Engineering de novo formatotrophy in the non-model yeast Y. lipolytica (opens in new tab)

Formate is an exciting potential microbial feedstock as it can be derived from CO2 and electricity. Despite this, limited progress has been made in engineering formatotrophy in yeasts, and no yeasts grow using formate naturally. Here we use metabolic modelling to find two potential formatotrophy pathways in Yarrowia lipolytica. We then use C13 tracer analysis and computationally guided growth experiments to show that wild-type Y. lipolytica possesses strong formate dissimilation and a cyclica...