Publications

• Characterization of sophorolipid biosynthetic enzymes from Starmerella bombicola.

  Saerens K.M., Van Bogaert I.N., Soetaert W.

  Altering glycolipid structure by genetic engineering of Starmerella bombicola is a recently started research topic and worthy alternative to the unsuccessful selective feeding strategies conventionally applied to reach this goal. One question to be addressed when expressing heterologous proteins i ... >> More

  Altering glycolipid structure by genetic engineering of Starmerella bombicola is a recently started research topic and worthy alternative to the unsuccessful selective feeding strategies conventionally applied to reach this goal. One question to be addressed when expressing heterologous proteins in S. bombicola is the activity of the subsequent biosynthetic enzymes toward such modified substrates. In this scope, we studied the substrate specificity of the UDP-glucosyltransferases UgtA1 and UgtB1, responsible for the stepwise synthesis of sophorolipids from a hydroxylated fatty acid, and that of the acetyltransferase, responsible for acetylation of the sophorolipid molecule. All enzymes showed specificity toward a C18:1 chained acceptor and both glucosyltransferases were highly selective toward the UDP-glucose donor. Severe product inhibition of the glucosyltransferases explains the limited accumulation of sophorolipid intermediates by earlier created single deletion mutants of S. bombicola. Finally, a more detailed study of the acetylation of sophorolipid intermediates sheds light on the enzymatic cascade during synthesis. << Less

  FEMS Yeast Res. 15:0-0(2015) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• Identification of the UDP-glucosyltransferase gene UGTA1, responsible for the first glucosylation step in the sophorolipid biosynthetic pathway of Candida bombicola ATCC 22214.

  Saerens K.M., Roelants S.L., Van Bogaert I.N., Soetaert W.

  Candida bombicola ATCC 22214 is applied commercially for the production of sophorolipids from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or waste streams. Although much research has been performed on optimization of fermentation conditions and on the influence of feed source and process parameters ... >> More

  Candida bombicola ATCC 22214 is applied commercially for the production of sophorolipids from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or waste streams. Although much research has been performed on optimization of fermentation conditions and on the influence of feed source and process parameters on sophorolipid structures and yields, the metabolic pathway of these important bioproducts remains unclear. Here, we identify a glucosyltransferase gene UGTA1 and show that the gene product is responsible for the first glucosylation step in the biosynthetic pathway of sophorolipids. Moreover, we provide evidence that the second glucosylation step is catalysed by a different glucosyltransferase that acts independently from the first. Therefore, the biosynthesis of sophorolipids by C. bombicola involves two glucosyltransferases that act in a stepwise manner. The UGTA1 gene described here is the first identified gene with a clear function in sophorolipid production by this economically important yeast. << Less

  FEMS Yeast Res. 11:123-132(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]