Systems Metabolic Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Production of Biochemicals from Biomass

Abstract

In the production of biofuels and chemicals from biomass-derived sugars, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has emerged as a key microbial host. Producing these biochemicals in yields and productivities satisfactory to be useful for establishing a cost-effective production process requires the engineering of the yeast’s metabolism. This is a challenging mission since metabolic pathways are intriguingly connected with genetic regulatory circuits, and we are just deciphering these networks. However, global technologies of systems biology in combination with the adequate design capabilities of synthetic biology, and random or rational mutagenesis through adaptive laboratory evolution have emerged to improve our understanding of basic aspects of yeast cellular processes and come up with proper metabolic engineering strategies (the systems metabolic engineering approach). In this chapter, we will review recent advances in systems metabolic engineering of S. cerevisiae for production of biofuels and commodity chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.