Yeast⁣ Cells Revolutionize Macrocyclic Peptide Production for new Drugs

⁣ Updated June 29, 2025
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Venice, Italy-An international team of scientists has pioneered a novel technique using common‍ brewer’s ⁣yeast⁢ to ⁣accelerate the production⁢ and ⁤analysis of macrocyclic ‍peptides, a⁣ class of molecules increasingly vital in ⁣modern medicine. The research, involving experts from ⁣Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Japan, China, Switzerland, and‍ Italy, was published in Nature Communications.

Macrocyclic peptides are gaining traction as promising drugs due to their precision targeting,stability,and enhanced safety profiles compared to traditional pharmaceuticals. However, conventional methods⁢ for identifying and testing these ⁢peptides are often ‍slow, complex,⁢ and environmentally taxing. The ⁣new method aims to streamline the discovery of potential new drugs.

Researchers engineered yeast cells to function as individual “micro-factories,” each producing a unique macrocyclic peptide.These cells light ⁣up when producing‍ the compound, enabling⁢ scientists to rapidly ⁤identify promising candidates using‍ fluorescence-based ⁤techniques. The team screened⁢ billions of these⁤ micro-factories in just hours, a significant betterment in speed and environmental impact.

Sara Linciano, lead author and postdoctoral researcher at Ca’ Foscari, said, ⁤”We manipulated yeast cells so that each one functions ⁣as a⁣ ‘micro-factory’ that becomes fluorescent when producing a specific compound. This allowed us to‍ analyze 100 million different peptides rapidly ⁣and effectively.”

Ylenia Mazzocato, co-leader of⁣ the study, emphasized the sustainability of the ⁤approach. “By exploiting ⁣the natural⁤ machinery of yeast, ⁣we‍ produce peptide molecules that are biocompatible and⁢ biodegradable, making them safe‍ for⁤ health and the environment, a truly ‘green pharma’ approach,” Mazzocato said.

Structural ‍analysis confirmed the precision of these peptides. Zhanna Romanyuk, ⁢who contributed to the analysis, said, “Using ⁢X-ray crystallography, we demonstrated the excellent binding properties of these⁤ peptides, confirming their precision and⁣ potency.”

Alessandro Angelini, associate professor and‍ study coordinator, highlighted the potential impact on patient care.”We⁣ are pushing the ⁣boundaries of this technology to create‍ macrocyclic peptides ⁤that can deliver advanced therapies directly to specific cells, potentially revolutionising treatments. This could greatly benefit patient health and have substantial scientific and⁢ economic impacts,” Angelini said.

The project received support from the European Union’s Next ‍Generation ⁢EU initiative under the National‍ Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).Part of the technology has been patented by Ca’ Foscari and acquired by the startup Arzanya S.r.l.

What’s next

Researchers hope to⁣ further refine the technology to develop macrocyclic peptides⁢ capable of ⁢delivering‍ targeted⁢ therapies directly to cells, potentially revolutionizing treatment options and boosting both ‍scientific and ⁢economic growth⁣ in the field of drug discovery.