The Emerging Role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Polyhydroxyalkanoate Biosynthesis: A Review

Abstract

Increasing environmental concerns over plastic pollution and the depletion of fossil resources have driven global interest in biodegradable polymers, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). While bacterial systems have traditionally dominated PHA production, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has recently emerged as a promising alternative due to its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status, industrial robustness, and compatibility with advanced genetic engineering tools. This review explores the current state and future potential of S. cerevisiae as a cell factory for PHA biosynthesis. It examines metabolic engineering strategies to enhance precursor availability, the expression of heterologous PHA biosynthetic genes, and the integration of dynamic regulatory elements to optimise production. Recent advancements in feedstock utilisation, particularly lignocellulosic and industrial wastes bioreactor design, and downstream processing, are highlighted, along with challenges such as low yield, enzyme misfolding, and extraction inefficiencies. The review also emphasises the importance of omics technologies, synthetic biology, and machine learning in accelerating strain development and scalability. Overall, the article underscores the transformative potential of S. cerevisiae in enabling sustainable bioplastic production and contributing to circular bioeconomy goals.