In an article published in the prestigious journal Cell, Biopetrolia-affiliated researchers were able to reprogram the yeast S. cerevisiae from traditional alcoholic fermentation to lipogenesis. In simpler terms, transform a yeast that was used for alcohol production into a yeast that produces fatty acids instead.
Through dozens of modifications to its metabolism, yeast cells rewired this way produce fatty acids because they need them to survive and grow. This strategy allowed 3production of more than 30g/L of free fatty acids, a significant improvement over previous attempts.