IP Library Granted Patent US 9,957,527
Granted Patent B2
US 9,957,527 · App. 15/208,099 · Granted May 1, 2018

Microbial engineering for the production of chemical and pharmaceutical products from the isoprenoid pathway

Inventors: Parayil K. Ajikumar (Cambridge, MA); Gregory Stephanopoulos (Winchester, MA); Heng Phon Too (Singapore, SG)
Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology; National University of Singapore
C12P5/007C12N15/70C12P7/42C12P9/00C12P15/00C12P17/02C12P19/56C12P23/00C12Q1/689C12Q2600/158
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,957,527
App. No.
15/208,099
Granted
May 1, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to the production of one or more terpenoids through microbial engineering, and relates to the manufacture of products comprising terpenoids.

Claims (29)

1. A method for making a product containing valencene or a derivative thereof, the method comprising:

providing an Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) that produces isopentyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) through an upstream methylerythritol pathway (MEP) and converts the IPP and DMAPP to valencene through a recombinantly expressed downstream synthesis pathway comprising Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase and Valencene Synthase; and

culturing the E. coli to produce the valencene or derivative thereof, wherein the accumulation of indole in the culture is controlled to below 100 mg/L to thereby increase production of valencene or derivative; and

incorporating the valencene or derivative into a product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is a food product, food additive, beverage, chewing gum, candy, oral care product.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is a fragrance product, a cosmetic, a cleaning product, or a soap.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is an insecticide, pesticide, or pest control agent.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein accumulation of indole in the culture is controlled by balancing the upstream MEP pathway with the downstream terpenoid synthesis pathway.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring the amount or concentration of indole continuously or intermittently.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein accumulation of indole in the culture is maintained to below 50 mg/L.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein accumulation of indole in the culture is maintained to below 10 mg/L.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valencene or derivative is produced at 10 mg/L or more.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valencene or derivative is produced at 100 mg/L or more.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the E. coli has additional copies of one or more of the dxs, idi, ispD and ispF genes of the MEP pathway.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the E. coli has a heterologous dxs, idi, ispDF operon.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the E. coli further expresses a P450 enzyme.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the E. coli produces the valencene derivative nootkatone.

15. A method for making valencene or a derivative thereof, the method comprising:

providing an Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) that produces isopentyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) through an upstream methylerythritol pathway (MEP) and converts the IPP and DMAPP to valencene or derivative through a recombinantly expressed downstream synthesis pathway comprising Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase and Valencene Synthase; and culturing the E. coli to produce the valencene or derivative, wherein the accumulation of indole in the culture is controlled to below 100 mg/L to thereby increase terpenoid production; and recovering the valencene or derivative.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein accumulation of indole in the culture is controlled by balancing the upstream MEP pathway with the downstream terpenoid synthesis pathway.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, measuring the amount or concentration of indole continuously or intermittently.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein accumulation of indole in the culture is maintained to below 50 mg/L.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein accumulation of indole in the culture is maintained to below 10 mg/L.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the valencene or derivative is produced at 10 mg/L or more.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the valencene or derivative is produced at 100 mg/L or more.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the E. coli has additional copies of one or more of the dxs, idi, ispD and ispF genes of the MEP pathway.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the E. coli has a heterologous dxs, idi, ispDF operon.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the E. coli further expresses a P450 enzyme.

25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the E. coli produces the valencene derivative nootkatone.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2017
From: AJIKUMAR, PARAYIL K.; STEPHANOPOLOUS, GREGORY
To: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 042743/0328 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2017
From: TOO, HENG-PHON
To: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
Reel/Frame 042743/0342 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 14552676 · Nov 25, 2014
Continuation 13249388 · Sep 30, 2011
Continuation In Part 12943477 · Nov 10, 2010
Provisional Application 61388543 · Sep 30, 2010
Provisional Application 61280877 · Nov 10, 2009
Related Publication 20170002382A1 · Jan 5, 2017