Programmable cell–cell adhesion in synthetic yeast communities for improved bioproduction
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Chen, Haohong
Peng, Huadong
Ellis, Tom
Ledesma Amaro, Rodrigo
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In multicellular systems, engineering-controlled cell–cell adhesion and metabolic interdependence are vital for developing complex functionalities. This study introduces a yeast synthetic toolbox for modular cell–cell adhesion and cocultures, aiming to overcome the limitations of existing approaches that lack genetic specificity and control. First, a model yeast strain 007Δ is created with seven main flocculation and agglutination genes removed, providing a clean background for synthetic adhesion systems. Then, three distinct adhesion pair systems—Strategy 1, Strategy 2.1 and Strategy 2.2—are established involving yeast flocculation and agglutination proteins and yeast surface display systems. In addition, a quantitative assessment is conducted on the adhesive specificity and strength, alongside the capability of synthetic adhesion to generate patterns. Finally, we successfully demonstrate enhanced bioproduction of the high-value food antioxidant, resveratrol, utilizing synthetic cocultures coupled with cell adhesion systems. We anticipate that this toolkit will emerge as a valuable resource for diverse applications in synthetic biology and biomanufacturing.
Date Issued
2026-07-01
Date Acceptance
2025-10-27
Citation
Nature Chemical Biology, 2026, 22 (7), pp.1057-1066
ISSN
1552-4450
Publisher
Nature Research
Start Page
1057
End Page
1066
Journal / Book Title
Nature Chemical Biology
Volume
22
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 2026
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41491832
PII: 10.1038/s41589-025-02081-1
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2026-01-05