Synthesis of non-natural flavanones and dihydrochalcones in metabolically engineered yeast

Flavonoids are plant phenolic compounds that have many interesting medicinal properties. Therefore, there is interest in the synthesis of non-natural flavonoids as they may possess new or enhanced biological activities. In this study, metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing 4-coumaroyl:CoA-ligase (4CL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) was explored as a platform for producing non-natural flavanones and dihydrochalcones. By precursor addition of cinnamic acid analogues to the engineered yeast, numerous non-natural flavanones and dihydrochalcones were formed in vivo. Also, several CHS derailment products were formed. Of the isolated compounds, one flavanone and three derailment products were found to be novel compounds.