Yeast surface display technology: Mechanisms, applications, and perspectives

Microbial cell surface display technology, which relies on genetically fusing heterologous target proteins to the cell wall through fusion with cell wall anchor proteins, has emerged as a promising and powerful method with diverse applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. Compared to classical intracellular or extracellular expression (secretion) systems, the cell surface display strategy stands out by eliminating the necessity for enzyme purification, overcoming substrate transport limitations, and demonstrating enhanced activity, stability, and selectivity. Unlike phage or bacterial surface display, the yeast surface display (YSD) system offers distinct advantages, including its large cell size, ease of culture and genetic manipulation, the use of generally regarded as safe (GRAS) host cell, the ability to ensure correct folding of complex eukaryotic proteins, and the potential for post-translational modifications. To date, YSD systems have found widespread applications in protein engineering, waste biorefineries, bioremediation, and the production of biocatalysts and biosensors. This review focuses on detailing various strategies and mechanisms for constructing YSD systems, providing a comprehensive overview of both fundamental principles and practical applications. Finally, the review outlines future perspectives for developing novel forms of YSD systems and explores potential applications in diverse fields.