Designer yeasts for the biotechnological production of prostaglandins

Oxylipins are oxygenated products derived from natural polyunsaturated fatty acids acting as signaling molecules in nearly all plants and animals.

In animal tissues lipoxygenases form hydroperoxy fatty acids as intermediates in the synthesis of leukotriens and lipoxins. Indeed prostanoids formed in cyclooxygenase catalyzed reactions coupled with subsequent reductions or isomerizations are of more importance. In detail these are prostaglandins, prostacyclins and thromboxanes all derived from arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and dihomogammalinoleic acid. Prostanoids act as highly active local mediators controlling numerous processes like vasodilatation, platelet aggregation, affecting of inflammatory processes or pain. Altogether they act in a physiologically divers manner that differs between the different substances. Therefore various naturally occurring mediators are in use as pharmacologically active substances. Up to now these substances are produced by complex chemical synthesis which is attended by costly purification steps. The resulting high market prices limit the field of application. In the past a multitude of approaches for biotechnological production of prostaglandins did not result in a successful industrial scale up. The expression of different prostaglandin synthases in baker´s yeast and the commitment of the created strains in whole cell biotransformation experiments should culminate in the production of prostaglandins.

Das IGF-Vorhaben Nr. der Forschungsvereinigung DECHEMA e.V., Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main wurde über die AiF im Rahmen des Programms zur Förderung der industriellen Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) vom Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie aufgrund eines Beschlusses des Deutschen Bundestages gefördert.