Abstract:Gadusol, an efficient natural ultraviolet (UV) absorbing substance with antioxidant capacity, is ubiquitous in aquatic organisms such as microorganisms, algae, and fish eggs. In order to address issues such as its low natural extraction yield and environmental unfriendliness, we introduced the gadusol synthesis pathway from zebrafish into Komagataella phaffii and successfully constructed the recombinant strain capable of synthesizing gadusol. The xylose assimilation genes derived from Scheffersomyces stipitis were further introduced into the recombinant strain to increase the content of the key substrate sedoheptulose 7-phosphate (S7P). The results showed that the utilization of xylose was an effective strategy to increase the yield of gadusol. In the medium with only xylose as the substrate, the yield of gadusol reached 141.8 mg/L (32.3 mg/g dry cell weight, DCW), which was about 46 times of that in the medium with only glucose as the substrate. The product showed obvious absorption in the range of 275–305 nm, with the maximum absorption at 290 nm. Moreover, the product demonstrated antioxidant capacity. After reaction for 5 h, the ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azino- bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rates changed by 90.83%, 25.50%, and 131.80%, respectively, which suggested that the product may be used as a long-acting antioxidant. This study demonstrated the great potential of K. phaffii as a chassis for the biosynthesis of natural UV absorbers. The biosynthesized gadusol has good UV absorption and antioxidant properties, which provides a theoretical basis for the industrial production and application of gadusol.