IP Library Granted Patent US 9,222,113
Granted Patent B2
US 9,222,113 · App. 13/936,878 · Granted Dec 29, 2015

Microorganisms and methods for the coproduction 1,4-butanediol and gamma-butyrolactone

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,222,113
App. No.
13/936,878
Granted
Dec 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) pathways comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 14-BDO and GBL pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 14-BDO and GBL. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce 14-BDO and GBL.

Claims (65)

1. A method for producing a fermentation broth comprising a non-naturally occurring microbial organism in which the intracellular concentration of 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) is at least 1M and in which the intracellular concentration of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) is between 0.001 and 10 mM, comprising:

a) culturing the non-naturally occurring microbial organism for a sufficient period of time to produce 14-BDO and 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA followed by spontaneous lactonization of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to form GBL, wherein said 14-BDO is produced at an intracellular concentration of at least 1 M, wherein said GBL is produced at an intracellular concentration of between 0.001 mM and 10 mM, wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism comprises a 14-BDO pathway and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway, said 14-BDO pathway comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 14-BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 14-BDO, said 14-BDO pathway comprising:

i) a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming), a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase, a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase, a succinate reductase, a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase, a succinyl-CoA synthetase, a glutamate dehydrogenase, a glutamate transaminase, a glutamate decarboxylase, an 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase, an 4-aminobutyrate transaminase, a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase, a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase, a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming), a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase, an alpha-ketoglutarate reductase, a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase, a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate decarboxylase or a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase (decarboxylation), said 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and said 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway comprising:

ii) a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, a succinate reductase, a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase, a succinyl-CoA synthetase, a glutamate dehydrogenase, a glutamate transaminase, a glutamate decarboxylase, a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase, a 4-aminobutyrate transaminase, a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase, a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase, a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming), a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase, an alpha-ketoglutarate reductase, a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase, or a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase (decarboxylation).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 14-BDO pathway comprises a pathway selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(ii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(iii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(iv) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase, or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(v) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(vi) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(vii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase; and 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(viii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(ix) succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming), a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(x) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xi) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xiii) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase; and 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xiv) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xv) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xvi) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase; and 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xvii) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xviii) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xix) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase; and 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xx) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxi) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase and 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xxii) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxiii) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxiv) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; and 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xxv) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxvi) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or a 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxvii) a glutamate dehydrogenase or glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or a 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xxviii) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or a 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxix) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or a 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxx) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; a 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or a 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xxxi) an alpha-ketoglutarate reductase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase (decarboxylation); a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxxii) an alpha-ketoglutarate reductase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase (decarboxylation); and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); and

(xxxiii) an alpha-ketoglutarate reductase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate decarboxylase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxxiv) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate reductase; and 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxxv) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxxvi) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase and 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming);

(xxxvii) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-phosphate reductase; and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase;

(xxxviii) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 1,4-butanediol dehydrogenase; and

(xxxix) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase; and 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway comprises a pathway selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; and a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase;

(ii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase;

(iii) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; and a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase;

(iv) a succinyl-CoA transferase, a succinyl-CoA hydrolase or a succinyl-CoA synthetase; a succinyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase;

(v) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase and a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase;

(vi) a succinate reductase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase;

(vii) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; and a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase;

(viii) an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase;

(ix) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; an 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or an 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase; and a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase;

(x) a glutamate dehydrogenase or a glutamate transaminase; a glutamate decarboxylase; an 4-aminobutyrate dehydrogenase or an 4-aminobutyrate transaminase; a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase;

(xi) an alpha-ketoglutarate reductase; a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase and a 5-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase (decarboxylation);

(xii) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; and a phosphotrans-4-hydroxybutyrylase; and

(xiii) a succinyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); a 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase; and a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA hydrolase or 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA synthetase.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said culturing is performed under substantially anaerobic culture conditions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exogenous nucleic acid is a heterologous nucleic acid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microbial organism comprises one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight exogenous nucleic acids each encoding a 14-BDO or 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway enzyme.

7. A method of making 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO), comprising:

a) performing the culturing step of claim 1 ; and

b) separating the 14-BDO from other components in the culture.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the separating comprises extraction, continuous liquid-liquid extraction, pervaporation, membrane filtration, membrane separation, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, distillation, crystallization, centrifugation, extractive filtration, ion exchange chromatography, absorption chromatography, or ultrafiltration.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2026
From: GENOMATICA, INC.
To: AGAIN BIO APS
Reel/Frame 074708/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2025
From: GENOMATICA, INC.
To: NOVO HOLDINGS A/S, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073915/0027 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2025
From: GENOMATICA, INC.
To: OXFORD FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 071471/0770 →