Abstract:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids（PUFA）stand as linear olefinic fatty acids that assume a pivotal role as structural constituents within biofilms in living organisms. They wield the power to govern glucose, lipid, and hormone metabolism, yielding an array of physiological functions. Their capabilities encompass fostering developmental progress, bolstering immunity, preventing disease, and the essential maintenance of overall bodily well-being. Consequently, PUFA hold significant intrinsic worth and expansive developmental potential across diverse fields such as functional food, medicine, and animal feed. In contrast to traditional marine biological extraction techniques, microbial synthesis approaches offer distinct advantages, encompassing shortened production cycles, streamlined procedures, and environmental compatibility. In recent years, the utilization of microbial cell factories for generating PUFA and other microbial oils has emerged as a focal point within both scientific and industrial communities. A standout player in this arena is Yarrowia lipolytica, an unconventional oleaginous yeast that stands out due to its inherent high-yield lipid and fatty acid production capacity. As substantiated by the publication of Y. lipolytica's complete genome sequence and the rapid advancements in gene expression vectors, genetic transformation methods, synthetic biology components, and gene editing technologies, the domain of metabolic engineering focused on Y. lipolytica as a chassis cell for microbial production is undergoing gradual expansion. This article commences by meticulously reviewing the origins and intrinsic pathways that underpin the natural synthesis of PUFA. It subsequently encapsulates the contemporary landscape of research, pinpointing metabolic engineering strategies applied to reconfigure Y. lipolytica into a PUFA producer. It further presents an in-depth examination of the central hurdles associated with the deployment of the engineered Y. lipolytica strains for PUFA production. Culminating with foresight, the article sketches out the overarching developmental trends in harnessing Y. lipolytica cell factories for large-scale industrial PUFA production, aiming to provide theoretical support and ideas for establishing the microbial cell factories in efficiently synthesizing PUFA.

Key words: polyunsaturated fatty acid, microbial cell factory, Yarrowia lipolytica, oleaginous yeast, metabolic engineering