Effect of biotin starvation on gene expression in <i>Komagataella phaffii</i> cells

Abstract

Methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii are widely used in biotechnology as a host for recombinant protein production. Due to the practical significance of this yeast, it is extremely important to properly select the cultivation conditions and optimize the media composition. In this study the effect of biotin starvation on K. phaffii gene expression was investigated at transcriptomic level. It was demonstrated, that K. phaffii cell response to biotin deficiency strongly depends on the carbon source in the medium. In media containing glycerol, biotin deficiency led to activation of genes involved in biotin metabolism, glyoxylate cycle and synthesis of acetyl-CoA in cytoplasm, as well as repression of genes, involved in lipo- and gluconeogenesis. In methanol containing media, biotin deficiency primarily led to repression of genes, involved in protein synthesis, and activation of cell response to oxidative stress.