Self-sufficient biosynthesis of pregnenolone and progesterone in engineered yeast

Nat Biotechnol. 1998 Feb;16(2):186-9. doi: 10.1038/nbt0298-186.

Abstract

The first two steps of the steroidogenic pathway were reproduced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Engineering of sterol biosynthesis by disruption of the delta 22-desaturase gene and introduction of the Arabidopsis thaliana delta 7-reductase activity and coexpression of bovine side chain cleavage cytochrome P450, adrenodoxin, and adrenodoxin reductase, lead to pregnenolone biosynthesis from a simple carbon source. Following additional coexpression of human 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, pregnenolone is further metabolized to progesterone. Steroid formation appears to be coupled to yeast sterol biosynthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenodoxin / genetics
  • Adrenodoxin / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Arabidopsis
  • Cattle
  • Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / genetics
  • Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / metabolism
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / genetics
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / metabolism
  • Galactose / metabolism
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Engineering*
  • Humans
  • Multienzyme Complexes / genetics
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors*
  • Pregnenolone / biosynthesis*
  • Progesterone / biosynthesis*
  • Progesterone Reductase / genetics
  • Progesterone Reductase / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Steroid Isomerases / genetics
  • Steroid Isomerases / metabolism

Substances

  • 3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • lathosterol delta-5-dehydrogenase
  • Adrenodoxin
  • Progesterone
  • Pregnenolone
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Progesterone Reductase
  • ERG5 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • Steroid Isomerases
  • Galactose