Microorganisms (Yeast)

Construction of an efficient production system for useful materials


Genome engineering of yeast

Yeast is one of the major organisms for food and material production, used in a wide range of industries from producing fermented foods, proteins, and additives to manufacturing pharmaceuticals and biofuels. Yeast is a microorganism growing in large quantities in a short period of time and is extremely productive, making it an essential organism for the food and biomanufacturing industries. In the market, yeast-involving industries have been growing, and the demand for yeast-based products and highly productive yeast is also increasing worldwide.

Genome editing technology makes a new yeast breeding approach available, which is impossible with conventional yeast breeding methods. For example, genome editing can edit efficiently and breed yeasts with complicated genome structures common among yeast strains for industrial use.

Setsuro Tech aims to establish an efficient functional material, ingredient, and substance production system with our yeast genome engineering system using proprietary genome editing technology.

In addition, we are working on genome editing of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and microalgae.

Expected Benefit of Genome Editing in Yeast

01Improvement of the productivity (higher growth and fermentation); Value-added products (increase in beneficial ingredients/removal of unfavorable components)

  • Beer
  • wine
  • Sake

02Production of valuable products using yeasts suitable for material and ingredient manufacturing.

  • Biorefinery
    [create new value]
    Utilization of non-edible biomass such as wood chips, mandarin orange peels (cellulose, etc.)
  • Fine chemical production
    [Enhance value]
    Production of cosmetic raw materials

    (Ceramide, etc.)

In industries, companies use yeast to produce a wide variety of materials and ingredients. Among yeasts, ethanol production by the breakdown of sugars is typical. However, yeast can produce products other than ethanol by altering metabolic pathways, including pharmaceuticals, bioplastics, and biofuels. The research and development of such yeast is very active these days and is progressing rapidly by taking advantage of advanced biotechnologies. Various yeast strains are currently being modified and optimized, and new metabolic pathways have been explored, which could lead to more broad production of materials and ingredients.

Setsuro Tech supports smart cell projects with genome engineering of microorganisms