Investigating the unexplored molecular diversity of wild yeasts: An integrated multi-omics analysis of the phyllosphere

• Applicant: Dr. Stefan Pieczonka
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry ; Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 543754742

Since the domestication of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s Yeast), it has been predominant in fermented foods and bioeconomy. It offers robust controllability, consistency, and high ethanol tolerance, making it desirable for rapid production. Research centers on enhancing and refining S. cerevisiae in the laboratory, narrowing the perspective on the variety within the fermentation process. The rich dynamics of yeasts’ natural evolution, markedly distinct from domesticated yeasts, are primarily disregarded. Yeast research served as a catalyst for advancements in gene analysis, gene expression, and the study of protein and metabolite interactions. These comprehensive research endeavors, encompassed by the term systems biology, perceive the organism as a complex interplay of regulatory networks. Multi-level analytics is crucial to grasp complex regulatory mechanisms governing enzyme activities and metabolic fluxes. These integrative analytical approaches are already limited for S. cerevisiae model systems and even rarer for wild yeasts. My exploratory research project revolves around the comprehensive multi-omics analysis of such wild yeasts in Australia, renowned for its diverse biological niches. It aims to augment our awareness of understanding their uncharted molecular biology. The proposed project aims to understand the unexplored diversity of wild Australian yeasts on a comprehensive molecular level. We will investigate the chemodiversity of metabolites (1), proteins (2), and the interplay of those two domains (3), which are either influenced by phylogenetic factors or contribute to the manifestation of various phenotypes in biodiverse phyllospheric niches. Complete gene sequencing will determine the genetic basis for manifesting notable traits. Lastly, metagenomic analysis will be employed to characterize the microbial communities within these biological niches, and subsequently, their molecular interactions will be examined (4). To ensure an exhaustive representation of biodiversity, we will isolate yeasts from plant surfaces of suburban, rural, remote, and highly specialized ecosystems of Great Barrier Reef’s Heron Island. The non-targeted analytical approach is essential for the holistic characterization of yeast biochemical pathways, unveiling novel regulatory mechanisms, and exploring metabolic adaptations in naturally evolved yeast biology. It encompasses the metabolome, closely linked to distinct phenotypes, unexplored proteins, and enzymes. Understanding their dependence on specific biological niches and interaction with microbial ecologies promises profound insights into wild yeasts’ metabolic potential. The multifaceted fundamental research paves the way to understanding how yeast adapts and thrives in intricate ecosystems, potentially benefiting diverse fields from biotechnology, biomass, and enzyme production to food, flavor, and environmental conservation.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: Australia
• Host: Professor Dr. Benjamin Schulz