Characterization of trans-Nerolidol Synthase from Celastrus angulatus Maxim and Production of trans-Nerolidol in Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06084
• Publication Date: 2021-02-15T19:53:31Z
• Authors: Weiguo Li; Xiaoguang Yan; Yuting Zhang; Dongmei Liang; Qinggele Caiyin; Jianjun Qiao
• Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified; strain LWG 003- CaNES 2; Plant Biology; sequentially control gene expression; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Biochemistry; Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae; nerolidol production; terpenoid biosynthesis; 03 medical and health sciences; nerolidol pathways; Genetics; acyclic sesquiterpene trans; Celastrus angulatus; nerolidol synthases; 0303 health sciences; Ecology; CaNES 1; 5 L bioreactor; Celastrus; Metabolic Engineering; carbon source; Celastrus angulatus Maxim; Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factory; Nerolidol Synthase; Sesquiterpenes; Biotechnology; Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified

Volatile terpenoids are a large group of important secondary metabolites and possess many biological activities. The acyclic sesquiterpene trans-nerolidol is one of the typical representatives and widely used in cosmetics and agriculture. Here, the accumulation of volatile terpenes in different tissues of Celastrus angulatus was investigated, and two trans-nerolidol synthases, CaNES1 and CaNES2, were identified and characterized by in vitro enzymatic assays. Both genes are differentially transcribed in different tissues of C. angulatus. Next, we constructed a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factory to enable high-level production of trans-nerolidol. Glucose was the sole carbon source to sequentially control gene expression between the competitive squalene and trans-nerolidol pathways. Finally, the trans-nerolidol production of recombinant strain LWG003-CaNES2 was 7.01 g/L by fed-batch fermentation in a 5 L bioreactor. The results clarify volatile terpenoid biosynthesis in C. angulatus and provide a promising potential for industrial production of trans-nerolidol in S. cerevisiae.