Abstract: The compositions and methods of the disclosure can be used to produce a cannabinoid in a host cell, such as a yeast cell. For example, the disclosure features host cells (e.g., yeast cells) modified to express one or more enzymes of a cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway, such as an acyl activating enzyme (AAE), a tetraketide synthase (TKS), a cannabigerolic acid synthase (CBGaS), and/or an olivetolic acid cyclase (OAC).

Abstract: Provide are modified host cells that are engineered to decrese expression of a product to undetectable levels in the presence of an exogenous agent, and increase expression of the product in the presence of another exogenous agent. The modified yeast strainshost cells do not express detectable levels of a precursor or substrate used to make the product. The product can be a cannabinoid or precursor thereof, and the substrate can be hexanoate. Also provided are methods for making a product using the modified host cells. The modified host cell can be a yeast strain, such as S. cerevisiae.