Methanol-inducible gene expression and heterologous protein production in the methylotrophic yeast Candida boidinii.
Methylotrophic yeasts can obtain all of their required carbon and energy from methanol, a promising feedstock for biotechnological and chemical processes and a potential replacement for coal and petroleum. When these yeast cells are cultured in the presence of methanol, the enzymes involved in methanol metabolism are massively produced, indicating that the gene promoters of these enzymes are strong methanol-inducible promoters. Using these promoters, high-level heterologous gene expression systems have been developed in several methylotrophic yeast strains, including Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha, Pichia methanolica and Candida boidinii. In the present minireview we describe recent insights into the molecular basis of methanol-inducible gene expression in C. boidinii. In addition, the utility of C. boidinii gene expression systems for the production of various enzymes is also reviewed.
Yurimoto
Hiroya
H
Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. yury@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Sakai
Yasuyoshi
Y
D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects
D004798:Enzymes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000432:Methanol