Work

Polyphosphate Accumulation Is Determined by Zinc and Inositol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Polyphosphate (polyP) is an intriguing polymer with diverse biological and industrial applications. Chemical polyP production is energy‐intensive and limited in chain length at large‐scale production. Alternatively, biological production offers a sustainable solution. Recent research endeavors highlighted Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a promising organism for polyP hyperaccumulation, achieving up to 28% (w/w) polyP (as KPO 3 ). P i starvation and P i feeding are essential for this hyperaccumulation phenotype. Prior research demonstrated that trace elements and vitamins increase polyP production in S. cerevisiae when added to the cultivation medium during P i starvation. However, the role of trace elements and vitamins in enhancing polyP accumulation remained unclear. This study identified inositol and zinc to drive polyP accumulation across various laboratory and industrial S. cerevisiae strains. Moreover, these components influence the energy metabolism of yeasts. Our findings suggest that zinc boosts the phosphate‐responsive signal transduction (PHO) pathway during P i starvation. The influence of inositol on polyP hyperaccumulation remains elusive, as it does not influence the PHO pathway directly. These findings add to the ever‐growing understanding of polyP metabolism in S. cerevisiae and provide further targets for optimizing biological polyP production.

Source: Yeast

DOI: 10.1002/yea.70006