RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Wild Patagonian yeast improve the evolutionary potential of novel interspecific hybrid strains for Lager brewing
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2024.01.29.577692
DO 10.1101/2024.01.29.577692
A1 Molinet, Jennifer
A1 Navarrete, Juan P.
A1 Villarroel, Carlos A.
A1 Villarreal, Pablo
A1 Sandoval, Felipe I.
A1 Nespolo, Roberto F.
A1 Stelkens, Rike
A1 Cubillos, Francisco A.
YR 2024
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2024/01/29/2024.01.29.577692.abstract
AB Lager yeasts are limited to a few strains worldwide, imposing restrictions on flavour and aroma diversity and hindering our understanding of the complex evolutionary mechanisms during yeast domestication. The recent finding of diverse S. eubayanus lineages from Patagonia offers potential for generating new Lager yeasts and obtaining insights into the domestication process. Here, we leverage the natural genetic diversity of S. eubayanus and expand the Lager yeast repertoire by including three distinct Patagonian S. eubayanus lineages. We used experimental evolution and selection on desirable traits to enhance the fermentation profiles of novel S. cerevisiae x S. eubayanus hybrids. Our analyses reveal an intricate interplay of pre-existing diversity, selection on species-specific mitochondria, de-novo mutations, and gene copy variations in sugar metabolism genes, resulting in high ethanol production and unique aroma profiles. Hybrids with S. eubayanus mitochondria exhibited greater evolutionary potential and superior fitness post-evolution, analogous to commercial Lager hybrids. Using genome-wide screens of the parental subgenomes, we identified genetic changes in IRA2, SNF3, IMA1 and MALX genes that influence maltose metabolism, and increase glycolytic flux and sugar consumption in the evolved hybrids. Functional validation and transcriptome analyses confirmed increased maltose-related gene expression, influencing grater maltotriose consumption in evolved hybrids. This study demonstrates the potential for generating industrially viable Lager yeast hybrids from wild Patagonian strains. Our hybridization, evolution, and mitochondrial selection approach produced hybrids with high fermentation capacity, expands Lager beer brewing options, and deepens our knowledge of Lager yeast domestication.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.