Human muscle genes were successfully inserted into the DNA of baker’s yeast by biotechnologist Pascale Daran-Lapujade and her team at Delft University of Technology. For the first time, scientists have effectively inserted a crucial human characteristic into a yeast cell. Their research was recently published in the journal Cell Reports.

Daran-Lapujade’s lab introduced a characteristic to yeast cells that is regulated by a collection of 10 genes that humans cannot live without; they carry the blueprint for a process known as a metabolic pathway, which breaks down sugar to gather energy and produce cellular building blocks within muscle cells. Because this mechanism is involved in many disorders, including cancer, the modified yeast could be used in medical studies. [1]

Figure 1. Scientists create Yeast with Important Human Genes

Figure 1 shows according to Daran-Lapuzade, there are many similarities between yeast and humans: “It seems strange because yeast live as single cells, and humans have a much more complex system, but the cells work in very similar ways.”

For this reason, scientists often transfer human genes to yeast. Because yeast removes all other interactions present in the human body, it creates a clean environment in which researchers can analyze the process. [2]

Further humanization

The researchers worked with Professor Barbara Bakker's group at the University Medical Centre Groningen to evaluate the expression of human genes in yeast and their native human muscle environment using lab-grown human tissue cells. Because of the significant parallels between the characteristics of human enzymes synthesized in yeast and their original human cells, the novel humanized yeast is useful as a model for human cells.

Humanized yeasts could be used to study many additional metabolic processes that are similar in yeast and human cells. There were other previous studies related to yeast published in Pub Med.

While Daran-Lapujade is not planning to research applications of the humanized yeast herself, she is more interested in engineering yeast's theoretical and technological elements.

She hopes to work with other researchers interested in using the tool. She asserts that the discovery is just the beginning and that yeast may be humanized further and progressively build up a more complex human environment. [3]

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/humanized-yeast-scientists-create-yeast-with-important-human-genes/
2. https://slovenia.postsen.com/news/17907/Scientists-Create-Yeast-With-Important-Human-Genes.html
3. https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/39229/20220808/scientists-inserted-human-genes-transforming-single-cell-bakers-yeast-humanized.htm

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Scientists create Yeast with Important Human Genes, AnaTechMaz, pp.82