GABRIELA COIMBRA

Mrs. GABRIELA COIMBRA


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 May 2020 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NMNadielle Tamires Moreira Melo
Nadielle Tamires Moreira Melo
GCGABRIELA COIMBRA
GABRIELA COIMBRA
DPDielle Procópio
Dielle Procópio
GCGabriel Cunha
Gabriel Cunha
KEKevy Pontes Eliodório
Kevy Pontes Eliodório
NPNadia Parachin
Nadia Parachin
Lactic acid is the monomeric unit of polylactide (PLA), a bioplastic widely used in the packaging, automotive, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Previously, the yeast Komagataella phaffii was genetically modified for the production of lactate from glycerol. For this, the bovine L-lactate dehydrogenase- (LDH)-encoding gene was inserted and the gene encoding the pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) was disrupted, resulting in the GLp strain. This showed a yield of 67% L-lactic acid and 20% arabitol as a by-product in batches with oxygen limitation. Following up on these results, the present work endeavored to perform a detailed study of the metabolism of this yeast, as well as perturbing arabitol synthesis in an attempt to increase lactic acid titers. The GLp strain was cultivated in a glycerol-limited chemostat at different dilution rates, confirming that the production of both lactic acid and arabitol is dependent on the specific growth rate (and consequently on the concentration of the limiting carbon source) as well as on the oxygen level. Moreover, disruption of the gene encoding arabitol dehydrogenase (ArDH) was carried out, resulting in an increase of 20% in lactic acid and a 50% reduction in arabitol. This study clarifies the underlying metabolic reasons for arabitol formation in K. phaffii and points to ways for improving production of lactic acid using K. phaffii as a biocatalyst.