title: Biosynthetic Approaches to Squalene Production: The Case of Yeast.
abstract: Squalene is a precursor in the eukaryotic sterol biosynthesis. It is a valuable compound with several human health-related applications. Since the traditional natural resources of squalene are limited, alternatives for the production of squalene on industrial scale have been intensively explored during past years. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents an attractive option due to elaborated techniques of genetic and metabolic engineering that can be applied to improve squalene yields. We discuss in this chapter some theoretical aspects of genetic manipulations of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway aimed at increased squalene production and describe analytical methods for squalene purification and determination of its content in yeast cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Moyzesova 61, 90028, Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valachovič
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Moyzesova 61, 90028, Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovakia. Ivan.Hapala@savba.sk.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hapala
mesh_terms: D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013185:Squalene / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013185:Squalene
keywords: ERG1 gene; Ergosterol biosynthesis; High-performance liquid chromatography; Lipid extraction; Solid phase extraction; Squalene; Squalene monooxygenase; Thin-layer chromatography; Yeast