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Exploiting strain diversity and rational engineering strategies to enhance recombinant cellulase secretion by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Abstract

Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic material into bioethanol has progressed in the past decades; however, several challenges still exist which impede the industrial application of this technology. Identifying the challenges that exist in all unit operations is crucial and needs to be optimised, but only the barriers related to the secretion of recombinant cellulolytic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae will be addressed in this review. Fundamental principles surrounding CBP as a biomass conversion platform have been established through the successful expression of core cellulolytic enzymes, namely β-glucosidases, endoglucanases, and exoglucanases (cellobiohydrolases) in S. cerevisiae. This review will briefly address the challenges involved in the construction of an efficient cellulolytic yeast, with particular focus on the secretion efficiency of cellulases from this host. Additionally, strategies for studying enhanced cellulolytic enzyme secretion, which include both rational and reverse engineering approaches, will be discussed. One such technique includes bio-engineering within genetically diverse strains, combining the strengths of both natural strain diversity and rational strain development. Furthermore, with the advancement in next-generation sequencing, studies that utilise this method of exploiting intra-strain diversity for industrially relevant traits will be reviewed. Finally, future prospects are discussed for the creation of ideal CBP strains with high enzyme production levels.

Key Points

• Several challenges are involved in the construction of efficient cellulolytic yeast, in particular, the secretion efficiency of cellulases from the hosts.

• Strategies for enhancing cellulolytic enzyme secretion, a core requirement for CBP host microorganism development, include both rational and reverse engineering approaches.

• One such technique includes bio-engineering within genetically diverse strains, combining the strengths of both natural strain diversity and rational strain development.

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Funding

The authors would like to thank the National Research Foundation (NRF) for financial support to the Chair of Energy Research (grant number UID 86423 awarded to WHvZ).

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SAD contributed to the preparation of the manuscript, its formatting, and collection of data for writing and preparing figures. RDH and WHVZ contributed to the design, idea, final editing, and revision of the whole manuscript.

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Correspondence to W. H. van Zyl.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Davison, S.A., den Haan, R. & van Zyl, W.H. Exploiting strain diversity and rational engineering strategies to enhance recombinant cellulase secretion by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 104, 5163–5184 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-020-10602-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-020-10602-2

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