PROJECT SUMMARY 

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Biodegradable lactic acid polymers represent excellent candidates for replacement of petrol-based plastics. This project aims at obtaining D-lactic acid by Saccharomyces cerevisiae via fermentation of processed residues derived from the fruticulture industry. For this purpose, S. cerevisiae will be genetically engineered for D-lactic acid production by introducing heterologous bacterial genes and by eliminating competing metabolic pathways. Through evolutionary engineering, S. cerevisiae will be adapted to express high tolerance to both acid pH (low pH) and lignocellulosic hydrolysates. When in combination, genetic engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution, and optimization/scaling-up of the fermentation parameters will enable obtaining lactic acid at lower costs from treated waste of the fruit processing industry.