Open AccessA squalene–hopene cyclase inSchizosaccharomyces japonicusrepresents a eukaryotic adaptation to sterol-limited anaerobic environments
Author(s) -
Jonna Bouwknegt,
Sanne J Wiersma,
Raúl A. OrtizMerino,
Eline S. R. Doornenbal,
Petrik Buitenhuis,
Martin Giera,
Christoph Müller,
Jack T. Pronk
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2105225118
Subject(s) - sterol , squalene , biology , biochemistry , cyclase , saccharomyces cerevisiae , schizosaccharomyces , yeast , schizosaccharomyces pombe , squalene monooxygenase , gene , biosynthesis , enzyme , cholesterol
Significance Biosynthesis of sterols requires oxygen. This study identifies a previously unknown evolutionary adaptation in a eukaryote, which enables anaerobic growth in absence of exogenous sterols. A squalene–hopene cyclase, proposed to have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from an acetic acid bacterium, is implicated in a unique ability of the yeastSchizosaccharomyces japonicus to synthesize hopanoids and grow in anaerobic, sterol-free media. Expression of this cyclase inSaccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that at least one of its hopanoid products acts as sterol surrogate. These observations provide leads for research into the structure and function of eukaryotic membranes and into the development of sterol-independent yeast cell factories for application in anaerobic processes.