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Biotechnological strains of Komagataella (Pichia) pastoris are Komagataella phaffii as determined from multigene sequence analysis

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Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

Pichia pastoris was reassigned earlier to the genus Komagataella following phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences. Since that time, two additional species of Komagataella have been described, K. pseudopastoris and K. phaffii. Because these three species are unlikely to be resolved from the standard fermentation and growth tests used in yeast taxonomy, the identity of biotechnologically important strains of K. pastoris was determined from multigene sequence analyses. Results from this study show that the strain of ‘Pichia pastoris’ commonly used in gene expression studies is actually K. phaffii.

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Fig. 1

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Acknowledgments

Christie J. Robnett is thanked for providing the gene sequences used in this study, Don Fraser for preparing the final version of Fig. 1, and David Jackson for providing a culture of the strain used in the Invitrogen Pichia pastoris Expression System. The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the US Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbial Genomics and Bioprocessing Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Cletus Paul Kurtzman

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  1. Cletus Paul Kurtzman
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Correspondence to Cletus Paul Kurtzman.

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Kurtzman, C.P. Biotechnological strains of Komagataella (Pichia) pastoris are Komagataella phaffii as determined from multigene sequence analysis. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 36, 1435–1438 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-009-0638-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-009-0638-4

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