AUTHOR=Bo Shaobo , Ni Xiaoxia , Guo Jintang , Liu Zhengyang , Wang Xiaoya , Sheng Yue , Zhang Genlin , Yang Jinfeng 

TITLE=Carotenoid Biosynthesis: Genome-Wide Profiling, Pathway Identification in Rhodotorula glutinis X-20, and High-Level Production

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.918240

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.918240

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Rhodotorula glutinis</italic>, as a member of the family <italic>Sporidiobolaceae</italic>, is of great value in the field of biotechnology. However, the evolutionary relationship of <italic>R. glutinis</italic> X-20 with <italic>Rhodosporidiobolus</italic>, <italic>Sporobolomyces</italic>, and <italic>Rhodotorula</italic> are not well understood, and its metabolic pathways such as carotenoid biosynthesis are not well resolved. Here, genome sequencing and comparative genome techniques were employed to improve the understanding of <italic>R. glutinis</italic> X-20. Phytoene desaturase (crtI) and 15-cis-phytoene synthase/lycopene beta-cyclase (crtYB), key enzymes in carotenoid pathway from <italic>R. glutinis</italic> X-20 were more efficiently expressed in <italic>S. cerevisiae</italic> INVSc1 than in <italic>S. cerevisiae</italic> CEN.PK2-1C. High yielding engineered strains were obtained by using synthetic biology technology constructing carotenoid pathway in <italic>S. cerevisiae</italic> and optimizing the precursor supply after fed-batch fermentation with palmitic acid supplementation. Genome sequencing analysis and metabolite identification has enhanced the understanding of evolutionary relationships and metabolic pathways in <italic>R. glutinis</italic> X-20, while heterologous construction of carotenoid pathway has facilitated its industrial application.</p>