Engineered Yarrowia lipolytica for cyanide detoxification

Cyanides are highly toxic chemicals in several edible plants that threaten food safety and human health. A phenotypically distinct Yarrowia lipolytica strain was constructed using a family 1 glycosyl hydrolase (GH1) linamarase and beta-glucosidase 7 genes. The strain efficiently detoxified linamarin, amygdalin, prunasin, and dhurrin in edible plants and produced significant extracellular GH1 hydrolase. Oxidative phosphorylation and cyanide-resistant respiratory (AOX) pathways were upregulated, and fatty acid production was repressed to optimize energy production, circumvent HCN toxicity, and maintain cellular homeostasis and plasticity. The strain produced high phospholipids to support new membrane production and overexpressed ribosomal and export protein to facilitate the synthesis and transmembrane export of the GH1 hydrolase. The data obtained from the strain demonstrate that the it is a robust, sustainable and cost-effective source of single-cell phospholipids and an efficient strain for quick industrial bioconversion of plant materials containing glycosylated toxicants into safe foods and animal feeds.