inactivation and mutagenesis

Spontaneous mutants of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica were selected and partially characterized. Several antibiotics and antimetabolites were used for selection of spontaneous resistant mutants from Saccharomycopsis lipolytica. The frequencies of such mutants were mainly arranged between 1 X 10(-7) and 5 X 10(-6) mutants per cell. But one class of glucosamine resistant mutants (GAMRA) occurred more frequently. Among the resistant mutants different types of dominant and recessive resistant mutants could be observed. UV light was used for inactivation of cells and induction of mutants from S. lipolytica. Comparing four haploid strains only small differences were detected in sensitivity to UV light. UV light at a dosage of 135 J/m2 was applied to increase the mutant frequencies in three haploid strains. Besides auxotrophic, temperature sensitive and colony morphology mutants, some new mutant types like small colony forming mutants, red-brown coloured mutants, some new mutant types like small colony forming mutants, red-brown coloured mutants, allylalcohol, glucosamine, 2-deoxyglucose or nystatin resistant mutants, hitherto not described for S. lipolytica, were isolated and partially characterized.

Genetic control of lysine permeases in Saccharomycopsis lipolytica

In order to obtain strains of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica impaired in the active transport of L-lysine, mutants resistant to a mixture of L-canavanine, L-4-5-transdehydrolysine and L-S-amino ethylcysteine, taken either all three or two by two, were isolated. These compounds were shown previously to be competitive inhibitors of L-lysine uptake. The resistance patterns and excretion capacity of the mutants were established. All mutants behaved as monogenic. Recombination tests indicated that four genes at least were involved. All mutants were impaired in both high and low affinity L-lysine transport systems. Several hypotheses on the functions of these genes are put forward and discussed.

Substructural studies on sporulation of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica

During sporulation of diploids from crosses between different strains of the yeast Saccharomycopsis (Candida) lipolytica irregular numbers of ascospores per ascus have been observed. Using the serial section method it could be shown now by means of electron microscopy that in one-, two-, and three-spored asci unenclosed "naked" nuclei occur additionally to nuclei incorporated in mature spores. It was demonstrated that the production of less than four spores per ascus in this yeast is not the result of a lack of meiotic products but of the nonutilization of nuclei from meiosis. In 2--4 spored asci usually four products of meiosis in form of enclosed and free nuclei could be demonstrated which indicate a normal meiotic division. All ascospores derived from asci with different spore numbers are uninuclear. It is assumed that a defect in spore formation caused by structural changes of chromosomes or aneuploidy should give rise to the occurrence of non incorporated nuclei and spore irregularity. It was concluded that meiosis and spore formation in Saccharomycopsis lipolytica seem to represent parallel and coordinated processes which generally resemble those recorded for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula species.

Regulation of extracellular protease production in Candida lipolytica

Production of extracellular protease by Candida lipolytica NRRL Y-1094 was derepressed upon transfer to carbon-, nitrogen- or sulphur-free medium but not upon transfer to phosphorus-free medium. The protease activities produced under the three nutrient limitations had alkaline pH optima and similar substrate and inhibitor specificities. Any one of the following three conditions was found to be sufficient for derepression of extracellular protease: (a) "poor" carbon source, (b) cysteine intracellular pool below 0.5 micronmol/g dry weight cells and (c) ammonia intracellular pool below 10 micronmol/g dry weight cells. Thus, extracellular protease production in C. lipolytica was subject to at least three different regulatory controls, carbon, sulphur and nitrogen repression. Intracellular cysteine and ammonia appeared to be the metabolic signals for sulphur and nitrogen repression, respectively. Anabolic glutamate dehydrogenase did not act as a regulatory protein mediating nitrogen repression. Exogenous protein had an inductive effect on extracellular protease production.

Acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase of Candida lipolytica. 2. Regulation of cellular content and synthesis of the enzyme

The level of acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase activity in Candida lipolytica undergoes large variations depending upon the carbon source on which the yeast is grown. Cells grown on n-alkanes or fatty acids exhibit a lower activity level than do cells grown on glucose. Among the n-alkanes and fatty acids tested, n-heptadecane, n-octadecane, oleic acid and linoleic acid reduce the enzyme activity to the lowest levels, which are 16-18% of the activity level in glucose-grown cells. Immunochemical titrations and Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis with specific antibody as well as kinetic studies have indicated that the observed decrease in the level of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity is due to a reduction in the cellular content of the enzyme. Furthermore, isotopic leucine incorporation studies with the use of the immunoprecipitation technique have demonstrated that the relative rate of synthesis of the enzyme in oleic-acid-grown cells is diminished to 12% of that in glucose-grown cells. Evidence has also been obtained to support the view that the enzyme in this yeast is not degraded at a rate high enough to contribute to the marked decrease in the cellular content of the enzyme. Thus, it is concluded that the reduction in acetyl-CoA carboxylase content in fatty-acid-grown cells is due to diminished synthesis of the enzyme.

Cytological and genetic studies of the life cycle of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica

In the alkane yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica (formerly: Candida lipolytica) the variability in the ascospore number is caused by the absence of a correlation between the meiotic divisions and spore wall formation. In four spored yeasts, after meiosis II, a spore wall is formed around each of the four nuclei produced by meiosis II. However, in the most frequently occurring two spored asci of S. lipolytica, the two nuclei are already enveloped by the spore wall after meiosis I due to a delay of meiosis II. This division takes place within the spore during the maturation of the ascus. In this case germination of the binucleate ascospore is not preceded by a mitosis. It follows that the cells of the new haploid clones are mononucleate. In the three spored asci, which occur rarely, only one nucleus is surrounded by a spore wall after meiosis I; the other nucleus undergoes meosis II before the onset of spore wall formation. The result is one bincleate and two mononucleate spores. In the one spored asci the two meiotic divisions occur within the young ascosphore, i.e. spore wall formation starts immediately after development of the ascus. These cytological observations were substantiated by genetic data, which in addition confirmed the prediction that binucleate spores may be heterokaryotic. This occurs when there is a postreduction of at least one of the genes by which the parents of the cross differ. This also explains the high frequency of prototrophs in the progeny of non-allelic auxotrophs since random spore isolates are made without distinguishing between mono- and binucleate spores. The possibility of analysing offspring of binucleate spores by tetrad analysis is discussed. These findings enable us to understand the life cycle of S. lipolytica in detail and we are now in a position to start concerted breeding for strain improvement especially with respect to single cell protein production.

Methionine overproduction by Saccharomycopsis lipolytica

Six ethionine-resistant (Etr) regulatory mutants of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica Sl/1 overproducing methionine have been isolated. Five of them are also resistant to seleno-methionine. The activity of homocysteine synthase (O-acetyl-L-hormoserine-acetate lyase, adding hydrogen sulfide) is derepressed in these mutants and is not susceptible to the methionine-mediated repression. The pool of free methionine in Etr mutants is enhanced 1.5 to 18 times, and incorporation of 35S into methionine is 1.5 to 50 times higher than that in the wild strain. Neither accumulation of endogenous free methionine in Etr mutants nor the uptake of exogenous methionine is accompanied by an increase in the S-adenosylmethionine pool. This implies compartmentation of methionine metabolism in S. lipolytica.

Mutant of the yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica that accumulates and excretes protorphyrin IX

The red, water-insoluble pigment excreted by a mutant strain of the yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica is show to be protoporphyrin IX. In genetic crosses the red phenotype has the properties characteristic of a defect in a single, recessive nuclear gene. The yield and ease of harvest of protoporphyrin IX from the yeast mutant indicate that this strain or its derivatives may be a valuable source of this substance.