Modification of Mannosylerythritol Lipids (MELs) Producing Yeast by Genetic Engineering

Abstract

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipid type of biosurfactant and attracting attention as environmental-friendly functional chemicals due to their unique properties, such as gene delivery, bio-activation, anti-oxidative activity and damage skin and hair repair. MELs are expected to apply in many industrial fields, including cosmetics, pharmaceutical, agriculture and food. However, the industrial use of MELs is require overcoming some issues, e.g. limited structural variety and higher production costs. Recently, whole-genome analysis of MEL producers has progressed rapidly, and it allowed to obtain the genomic information of MEL biosynthesis pathway and establish genetic tools for modification of MEL producers. In this review, we summarize the genetic engineering techniques for modification of MEL producing yeast strains and introduce the examples for increasing productivity and producing tailored MEL using genetic modification in genus Pseudozyma.