Adaptive laboratory evolution of Rhodosporidium toruloides to inhibitors derived from lignocellulosic biomass and genetic variations behind evolution

• A strategy of adaptive laboratory evolution in hydrolysate-based medium was developed. Evolved strains Rhodosporidium toruloides presented better tolerance to inhibitors. The strain’s ability accumulate lipids and produce carotenoids also improved. Whole genome sequencing revealed tolerance-related genes the wild-type strain. Using lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate for production microbial is still a challenge due poor oleaginous yeasts inhibitors generated during pretreatment. In this study, developed improve present hydrolysate. evolved performance grow medium, with significant reduction their lag phases, improved when compared starting best cases, phase reduced by 72 h resulted lipid accumulation 27.89 ± 0.80% (dry cell weight) carotenoid 14.09 0.12 mg/g weight). analysis indicated that strain naturally contained genes, which provided background allowed evolve biomass-derived