Quantitative trait locus mapping of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain resistant to lignocellulosic inhibitors

• Grant number: 19/22263-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Ana Paula Jacobus
• Grantee: Lucas Souza de Bem
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa em Bioenergia (IPBEN). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/24453-5 - Collaborative network: modern genetic approaches to bust yeast tolerance to inhibitor-rich lignocellulosic hydrolysates, AP.BIOEN.JP

Abstract

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping is an excellent way to find adaptive alleles in wild or industrial yeast strains which are naturally tolerant to lignocellulosic hydrolysates (LCH). Our Young Investigators project proposes to use modern QTL mapping approaches, based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) of pooled segregants, to unveil the polygenic nature underlying high LCH tolerance of a selected yeast strain. QTLs mapping assisted by next-generation sequencing (NGS) has never been applied to decipher the complex genetic basis of yeast tolerance to whole LCHs. This is very important, since it is known that synergic effects exist between the inhibitors and that overall cellular responses are more complex that of the ones from individual inhibitors. Here in this M.Sc. scholarship project, a student will be engaged in performing QTL mapping protocols with a strain selected by the Professor Luiz Carlos Basso (ESALQ/USP). The selected strain presents formidable tolerance to LCHs. High tolerant segregants, resulted from the cross of the tolerant strain with the lab reference S288c, will be pooled and targeted for WGS, allowing the mapping and identification of QTL candidates that will be validated by yeast molecular genetics techniques. (AU)