Integrated Base Editing and Microfluidics Boost Microbial Lipid Production from Lignin

ABSTRACT: Lignin, a recalcitrant aromatic biopolymer, represents a promising feedstock for sustainable biorefining. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional response of the fungus Curvularia clavata J1 to alkali lignin (AL) and developed a Cu2+-inducible MCM5–AID base editing system for genome-wide C-to-T and G-to-A mutagenesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that AL exposure triggered upregulation of genes involved in electron transport, lipid catabolism, and iron homeostasis. Using droplet microfluidics, we conducted ultrahigh-throughput screening and identified a mutant strain, M6, exhibiting superior phenotypic traits. When cultivated in lignosulfonate medium, M6 showed a 33–36% increase in lipid production and a 75–87% enhancement in laccase activity. Transcriptional profiling further indicated reinforced metabolic pathways related to fatty acid, steroid, and glycerolipid biosynthesis, redirecting carbon flux toward the formation of oil-enriched single-cell protein. This study establishes an integrated platform for lignin valorization and underscores the synergy between synthetic biology and microfluidics for precision engineering of fungal hosts.

ORGANISM(S): Curvularia clavata

PROVIDER: GSE306066 | GEO | 2025/08/28

REPOSITORIES: GEO