Genetically engineered microbial strains including
View Patent ↗Genetically engineered microbial, e.g., Prototheca , cells provide microbial oil useful as a food additive and a source of renewable fuels and industrial chemicals.
1. A recombinant nucleic acid comprising a coding sequence that encodes a Prototheca lipid droplet protein 1 having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 120, wherein the coding sequence is operably linked to an exogenous nucleic acid sequence.
2. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the protein has at least one amino acid substitution in comparison to SEQ ID NO: 120.
3. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the exogenous nucleic acid sequence comprises a promoter.
4. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the exogenous nucleic acid sequence comprises an untranslated control element.
5. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the exogenous nucleic acid sequence encodes a targeting sequence.
6. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 5 , wherein the targeting sequence is a transit peptide selected from the group of a plastidial targeting sequence and a mitochondrial targeting sequence.
7. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is a DNA molecule.
8. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 that encodes a functional Prototheca LPD1.
9. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 that further encodes a sucrose invertase.
10. The recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 that further encodes an inhibitory RNA that suppresses expression of a Prototheca lipid biosynthesis gene.
11. An expression cassette comprising a recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 .
12. A genetically engineered microbial cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid of claim 1 .
13. A method for obtaining microbial oil comprising culturing a genetically engineered Prototheca cell of claim 12 under conditions such that oil is produced.