Efficient production of L-lactic acid from xylose by metabolically engineered yeast Pichia stipitis

Marja Ilmen*, Kari Koivuranta, Laura Ruohonen, Pirkko Suominen, Merja Penttilä

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference abstract in proceedingsScientific

Abstract

Pichia stipitis, a yeast which ferments naturally xylose, was genetically engineered for L-(+)-lactate production. A P. stipitis strain expressing the L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from Lactobacillus helveticus under the control of the P. stipitis fermentative ADH1 promoter was constructed. Either xylose or glucose was used as the carbon source for lactate production under oxygen restricted conditions. Remarkably, the constructed P. stipitis strain produced a higher lactate concentration and yield on xylose than on glucose. Lactate accumulated as the main product on xylose-containing medium: 58 g/l lactate was produced from 100 g/l xylose. Relatively efficient lactate production was also observed on glucose medium, 41 g/l lactate was produced at a yield of 0.44 g/g glucose. Lactate was produced at the expense of ethanol production which was decreased to approximately 20% of the wild type levels on xylose-containing medium and to 75% on glucose-containing medium. Thus, LDH competed efficiently with the ethanol pathway for pyruvate, even though the pathway from pyruvate to ethanol was intact.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication3rd European Federation of Biotechnology Conference
Subtitle of host publicationPhysiology of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi PYFF3
EditorsAnnemari Kuokka-Ihalainen, Markku Saloheimo, Tiina Pakula
Place of PublicationEspoo
PublisherVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Pages159
ISBN (Electronic) 978-951-38-6314-2
ISBN (Print)978-951-38-6313-5
Publication statusPublished - 2007
MoE publication typeNot Eligible
Event3rd European Federation of Biotechnology Conference : Physiology of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi - Helsinki, Finland
Duration: 13 Jun 200716 Jun 2007

Publication series

SeriesVTT Symposium
Volume245
ISSN0357-9387

Conference

Conference3rd European Federation of Biotechnology Conference
Abbreviated titlePYFF3
Country/TerritoryFinland
CityHelsinki
Period13/06/0716/06/07

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