Biochanin A, a valuable O-methylated isoflavone, requires efficient P450 activity, regioselective methylation, and substantial cofactor availability. Here, we established a systematic strategy for its high-level production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We first constructed a genistein platform strain (16.10 mg/L) by optimizing the 2-hydroxyisoflavanone synthase gene (PlIFS) copy number. Next, a screen identified Pueraria lobata PlOMT9 as the optimal 4'-O-methyltransferase, yielding 14.29 mg/L biochanin A. As methylation was constrained by ATP supply, we augmented the cellular energy budget by expressing Vitreoscilla hemoglobin, increasing biochanin A titer to 19.48 mg/L. We then expanded the endoplasmic reticulum membrane capacity and coexpressed protein-folding chaperones, which profoundly enhanced the functional expression of the membrane-associated enzymes, skyrocketing the biochanin A titer to 39.89 mg/L. Finally, we increased the titer to 49.86 mg/L by improving the heme supply. The final strain in this study will facilitate the production of O-methylated isoflavones through the biochanin A biosynthetic pathway.
Tan et al. (2026) studied this question.