Microorganism having enhanced activity of alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase and a method of producing 1,4-butanediol using the same

1. A method of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate or 1,4-butanediol, the method comprising:

culturing an Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) microorganism comprising an exogenous polynucleotide encoding an E. coli alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase E1 component, a Corynebacterium glutamicum alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase E1 component, or a Euglena gracilis alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase E1 component; and

recovering 4-hydroxybutyrate or 1,4-butanediol from the culture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the culturing is performed under anaerobic conditions.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism comprises an exogenous polynucleotide encoding an endogenous alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase E1 component.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase E1 component has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase E1 component has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism converts succinic semi-aldehyde to 4-hydroxybutyrate.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the microorganism expresses 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase that converts succinic semi-aldehyde to 4-hydroxybutyrate.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism converts succinic semi-aldehyde to 4-hydroxybutyrate and converts 4-hydroxybutyrate to 1,4-butanediol.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the microorganism expresses 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and expresses 4-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A:acetyl coenzyme A transferase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and alcohol dehydrogenase, which converts 4-hydroxybutyrate to 1,4-butanediol.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A:acetyl coenzyme A transferase, the aldehyde dehydrogenase, and alcohol dehydrogenase comprise amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 5, 7, 9, and 11, respectively.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein an enzyme classified as EC.1.1.1.27 or EC.1.1.1.28 that converts pyruvate to lactate, an enzyme classified as EC.2.3.1.54 that converts pyruvate to formate, an enzyme classified as EC.1.1.1.1 that converts acetyl CoA to ethanol, an enzyme classified as 1.1.1.37 that converts oxaloacetate to malate, ArcA, an enzyme classified as EC.1.2.1.24 or EC.1.2.1.16 that converts succinic semi-aldehyde to succinate, or a combination thereof is removed or reduced in the microorganism.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme classified as EC.1.1.1.27 or EC.1.1.1.28 that converts pyruvate to lactate, a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme classified as EC.2.3.1.54 that converts pyruvate to formate, a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme classified as EC.1.1.1.1 that converts acetyl CoA to ethanol, a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme classified as 1.1.1.37 that converts oxaloacetate to malate, a polynucleotide encoding ArcA, a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme classified as EC.1.2.1.24 or EC.1.2.1.16 that converts succinic semi-aldehyde to succinate, or a combination thereof is inactivated or attenuated in the microorganism.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism expresses a foreign pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit mutant, a NADH-insensitive citrate synthase mutant, or a combination thereof.