IP Library Granted Patent US 8,372,612
Granted Patent B2
US 8,372,612 · App. 12/330,530 · Granted Feb 12, 2013

Production of four carbon alcohols using improved strain

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 8,372,612
App. No.
12/330,530
Granted
Feb 12, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Using screening of transposon random insertion mutants, genes involved in accumulation of (p)ppGpp were found to be involved in bacterial cell response to butanol. Reduced production of proteins with enzymatic activity for (p)ppGpp biosynthesis confers increased butanol tolerance. Bacterial strains with reduced (p)ppGpp accumulation and having a butanol or 2-butanone biosynthetic pathway are useful for production of butanol or 2-butanone.

Claims (70)

1. A recombinant bacterial cell producing butanol or 2-butanone said bacterial cell comprising at least one genetic modification which reduces accumulation of (p)ppGpp, wherein the at least one genetic modification is a disruption in an endogenous gene encoding SpoT or RelA or in an operon comprising an open reading frame encoding SpoT or RelA;

a) the SpoT protein having:

1) an E-value parameter of 0.01 or less when queried using the Pfam Profile HMM for the RelA/Spot domain; and

2) an E-value parameter of 0.01 or less when queried using the Pfam Profile HMM for the TGS domain; and

3) an E-value parameter of 0.01 or less when queried using the Pfam Profile HMM for the HD domain; and

b) the RelA protein having:

a) an E-value parameter of 0.01 or less when queried using the Pfam Profile HMM for the RelA/SpoT domain; and

b) an E-value parameter of 0.01 or less when queried using the Pfam Profile HMM for the TGS domain.

2. The bacterial cell of claim 1 comprising a recombinant biosynthetic pathway selected from the group consisting of:

a) a 1-butanol biosynthetic pathway;

b) a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway;

c) an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway; and

d) a 2-butanone biosynthetic pathway.

3. The recombinant bacterial cell of claim 1 , wherein the cell is a member of a genus selected from the group consisting of Clostridium, Escherichia, Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Lactobacillus , and Enterococcus.

4. The recombinant bacterial cell of claim 2 wherein the 1-butanol biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding crotonase;

d) at least one genetic construct encoding butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase;

e) at least one genetic construct encoding butyraldehyde; dehydrogenase; and

f) at least one genetic construct encoding 1-butanol dehydrogenase.

5. The recombinant bacterial cell of claim 2 wherein the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetolactate synthase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding acetolactate decarboxylase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydrogenase;

d) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydratase; and

e) at least one genetic construct encoding 2-butanol dehydrogenase.

6. The recombinant bacterial cell of claim 2 wherein the isobutanol biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetolactate synthase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding acetohydroxy acid dehydratase;

d) at least one genetic construct encoding branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase; and

e) at least one genetic construct encoding branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase.

7. The recombinant bacterial cell of claim 2 , wherein the 2-butanone biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetolactate synthase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding acetolactate decarboxylase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydrogenase; and

d) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydratase.

8. A process for production of butanol or 2-butanone from a recombinant bacterial cell comprising:

(a) providing a recombinant bacterial host cell of claim 1 ; and

(b) culturing the strain of (a) under conditions wherein butanol or 2-butanone is produced.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the recombinant bacterial host comprises a recombinant biosynthetic pathway selected from the group consisting of:

a) a 1-butanol biosynthetic pathway;

b) a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway;

c) an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway; and

d) a 2-butanone biosynthetic pathway.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the 1-butanol biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding crotonase;

d) at least one genetic construct encoding butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase;

e) at least one genetic construct encoding butyraldehyde; dehydrogenase; and

f) at least one genetic construct encoding 1-butanol dehydrogenase.

11. The process of claim 9 wherein the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetolactate synthase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding acetolactate decarboxylase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydrogenase;

d) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydratase; and

e) at least one genetic construct encoding 2-butanol dehydrogenase.

12. The process of claim 9 wherein the isobutanol biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetolactate synthase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding acetohydroxy acid dehydratase;

d) at least one genetic construct encoding branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase; and

e) at least one genetic construct encoding branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase.

13. The process of claim 9 wherein the 2-butanone biosynthetic pathway comprises:

a) at least one genetic construct encoding an acetolactate synthase;

b) at least one genetic construct encoding acetolactate decarboxylase;

c) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydrogenase; and

d) at least one genetic construct encoding butanediol dehydratase.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2021
From: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
To: GEVO, INC.
Reel/Frame 057677/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2010
From: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
To: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
Reel/Frame 024216/0243 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2009
From: LAROSSA, ROBERT A.; NAGARAJAN, VASANTHA; SMULSKI, DANA R.
To: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022172/0295 →