AUTHOR=Li Tianxiao , Zhang Huabing , Tan Xiang , Zhang Rui , Wu Fasi , Yu Zongren , Su Bomin 

TITLE=New insights into Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced calcium carbonate precipitation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1261205

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1261205

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>Our previous study reported that <italic>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</italic> could induce calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) precipitation, but the associated mechanism was unclear. In the present study, <italic>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</italic> was cultured under various conditions, including the presence of different organic acids and initial pH, and the yields of CaCO<sub>3</sub> formation induced by the different organic acids were compared. The metabolism of organic acid by the metabolites of <italic>S. cerevisiae</italic> was also assessed <italic>in vitro</italic>. The SEM-EDS and XRD results showed that only acetate acid, pyruvic acid, and α-ketoglutaric acid could induce CaCO<sub>3</sub> formation, and the weight order of the produced CaCO<sub>3</sub> was pyruvic acid, acetate acid, α-ketoglutaric acid. In addition, the presence of only yeast metabolites and the initial neutral or alkaline environment also limited the CaCO<sub>3</sub> formation. These results illustrated that organic acid oxidation intracellularly, especially the tricarboxylic acid cycle, was the major mechanism, and the CaCO<sub>3</sub> yield was related to the amount of CO<sub>2</sub> produced by the metabolism of organic acids. These findings will deepen the knowledge of the mineralization capacity of <italic>S. cerevisiae</italic> and provide a theoretical basis for the future application of yeast as an alternative microorganism in MICP.</p>