Genetic engineering of yeast for conversion lignocellulosic material to ferulic acid

• Grant number: 17/08166-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2018
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal researcher: Fábio Márcio Squina
• Grantee: Nathália Vilela
• Home Institution: Pró-Reitoria Acadêmica. Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/50590-4 - Lignin valorization in cellulosic ethanol plants: biocatalytic conversion via ferulic acid to high value chemicals, AP.BIOEN.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/10593-2 - Application of CRISPR/Cas9-based tools to develop a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain capable of producing 4-vinylguaiacol from lignocellulose hydrolysates, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The research for renewable sources of energy is constantly due to the fact that fossil fuels cause several problems that affect the environment, the economy and the society. In this scenario, lignocellulosic biomass takes some advantages, since this material consists of cellulose and hemicellulose that can be used for ethanol production, in addition to lignin, which can be converted into high chemical compounds. Despite of having a high recalcitrance owing its complex structure of polymers, lignin can be degraded by some oxidative enzymes of bacteria and fungi, such as peroxidases. Thus, this work aims the genetic improvement of yeast Rhodosporidium sp., a microorganism capable of degrading lignin, in order to develop a process of conversion of lignocellulosic material to ferulic acid. This compound is a precursor of chemical compounds used in the industry, such as L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and coniferyl alcohol. The evaluation of the enzymatic system and the lignin conversion pathways in this yeast will serve as the basis for silencing and overexpression of genes using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SODRE, VICTORIA; VILELA, NATHALIA; TRAMONTINA, ROBSON; SQUINA, FABIO MARCIO. Microorganisms as bioabatement agents in biomass to bioproducts applications. BIOMASS & BIOENERGY, v. 151, AUG 2021. Web of Science Citations: 0.

LIBERATO, MARCELO VIZONA; PRATES, ERICA TEIXEIRA; GONCALVES, THIAGO AUGUSTO; BERNARDES, AMANDA; VILELA, NATHALIA; FATTORI, JULIANA; EMATSU, GABRIELA CRISTINA; CHINAGLIA, MARIANA; MACHI GOMES, EMERSON RODRIGO; MIGLIORINI FIGUEIRA, ANA CAROLINA; DAMASIO, ANDRE; POLIKARPOV, IGOR; SKAF, MUNIR S.; SQUINA, FABIO MARCIO. Insights into the dual cleavage activity of the GH16 laminarinase enzyme class on beta-1,3 and beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Journal of Biological Chemistry, v. 296, JAN-JUN 2021. Web of Science Citations: 0.

SODRE, VICTORIA; ARAUJO, JUSCEMACIA NASCIMENTO; GONCALVES, THIAGO AUGUSTO; VILELA, NATHALIA; KIMUS BRAZ, ANTONIO SERGIO; FRANCO, TELMA TEIXEIRA; NETO, MARIO DE OLIVEIRA; DE LIMA DAMASIO, ANDRE RICARDO; GARCIA, WANIUS; SQUINA, FABIO MARCIO. An alkaline active feruloyl-CoA synthetase from soil metagenome as a potential key enzyme for lignin valorization strategies. PLoS One, v. 14, n. 2 FEB 25 2019. Web of Science Citations: 1.