The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, an industrial chassis - from recombinant protein to lipid derivative production

The exhaustion of "fossil fuels" and "food for all" are among the major concerns of our time. In this context, the search for renewable energy and alternatives to petrochemicals without competing with food becomes a priority. The use of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae or fungi for the production of biofuels (bio-lipids) and high value-added lipid derivatives from renewable resources is actually promising.

The BIMLip team "Integrative Biology of Lipid Metabolism" undertakes a fundamental approach to systemic biology and genetic engineering of lipid metabolism of oleaginous yeasts and in particular Yarrowia lipolytica. The team exploits the knowledge acquired for applications in biofuels, biolipids, bioplastics and for white chemistry. It also uses the gene expression and amplification systems it has developed for the production of enzymes for biotechnological and medical use.