Expression of Metazoan Annexins in Yeast Provides Protection Against Deleterious Effects of the Biofuel Isobutanol

Abstract

The ability of microorganisms to produce biofuels by fermentation is adversely affected by the perturbing effects of the hydrophobic biofuel on plasma membrane structure. It is demonstrated here that heterologous expression of metazoan, calcium-dependent, membrane-binding proteins of the annexin class can reduce deleterious effects of isobutanol on Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability and complex membrane functions. Therefore, expression of annexins in industrial strains of yeast or bacteria may prove beneficial in biofuel production.