Heterologous expression of pentalenene synthase (PSS) from Streptomyces UC5319 in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

► Two new vectors for integration of genes in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous are provided.► X. dendrorhous mutants expressing pentalenene synthase produce pentalenene.► X. dendrorhous can be used to produce non-native terpenes.► The total terpene pool in X. dendrorhous shows high upward potential for pentalenene production.