WG3: Non-conventional yeasts capabilities and molecular biology (systems/synthetic biology)

Non-conventional yeasts are capable of metabolizing complex carbon sources and to cope with a wide range of process conditions, using in many cases alternative metabolic routes. Yet, the mechanisms responsible for such traits are mainly unknown or under study. The use of specific techniques such as -omics techniques (e.g. genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) and the development of particular molecular/genetic tools must be therefore promoted towards studying non-conventional yeast at the molecular, genetic, metabolic and physiology levels to fully understand how these microorganisms deal with these processes.

Improving the knowledge on how non-conventional yeasts strains metabolize unusual substrates (carboxylic acids and biomass-derived sugars) or accumulate unusual products (food additives, enzymes, lipids), are fundamental issues to boost the transition to a more sustainable industry based on renewable raw materials. YEAST4BIO integrates basic research (genetics, systems biology, synthetic biology, etc.) and applied biotechnology groups as well as industrial partners to resolve technological questions and boost the commercialization of bioproducts obtained by non-conventional yeasts.

WG3 aims at exploring the possibilities for applying molecular biology and genomics tools for improvement and development of new non-conventional yeasts strains. Specific metabolic pathways steering to the formation of industrially relevant bioproducts will be investigated by using 1) novel molecular and systems/synthetic biology techniques typically applied to S. cerevisiae and/or 2) specific software for in-silico simulation and -omics data analysis. Also, metabolic engineering studies and system/synthetic biology approaches will be assessed to increase their robustness and production yields.

Specific Tasks of WG3 are:

• To investigate the current situation and research studies on the potential of non-conventional yeasts for the production of bioproducts from low-cost renewable resources and respective molecular tools available.

• To improve non-conventional yeast strains in terms of different carbon source utilization, robustness and yields by means of genetic, systems/synthetic biology and biotechnological tools.