REVIEW - METHYLOTROPHIC YEASTS AS FACTORIES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FOREIGN PROTEINS

In this contribution we discuss the potential of methylotrophic yeasts as hosts for the high level production of valuable foreign proteins. Recent relevant achievements on the intracellular production or secret ion of proteins are summarized. Special attention is paid to a specifi c advantage of the use of methylotrophic yeasts, namely the possibilit y of accumulating the foreign gene products inside peroxisomes. This a pproach may be of major advantage when the protein product is toxic fo r the host cell and, also, to protect these proteins from undesired si de-effects such as proteolysis or aggregation.