IP Library Granted Patent US 7,785,861
Granted Patent B2
US 7,785,861 · App. 12/268,406 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Hyperphotosynthetic organisms

Assignee: Joule Unlimited, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,785,861
App. No.
12/268,406
Granted
Aug 31, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure identifies pathways and mechanisms to confer improved industrial fitness on engineered organisms. It also discloses engineered organisms having improved industrial fitness. Synthetic biologic engineering modules are disclosed that provide for light capture, carbon dioxide fixation, NADH production, NADPH production, thermotolerance, pH tolerance, flue gas tolerance, salt tolerance, nutrient independence and near infrared absorbance. The disclosed engineered organisms can include one or more of these modules. Also provided are methods of using the engineered organism to produce carbon-based products of interest, biomass or pharmaceutical agents.

Claims (17)

1. An engineered cyanobacterial cell for fuel production, wherein said cell comprises a recombinant nucleic acid encoding Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase, wherein said Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase is at least 95% identical to Escherichia coli K12 MetE of SEQ ID NO: 20, and wherein said cyanobacterial cell lacks an endogenous Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase.

2. The engineered cyanobacterial cell of claim 1 , wherein said Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase is Escherichia coli K12 MetE of SEQ ID NO: 20.

3. The engineered cyanobacterial cell of claim 1 , wherein said cyanobacterial cell is a Synechococcus species.

4. The engineered cyanobacterial cell of claim 2 , wherein said cyanobacterial cell is a Synechococcus species.

5. The engineered cyanobacterial cell of claim 3 or 4 , wherein said Synechococcus species is Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

6. A method for conferring Vitamin B 12 independence to a cyanobacterial cell, comprising transforming said cyanobacterial cell with a nucleic acid encoding a Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase at least 95% identical to Escherichia coli K12 MetE of SEQ ID NO: 20, wherein said cyanobacterial cell requires exogenous Vitamin B 12 for growth prior to said transformation.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase is Escherichia coli K12 MetE of SEQ ID NO: 20.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said cyanobacterial cell is a Synechococcus species.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said cyanobacterial cell is a Synechococcus species.

10. The method of claim 6 or 7 , further comprising culturing said transformed cells in media lacking Vitamin B 12 , wherein said media selects for the growth of said transformed cells.

11. The method of claim 8 or 9 , wherein said Synechococcus species is Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

12. A method to produce a carbon-based product of interest, comprising

culturing an engineered cyanobacterial cell in the presence of CO 2 and light under conditions suitable to produce a carbon-based product of interest, wherein said engineered cyanobacterial cell is Vitamin B 12 independent, and wherein said engineered cyanobacterial cell comprises a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase, wherein said Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase is at least 95% identical to Escherichia coli K12 MetE of SEQ ID NO: 20, and wherein said cyanobacterial cell lacks an endogenous Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein Vitamin B 12 independent methionine synthase is Escherichia coli K12 MetE of SEQ ID NO: 20.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said cyanobacterial cell is a Synechococcus species.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said cyanobacterial cell is a Synechococcus species.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15 , wherein said Synechococcus species is Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2016
From: JOULE UNLIMITED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039140/0200 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 20, 2011
From: JOULE UNLIMITED, INC.
To: JOULE UNLIMITED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 026938/0365 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2011
From: DEVROE, ERIC J.; KOSURI, SRIRAM; BERRY, DAVID A.; AFEYAN, NOUBAR B.; SKRALY, FRANK A.; ROBERTSON, DAN E.; GREEN, BRIAN; RIDLEY, CHRISTIAN P.
To: JOULE BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 025929/0909 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2010
From: JOULE BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JOULE UNLIMITED, INC.
Reel/Frame 024439/0530 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2009
From: DEVROE, ERIC J.; KOSURI, SRIRAM; BERRY, DAVID A.; AFEYAN, NOUBAR B.; SKRALY, FRANK A.; ROBERTSON, DAN E.; GREEN, BRIAN; RIDLEY, CHRISTIAN P.
To: JOULE BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 023658/0034 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: JOULE BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 022334/0081 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 6098704600 · Nov 10, 2007
Provisional Application 6103216900 · Feb 28, 2008
Provisional Application 6109093300 · Aug 22, 2008
Related Publication 20090203070A1 · Aug 13, 2009