Engineered yeast boosts D-lactic acid production sustainably

Researchers have created an engineered yeast that can efficiently turn methanol into D-lactic acid. This compound is useful in making biodegradable plastics and pharmaceuticals. By optimizing genetic components, they achieved the highest production yield reported so far. This development presents a more sustainable option compared to traditional petroleum-based methods. Lactic acid is commonly found in food, cosmetics, and bioplastics. It comes in two forms: L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid. D-lactic acid is less available and more expensive than L-lactic acid. Most lactic acid bacteria only produce L-lactic acid, while chemical methods yield a mix of both. The Osaka Metropolitan University team focused on a yeast called Komagataella phaffii, which can use methanol. They wanted to find the best combination of genes and promoters to boost D-lactic acid production. The researchers tested five D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) genes and eight promoters. They discovered a combination that increased production by 1.5 times compared to other methods. The engineered yeast produced the highest-ever yield using methanol as the only carbon source. This research shows that customized yeast strains can generate various valuable compounds for commercial use. As concerns about fossil fuels and environmental issues grow, using renewable sources like methanol for chemical synthesis is vital for sustainability. The study underscores the potential of optimizing genetic combinations to improve microbial processes. This could provide a practical alternative to traditional chemical production methods that rely on petroleum. The findings were published in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts.