Patent

1. A genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell, wherein said genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell comprises, compared to its wild type, a reduced activity of an E 1 enzyme encoded by any one of the intron-free nucleic acid sequences selected from the groups consisting of:

A) SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11; and

B) a sequence which is at least 90% identical to any one of the sequences SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said activity of said E 1 enzyme is the catalysis of the reaction 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate+L-glycine+H 2 O to tetrahydrofolate+L-serine.

2. The genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 1 , characterized in that wherein said reduction of the enzymatic activity is achieved by modifying a gene comprising any one of the nucleic acid sequences specified in claim 1 , wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

insertion of foreign DNA into the gene,

deletion of at least a portion of the gene,

point mutations in the gene sequence,

exposing the gene to the influence of RNA interference, and

replacement of a portion of the gene with foreign DNA.

3. The genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 2 , wherein said foreign DNA is a selection marker gene that can be removed without leaving a trace and which leaves a deletion in the target gene.

4. The genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 1 , wherein the Pichia ciferrii cell is obtained from strains selected from the group consisting of

Pichia ciferrii NRRL Y-1031 F-60-10; and

Pichia ciferrii CS.PCΔPro2.

5. The genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cell further comprises, compared to its wild type, an increased enzymatic activity of

an enzyme E 2 , wherein the enzyme E 2 catalyses the reaction of sphinganine to phytosphingosine.

6. A method for producing a genetically modified Pichia ciferri cell comprising:

I) providing a Pichia ciferrii cell, and

II) modifying at least one gene comprising any one of the nucleic acid sequences set forth in groups A) and B) in claim 1 by:

insertion of foreign DNA, wherein said insertion is DNA coding for a selection marker gene;

deletion of at least a portion of the gene;

insertion of a point mutation in the gene sequence;

exposing the gene to the influence of RNA interference; or

replacement of a portion of the gene with foreign DNA.

7. A method for producing sphingoid bases and sphingolipids comprising the steps of

a) contacting a genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 1 with a medium including a carbon source,

b) culturing the cell from step a) under conditions which enable the cell to produce sphingoid bases and sphingolipids from said carbon source, and

c) optionally isolating the sphingoid bases and sphingolipids produced.

8. The genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 5 , wherein the enzyme E 2 is a sphinganine C4-hydroxylase.

9. The genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cell according to claim 5 , wherein the E 2 enzyme is encoded by the nucleic acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17.