Comparative performance of S-adenosyl-l-methionine biosynthesis and degradation in Pichia pastoris using different promoters and novel consumption inhibitors

• The overall physiological state of Pichia cell influenced S-adenosyl-l-methionine yield.
• PGAP-Pichia consumed S-adenosyl-l-methionine to synthesize more polyamines.
• PAOX-Pichia consumed S-adenosyl-l-methionine to synthesize more glutathione.
• Inhibitors were used to suppress S-adenosyl-l-methionine consumption.

The yeast Pichia pastoris is a widely used host for recombinant protein expression, and has recently been engineered for whole-cell biocatalysis. The inducible PAOX and constitutive PGAP promoters are commonly employed. In this study, the S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) biosynthesis and degradation efficiency of two P. pastoris strains were compared, and novel inhibitors that suppress SAM degradation were characterized. The strains exhibited clear physiological differences. PGAP-Pichia showed higher transcription and activity of SAM synthetase, and the rapid cell growth led to higher levels of spermidine synthesis from SAM. In contrast, PAOX-Pichia synthesized higher levels of glutathione from SAM, and this strain responded to hydrogen peroxide formation during methanol utilization. Aristeromycin proved an efficient inhibitor of SAM degradation in PAOX-Pichia; 0.02 mg/L led to a 36.36% reduction in the ratio of glutathionine:SAM, and SAM accumulation was enhanced by 7.74% to 11.83 g/L. Ethanol was an even more efficient inhibitor of SAM consumption in PGAP-Pichia; 8 g/L resulted in a 73.68% decrease in the ratio of SPD:SAM, and SAM production was elevated by 54.55% to 0.17 g/L/h.