Host cells and methods for producing 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) and/or a DXP derived compound

1. A method of producing a 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate or 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) or a DXP derived compound, comprising:

(a) providing a genetically modified host cell capable of producing 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate or 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) comprising: a mutant 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase (RibB) comprising a polypeptide sequence that (i) is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, and (ii) comprises one or more of the following amino acid substitutions corresponding to substitutions in SEQ ID NO:1 selected from the group consisting of G108S, T88I, S89R, V109I, M182I, G92D, and T106I;

(b) culturing the genetically modified host cell in a medium under a suitable condition such that the culturing results in the genetically modified host cell producing the DXP or the DXP derived compound, and

(c) optionally recovering the DXP or the DXP derived compound from the medium, wherein the recovering step is concurrent or subsequent to the culturing step; wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mutant RibB comprises a polypeptide sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:1.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mutant RibB comprises a polypeptide sequence that is at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:1.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell does not naturally comprise a gene encoding a 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (Dxs).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell (a) further comprises a disruption in an endogenous gene encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase, or (b) further comprises a mutation in an endogenous gene encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase which reduces 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase activity or reduces expression of said gene.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase and a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2-phosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, and a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, and a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, and a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and/or dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase, and a 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) and optionally farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase, a 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase, a GPP synthase and optionally a FPP synthase.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing DXP derivatives, wherein said DXP derivatives are (i) isopentenol, geraniol, and optionally farnesol, or (ii) an isoprenyl alkanoate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase, a 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase, a GPP synthase, the corresponding enzymes for producing said DXP derivatives of (i) or (ii), and optionally comprises a FPP synthase.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is a microorganism from the genus Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Pasteurella, Haemophilus , or Pseudomonas.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is an Escherichia coli cell.

17. A method of producing a 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate or 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) or a DXP derived compound, comprising:

(a) providing a genetically modified host cell capable of producing 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate or 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) comprising: an aldo/keto reductase (YajO) comprising a polypeptide sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2, and a xylulokinase (XylB) comprising a polypeptide sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:3; wherein the host cell: (i) does not naturally encode a gene encoding a 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase, or (ii) further comprises a disruption in an endogenous gene encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase, and wherein:

(I) the host cell is capable of producing GPP and optionally FPP, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase, a 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase, a GPP synthase and optionally a FPP synthase; or

(II) the host cell is capable of producing the DXP derived compound, wherein said DXP derived compound is (i) isopentenol, geraniol, and optionally farnesol, or (ii) an isoprenyl alkanoate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase, a 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase, a GPP synthase, the corresponding enzymes for producing said DXP derived compound of (i) or (ii), and optionally comprises a FPP synthase;

(b) culturing the genetically modified host cell in a medium under a suitable condition such that the culturing results in the genetically modified host cell producing the DXP or the DXP derived compound, and

(c) optionally recovering the DXP or the DXP derived compound from the medium, wherein the recovering step is concurrent or subsequent to the culturing step; wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the YajO comprises a polypeptide sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:2, and the XylB comprises a polypeptide sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:3.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the YajO comprises a polypeptide sequence that is at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:2, and the XylB comprises a polypeptide sequence that is at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:3.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase and a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2-phosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, and a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, and a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, and a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase.

25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is capable of producing IPP and/or DMAPP, and the host cell further comprises a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate synthase, a 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-diphosphate synthase, a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase, and a 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase.

26. The method of claim 17 , wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is a microorganism from the genus Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Pasteurella, Haemophilus , or Pseudomonas.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is an Escherichia coli cell.