March 25th 2025
Reprogramming yeast metabolism for customized starch-rich micro-grain through low-carbon microbial manufacturing.
Research shows promising results in microbial starch synthesis using CO2-derived acetate as feedstock.
Researchers at a prominent laboratory have reconfigured a type of yeast into a highly efficient starch-producing micro-grain, utilizing carbon dioxide as a substrate. This innovative approach to starch synthesis demonstrates a spatial-temporal starch productivity of 243.7 g/m²/d, which is approximately 50 times greater than traditional crop cultivation methods.
Starch is fundamental for meeting global food and industrial demands, with over 120 million tons required annually—a figure anticipated to rise due to population growth and increasing consumption patterns. Traditional starch production heavily relies on arable land, which is becoming increasingly scarce due to ongoing environmental crises.
The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, indicates that the engineered yeast can achieve a starch content of 47.18% of its dry cell weight, positioning it as a promising alternative to conventional starch sources. By utilizing acetate synthesized from CO2 through electrochemical processes, the yeast yields 160.83 mg/L/h, significantly outperforming existing microbial fermentation systems.
The engineered strains adapt their cellular machinery and growth strategies to optimize starch production. Through genetic modifications, scientists enhanced starch biosynthesis pathways and regulated cell morphology, thus increasing the yeast’s ability to accumulate starch and improve yields.
Notably, the research outlines methods for customizing starch composition and starch-protein ratios, offering a new variable that could enhance nutritional applications. The findings demonstrate the yeast’s potential to efficiently convert agricultural waste into starch, underscoring a sustainable approach to food manufacturing that is less dependent on traditional farming.
In a bid to broaden the scope of starch production, researchers experimented with converting straw bio-waste into profitable micro-grain. In preliminary studies, they demonstrated successful starch synthesis from hydrolyzed straw along with acetate, indicating a carbon-to-starch yield enhancement by up to 2.8 times when both substrates are used in tandem.
The study signifies a substantial step toward addressing global starch demands through innovative low-carbon technological solutions, potentially transforming food resource allocation in the face of a changing climate. The research team opines that while this process carries immense promise, encompassing advancements and further research will be essential to overcome current cost and scalability challenges.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58067-z