Overexpression of a sterol C-24(28) reductase increases ergosterol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Three plasmids, pHX4, pHXA4 and pHXC4, containing sterol C-24(28) reductase gene (ERG4) under the control of ERG4, ADH1 or CUP1 promoters, respectively, and the copper resistance gene as the selection marker were constructed, and they were then introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ergosterol production in recombinant strains was enhanced. Under the optimal culture condition, ergosterol content in recombinant strains YEH56(pHX4), YEH56(pHXA4) and YEH56(pHXC4) was 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5-fold (47 mg g-1) of that in the original strain.