Our project proposed the solid idea and experimental designs / performed initial trials for expressing an eukaryotic PUFA synthase system in oleaginous yeast chassis Yarrowia lipolytica, which is promising to be developed into a new method for obtaining DHA with future efforts. It is expected to offer lower costs, higher product specificity, improved sustainability and higher flexibility for engineering improvements compared to existing ones, leading its way towards alleviating the unmet need for DHA as a competitive alternative source. The synthetic de novo pathway allows it to be easily iterated with further optimizations or combined with some downstream process, such as further conversion to DHA-PC as the final product for a better nutritional value, as proposed this year by team XJTLU-China and discussed between the 2 teams.

According to our interview with Prof. Chen Zhi, expert in DHA-producing microalgae, the strategies proposed in this project for Yarrowia lipolytica could also help improve existing DHA production with microalgae fermentation, as a similar metabolism and many challenges are shared among these organisms, though Yarrowia lipolytica explicitly shows more promising characteristics as an engineering chassis for the industry.

Furthermore, our PUFA synthase is characterized as a polyketide synthase (PKS), which typically synthesizes polyketides, a wide group of valuable natural products, including polyunsaturated secondary metabolites and many other complex molecules, from acetyl-CoA. By expressing the PUFA synthase in Y. lipolytica, we not only explore the possibility of industrial-scale production of DHA, but as well as other polyketides using oleaginous yeast potentially. The huge enzyme is still to be understood and remains a popular topic of research. Its sequence and final product varies among original strains, adding to the challenges for its current industrial application. So we hope our research and attempts to express the exogenous huge enzyme complex in Yarrowia lipolytica would be helpful for elucidating the utilization of PKS systems as an example, and facilitate their future applications as a general approach.

We also planned to expanded the tool box for Yarrowia lipolytica by introducing and characterizing suitable inducible promoters, facilitating the controlled expression and production that will benefit various industrial processes. Our metabolic engineering strategies can be applied to many other scenarios for other valuable fatty acids (e.g., squalene, EPA, ALA) or biofuel production in Yarrowia lipolytica.

Through our project, we introduced the following new parts and composite part designs into the registry:

These parts can be utilized by the future iGEM community as building blocks to achieve greater success, especially in the unconventional but powerful yeast chassis Yarrowia lipolytica. The methods proposed and experiences documented by our team in the project can also potentially inspire and support future teams working on a similar biomanufacturing process or with the same chassis.

Moreover, through our project we aim to offer a safe and widely-compatible system for more biomanufacturing scenarios. Due to the similarities among some polyketide synthases, as well as the goals for industrial production, the synthetic biology approaches utilized and the scale-up process designed by our team may not only be utilized for DHA production, but potentially serve as a model for the production of other valuable products such as polyketides, providing references or inspirations for future projects, and also the industry.

The collaborative workshop and art gallery with Caritas Lok Yi School is a pioneering initiative aimed at raising awareness and understanding of Special Educational Needs (SEN) children within the community. This initiative aligns with our mission to promote education in synthetic biology while emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and support for all students.

Our journey began at the Joint School Science Exhibition, where we were drawn to the artwork displayed at Caritas Lok Yi’s booth. Following this, we had a conversation with Ms. Ho, the school’s occupational therapist, during which we both expressed interest in collaboration. This led to several meetings to discuss and explore opportunities for partnership.

The successful Art Meets Science workshop at Caritas Lok Yi School engaged students in hands-on activities that combine creativity and five senses with scientific exploration. The positive feedback from both students and staff highlighted the need for more interactive educational experiences tailored to SEN children.

During the art gallery event, the principal of Caritas Lok Yi School even expressed a keen interest in further collaboration and looked forward to discussing potential future projects with us. This enthusiasm demonstrates the school’s commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for its students, particularly in fields like synthetic biology.

As the first local iGEM team to collaborate with Caritas Lok Yi School, we are excited about the prospect of developing a dedicated curriculum that introduces synthetic biology concepts to SEN students. Our discussions have revealed strong interest from the school in integrating a specialized class focused on biology and synthetic biology, empowering students to explore these fascinating subjects in an accessible manner.

This partnership serves as a platform for educational innovation and aligns with iGEM's commitment to inclusion. By fostering an environment where SEN children can learn about synthetic biology, we aim to break down barriers and inspire a sense of belonging within the scientific community.

We envision this collaboration as just the beginning of a fruitful relationship with Caritas Lok Yi School. As we continue our discussions, we hope to explore various avenues for development, including workshops, interactive exhibits, and community outreach programs that highlight the importance of inclusivity in science education.

Being the first local iGEM team to establish a long-term collaboration with Caritas Lok Yi School, focusing on delivering engaging and educational content in synthetic biology tailored for students with special educational needs, we hope this partnership will not only enrich the learning experiences of these students but also inspire other local iGEM teams to follow suit, promoting awareness and understanding of synthetic biology within the broader community. Together, we aim to create a ripple effect that encourages inclusivity and innovation in science education for all.