A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain encoding a novel FAS2 mutation produces high levels of caprylic acid

• We isolated the cerulenin-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain C8-222.
• C8-222 produced more caprylic acid than the parental strain Meijo-9.
• C8-222 encodes a Gly1253Ala mutation in FAS2.
• The Gly1253Ala mutation led to high production of caprylic acid in yeast.

Here, we describe C8-222, a novel cerulenin-resistant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meijo-9 that encodes a point mutation (FAS2-1253A mutation) resulting in a Gly to Ala substitution at position 1253 of the fatty acid synthase alpha subunit (Fas2 protein), which was isolated by traditional screening in the presence of cerulenin. Notably, this mutation yielded enhanced production of caprylic acid, but not of caproic acid. As caprylic acid is a precursor of ethyl caprylate, a compound that confers “fruity-flowery” flavors, usage of this mutant may enable the production of new types of sake.