research assistant, at Engineering,South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Xinying Zhang is a dedicated researcher specializing in synthetic biology and microbial metabolic engineering. She focuses on optimizing gene expression in Pichia pastoris to enhance biosynthesis capabilities, particularly for high-value compounds like squalene and lycopene. As a researcher at the South China University of Technology, she has actively contributed to major research projects, including a national key research initiative and a provincial Natural Science Foundation project. With six SCI-indexed publications in esteemed journals like ACS Synthetic Biology and Microbial Cell Factories, she is at the forefront of advancing microbial biotechnology. Additionally, she has applied for a patent related to P. pastoris engineering.
Professional Profile
Scopus
Education 🎓
Xinying Zhang pursued her academic journey in the field of biological engineering, specializing in synthetic biology. She acquired her expertise through rigorous research at the School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology. Her education laid the foundation for her innovative work on Pichia pastoris as a microbial cell factory. Through her studies, she developed expertise in gene editing, metabolic pathway reconstruction, and protein expression. Her research focused on utilizing methanol as a carbon source for high-value biochemical production, a novel approach in metabolic engineering.
Experience ⚙️
Xinying Zhang has accumulated extensive research experience in microbial metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. She has worked on developing gene editing tools and optimizing regulatory elements for Pichia pastoris to enhance biosynthesis efficiency. She played a crucial role in two major research projects—one funded by the National Key Research and Development Program and another by the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation. Her experience includes successfully engineering P. pastoris for high-level squalene production, leading to groundbreaking findings in microbial biotechnology. Her research contributions are published in Q1-ranked SCI journals, reflecting her impactful work in the field.
Research Interests 🎡
Xinying Zhang’s research interests revolve around synthetic biology, gene editing system development, and microbial metabolic optimization. She focuses on engineering Pichia pastoris to produce valuable biochemicals using renewable feedstocks like methanol. Her work explores heterologous protein expression, surface display, and metabolic reconstruction to enhance biofuel and biochemical production. Through transcriptomic analysis, she identifies bottlenecks in biosynthesis pathways, paving the way for high-yield microbial production systems. Her innovative approach has positioned P. pastoris as a promising platform for sustainable biochemical synthesis.
Awards & Recognitions 🏆
Xinying Zhang has been recognized for her contributions to synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. She has received accolades for her research publications and has been involved in prestigious research grants. Her groundbreaking work on metabolic engineering of P. pastoris for lycopene and squalene production has garnered significant attention in the scientific community. She has also applied for a patent related to microbial engineering for lycopene synthesis. Her work continues to receive citations, reflecting its impact on advancing biotechnological applications.
Top Noted Publications 📚
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Metabolic Engineering of Pichia pastoris for High-Level Production of Lycopene
- Authors: Xinying Zhang, Shuting Chen, Ying Lin, Wenjie Li, Denggang Wang, Shupeng Ruan, Yuxin Yang, and Shuli Liang
- Journal: ACS Synthetic Biology
- Publication Date: October 2, 2023
- Volume: 12
- Issue: 10
- Pages: 2961–2972
- DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00294
- Summary: This study focuses on enhancing lycopene production in Pichia pastoris through metabolic engineering. The researchers developed a CRISPR/Cpf1-based gene repression system and optimized gene editing techniques. They also utilized the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) to regulate lipid metabolic pathways, leading to a final engineered strain that produced lycopene at 7.24 g/L and 75.48 mg/g cell dry weight in fed-batch fermentation, marking the highest lycopene yield in P. pastoris to date.
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A Novel and Efficient Genome Editing Tool Assisted by CRISPR-Cas12a/Cpf1 for Pichia pastoris
- Authors: Xinying Zhang, Songjie Gu, Xueyun Zheng, Siqi Peng, Yanru Li, Ying Lin, and Shuli Liang
- Journal: ACS Synthetic Biology
- Publication Date: November 19, 2021
- Volume: 10
- Issue: 11
- Pages: 2927–2937
- DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00172
- Summary: This research introduces a novel genome editing method for Pichia pastoris using the CRISPR-Cpf1 system. The method enables efficient deletion of large DNA fragments and integration of multiple gene fragments. The system demonstrated high editing efficiency for single-gene disruptions (99 ± 0.8%), dual-gene edits (65 ± 2.5% to 80 ± 3%), and triple-gene edits (30 ± 2.5%). Notably, it achieved the deletion of 20 kb DNA fragments and one-step integration of multiple genes, providing a robust tool for genetic engineering in P. pastoris.
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Production of Lycopene by Metabolically Engineered Pichia pastoris
- Authors: Xinying Zhang, Denggang Wang, Yuxin Duan, Xueyun Zheng, Ying Lin, and Shuli Liang
- Journal: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
- Publication Date: March 2020
- Volume: 84
- Issue: 3
- Pages: 463–470
- DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2019.1693250
- Summary: This study aimed to enhance lycopene production in Pichia pastoris by integrating lycopene biosynthesis genes from Corynebacterium glutamicum into the GS115 strain. Initial modifications resulted in a lycopene production of 0.115 mg/g cell dry weight. Through optimizations such as promoter selection and increasing precursor supply, the final engineered strain achieved 6.146 mg/g in shake flask fermentation and 9.319 mg/g (0.714 g/L) in a 3 L fermenter, showcasing the potential of P. pastoris as a host for terpenoid production.
Conclusion
Xinying Zhang is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award due to high-impact research, strong publication record, and innovative work in metabolic engineering. To further strengthen the application, expanding industry collaborations, engaging in professional societies, and showcasing citation impact would enhance competitiveness.