IP Library Granted Patent US 8,557,562
Granted Patent B2
US 8,557,562 · App. 12/643,019 · Granted Oct 15, 2013

Yeast with increased butanol tolerance involving filamentous growth response

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,557,562
App. No.
12/643,019
Granted
Oct 15, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Increasing tolerance to butanol in yeast has been accomplished by increasing activity of the filamentous growth response. Yeast with increased expression of MSS11p, a transcriptional activator of the filamentous growth response pathway had increased tolerance to isobutanol. These yeast may be used for improved butanol production.

Claims (36)

1. A recombinant yeast cell comprising:

(a) an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway, wherein the recombinant yeast cell comprises heterologous genes encoding an acetolactate synthase, an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase, an acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase, a branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and a branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase that perform the following substrate to product conversions:

(i) pyruvate to acetolactate catalyzed by the acetolactate synthase,

(ii) acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase,

(iii) 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate to α-ketoisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase,

(iv) α-ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde catalyzed by the branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and

(v) isobutyraldehyde to isobutanol catalyzed by the branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase; and

(b) at least one genetic modification which increases activity of the nitrogen starvation-induced filamentous growth response, wherein the genetic modification is heterologous expression of a transcription factor involved in regulation of invasive growth in response to nutritional signals, wherein the transcription factor has at least 95% sequence identity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSS11 protein of SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, or SEQ ID NO: 54; wherein the yeast cell has an increase in tolerance to isobutanol as compared with the corresponding yeast cell that lacks the at least one genetic modification of (b).

2. The recombinant yeast cell of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Hansenula, Candida, Kluyveromyces, Yarrowia and Pichia.

3. A recombinant yeast cell comprising:

(a) an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway, wherein the recombinant yeast cell comprises heterologous genes encoding an acetolactate synthase, an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase, an acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase, a branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and a branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase that perform the following substrate to product conversions:

(i) pyruvate to acetolactate catalyzed by the acetolactate synthase,

(ii) acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase,

(iii) 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate to α-ketoisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase,

(iv) α-ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde catalyzed by the branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and

(v) isobutyraldehyde to isobutanol catalyzed by the branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase; and

(b) at least one heterologous transcription factor involved in regulation of invasive growth in response to nutritional signals, wherein the transcription factor has at least 95% sequence identity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSS11 protein of SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, or SEQ ID NO: 54.

4. A method for the production of isobutanol comprising growing a recombinant yeast cell under conditions where isobutanol is produced, wherein said recombinant yeast cell comprises:

(a) an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway, wherein the recombinant yeast cell comprises heterologous genes encoding an acetolactate synthase, an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase, an acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase, a branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and a branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase that perform the following substrate to product conversions:

(i) pyruvate to acetolactate catalyzed by the acetolactate synthase,

(ii) acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase,

(iii) 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate to α-ketoisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase,

(iv) α-ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde catalyzed by the branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and

(v) isobutyraldehyde to isobutanol catalyzed by the branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase; and

(b) at least one genetic modification which increases activity of the nitrogen starvation-induced filamentous growth response, wherein the genetic modification is heterologous expression of a transcription factor involved in regulation of invasive growth in response to nutritional signals, wherein the transcription factor has at least 95% sequence identity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSS11 protein of SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, or SEQ ID NO: 54; wherein the yeast cell has an increase in tolerance to isobutanol as compared with the corresponding yeast cell that lacks the at least one genetic modification of (b).

5. A method for improving fermentative production of isobutanol comprising:

(I) providing a recombinant yeast cell which comprises:

(a) an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway, wherein the recombinant yeast cell comprises heterologous genes encoding an acetolactate synthase, an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase, an acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase, a branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and a branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase that perform the following substrate to product conversions:

(i) pyruvate to acetolactate catalyzed by the acetolactate synthase,

(ii) acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase,

(iii) 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate to α-ketoisovalerate catalyzed by the acetohydroxy acid dehydratase or dihydroxyacid dehydratase,

(iv) α-ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde catalyzed by the branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase, and

(v) isobutyraldehyde to isobutanol catalyzed by the branched-chain alcohol dehydrogenase; and

(b) at least one genetic modification which increases activity of the nitrogen starvation-induced filamentous growth response, wherein the genetic modification is heterologous expression of a transcription factor involved in regulation of invasive growth in response to nutritional signals, wherein the transcription factor has at least 95% sequence identity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSS11 protein of SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, or SEQ ID NO: 54; wherein the yeast cell has an increase in tolerance to isobutanol as compared with the corresponding yeast cell that lacks the at least one genetic modification of (b); and

(II) contacting said yeast cell with fermentable sugar whereby said yeast cell produces isobutanol and wherein the fermentative production of isobutanol is improved.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising recovering the isobutanol.

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 Mar 15, 2010
From: BRAMUCCI, MICHAEL G.; SINGH, MANJARI; LAROSSA, ROBERT A.
To: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Reel/Frame 024078/0810 →