The non-conventional yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus is an emerging industrial producer for many biotechnological processes. Here, we show the application of a biomass-linked stoichiometric model of central metabolism that is experimentally validated, and mass and charge balanced for assessing the carbon conversion efficiency of wild type and modified K. marxianus. Pairs of substrates (lactose, glucose, inulin, xylose) and products (ethanol, acetate, lactate, glycerol, ethyl acetate, succinate, glutamate, phenylethanol and phenylalanine) are examined by various modelling and optimisation methods. Our model reveals the organism’s potential for industrial application and metabolic engineering. Modelling results imply that the aeration regime can be used as a tool to optimise product yield and flux distribution in K. marxianus. Also rebalancing NADH and NADPH utilisation can be used to improve the efficiency of substrate conversion. Xylose is identified as a biotechnologically promising substrate for K. marxianus.

The present study addresses problems and solutions related to new functional bio-active food product creation. Commercial rolled oats and fat-free milk were used as raw materials. Limited enzymatic hydrolysis of oat starch was carried out by α-amylase. The lactic acid bacteria strains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium sp., and commercial starter cultures ABT-1 were cultivated in enzymatically hydrolysed oat mash. Lactobacillus acidophilus was a more active producer of lactic acid, while Bifidobacterium sp. improved the taste properties. A fat-free milk additive was applied to stabilise the texture of the oat mash, and increase the protein content of the final product. All procedures ensured the preservation of beta-glucan, and the number of active lactic acid bacteria in the final product reached 109 per ml. A yogurt-like oat based product “Oat bio Lacto” supports oat beta-glucan, oat lipid unsaturated fatty acids and living probiotic lactic acid bacteria, and can be considered as polyfunctional ...