IP Library Granted Patent US 9,145,542
Granted Patent B2
US 9,145,542 · App. 13/164,635 · Granted Sep 29, 2015

Method for producing aldehyde from CO

Inventors: James C. Liao (Los Angeles, CA); Shota Atsumi (Davis, CA)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
C12N1/20C12N9/0006C12N9/1022C12N9/88C12N15/74C12P7/04C12P7/16C12P7/22Y02E50/10Y02E50/17
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,145,542
App. No.
13/164,635
Granted
Sep 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides recombinant microorganisms capable of producing isobutyraldehyde using CO 2 as a carbon source. The invention further provides methods of preparing and using such microorganisms to produce isobutyraldehyde.

Claims (24)

1. A recombinant Synechococcus elongatus microorganism that does not have endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity toward isobutyraldehyde and produces isobutyraldehyde, wherein the recombinant Synechococcus elongatus expresses an isobutyraldehyde producing metabolic pathway comprising the following enzymes and substrate to product conversions:

an acetolactate synthase comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:73 to catalyze the conversion of pyruvate to acetolactate, an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:35 to catalyze the conversion of acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate, a dihydroxyacid dehydratase comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:37 to catalyze the conversion of 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate to 2-ketoisovalerate, and a 2-ketoisovalerate decarboxylase obtained from Lactococcus lactis comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:19 to catalyze the conversion of 2-ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde, and

wherein one or more of the enzymes in the metabolic pathway is exogenous.

2. The recombinant microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the acetolactate synthase is exogenous, catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to acetolactate and is obtained from Bacillus subtilis.

3. The recombinant microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase is exogenous, catalyzes the conversion of acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate and is obtained from Escherichia coli.

4. The recombinant microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the dihydroxyacid dehydratase is exogenous, catalyzes the conversion of 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate to 2-ketoisovalerate and is obtained from Escherichia coli.

5. A method of preparing a recombinant Synechococcus elongatus microorganism that does not have endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity toward isobutyraldehyde and produces isobutyraldehyde comprising:

transforming a Synechococcus elongatus microorganism with one or more targeting vectors comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding (i) one or more of an acetolactate synthase comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:73 to catalyze the conversion of pyruvate to acetolactate, an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:35 to catalyze the conversion of acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate, a dihydroxyacid dehydratase comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:37 to catalyze the conversion of 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate to 2-ketoisovalerate, and a 2-ketoisovalerate decarboxylase obtained from Lactococcus lactis comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity SEQ ID NO:19 to catalyze the conversion of 2-ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde; and (ii) at least one inducible promoter,

to prepare a recombinant Synechococcus elongatus microorganism, wherein the recombinant Synechococcus elongatus microorganism produces isobutyraldehyde.

6. The recombinant microorganism of claim 2 , wherein the acetolactate synthase obtained from Bacillus subtilis is SEQ ID NO:73.

7. The recombinant microorganism of claim 3 , wherein the acetohydroxyacid isomeroreductase obtained from Escherichia coli is SEQ ID NO.: 35 SEQ ID NO:35.

8. The recombinant microorganism of claim 4 , wherein the dihydroxyacid dehydratase obtained from Escherichia coli is SEQ ID NO:37.

9. The recombinant microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the 2-ketoisovalerate decarboxylate obtained from Lactococcus lactis is SEQ ID NO:19.

10. A method of producing isobutyraldehyde comprising:

(a) providing the recombinant Synechococcus elongatus microorganism of claim 1 in a culture medium;

(b) culturing the recombinant microorganism of (a) in the presence of CO 2 , wherein isobutyraldehyde is produced via photosynthesis and the metabolic pathway of the recombinant Synechococcus elongatus of (a); and

(c) removing the isobutyraldehyde from the culture medium.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the acetolactate synthase obtained from Bacillus subtilis.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase is obtained from Escherichia coli.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dihydroxy dehydratase is obtained from Escherichia coli.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the isobutyraldehyde is removed from the culture medium by gas bubbling.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the isobutyraldehyde is removed from the culture medium by evaporation.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising condensing the evaporated isobutyraldehyde.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein isobutanol is not produced by the recombinant microorganism at a detectable level.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Mar 30, 2020
From: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 052263/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2011
From: LIAO, JAMES C.; ATSUMI, SHOTA
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Reel/Frame 027038/0991 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation PCTUS2009068863 · Dec 18, 2009
Provisional Application 61219322 · Jun 22, 2009
Provisional Application 61139593 · Dec 20, 2008
Related Publication 20110250660A1 · Oct 13, 2011