Modified photosynthetic microorganisms for producing triglycerides
This disclosure describes genetically modified photosynthetic microorganisms, including Cyanobacteria, that contain one or more exogenous genes encoding a diacyglycerol acyltransferase, a phosphatidate phosphatase, and/or an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and which are capable of producing increased amounts of fatty acids and/or synthesizing triglycerides.
1. A modified Cyanobacterium comprising:
an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) that uses acyl-ACP as a substrate, wherein the modified Cyanobacterium produces a triglyceride, a wax ester or both.
2. The modified Cyanobacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the DGAT is a prokaryotic DGAT.
3. The modified Cyanobacterium according to claim 2 , wherein said DGAT is an Acinetobacter DGAT, a Streptomyces DGAT, or an Alcanivorax DGAT.
4. The modified Cyanobacterium according to claim 1 , wherein said Cyanobacterium is selected from the group consisting of: Synechoccus elongatus PCC 7942, a salt tolerant variant of Synechoccus elongatus PCC 7942 , Synechococcus PCC 7002, and Synechocystis PCC 6803.
5. The modified Cyanobacterium according to claim 1 , wherein said Cyanobacterium is salt tolerant.
6. A method for producing a triglyceride, a wax ester or both, comprising culturing the Cyanobacterium according to claim 1 to produce a triglyceride, a wax ester or both.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the DGAT is a prokaryotic DGAT.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said DGAT is an Acinetobacter DGAT, a Streptomyces DGAT, or an Alcanivorax DGAT.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said Cyanobacterium is selected from the group consisting of: S. elongatus PCC 7942, a salt tolerant variant of S. elongatus PCC 7942, Synechococcus PCC 7002, and Synechocystis PCC 6803.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said Cyanobacterium is salt tolerant.
11. A method for making a modified Cyanobacterium, comprising modifying a Cyanobacterium by introducing into the Cyanobacterium an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) that uses acyl-ACP as a substrate, wherein said Cyanobacterium produces a triglyceride, a wax ester or both.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said DGAT is an Acinetobacter DGAT, a Streptomyces DGAT, or an Alcanivorax DGAT.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said Cyanobacterium is salt tolerant.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said Cyanobacterium is selected from the group consisting of: S. elongatus PCC 7942, a salt tolerant variant of S. elongatus PCC 7942, Synechococcus PCC 7002, and Synechocystis PCC 6803.