A combined pseudouridine biomanufacturing platform enabled by a streamlined designer pathway

Nat Commun. 2025 Oct 6;16(1):8866. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-63906-0.

Abstract

mRNA vaccines, featured by incorporated pseudouridine (Ψ), represent a milestone in combating diseases, thus highlighting Ψ importance in drug development. However, economic and environmental challenges have persisted in sustainable Ψ production. Here, we formulate a streamlined designer Ψ pathway, comprising UMP nucleosidase, ΨMP glycosidase, and ΨMP phosphatase, and realize its gram-scale production by targeted discovery of a prominent UMP-preferred nucleosidase (NmYgdH). The optimized pathway, containing NmYgdH, RjPsuG (ΨMP glycosidase), and HDHD1 (ΨMP-specific phosphatase) is cloned into E. coli and systematic evaluation of multiple strategies achieves a Ψ titer of 44.8 g·L-1. Moreover, a thyA-dependent, tunable, and eco-friendly strategy for sustainable Ψ production is demonstrated in a 5 L bioreactor achieving titer of 45.3 g·L-1. Finally, we establish a simplified-strategy for rapid Ψ purification with a recovery-rate of 71%, and techno-economic analysis is employed to validate the feasibility and advantages of this fermentation platform for Ψ biomanufacturing. Therefore, this study provides a blueprint for industrial-production of nucleoside-related molecules.

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Metabolic Engineering* / methods
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Pseudouridine* / biosynthesis
  • Pseudouridine* / metabolism

Substances

  • Pseudouridine
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases