Production of steviol glycosides in recombinant hosts

1. A recombinant host cell producing a steviol glycoside in a cell culture, wherein the recombinant host cell has a modified expression of at least one endogenous transporter gene encoding a transporter polypeptide, wherein the modified expression comprises increasing expression or activity of the at least one endogenous transporter gene encoding the transporter polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:26 above the level of expression or activity observed in a corresponding unmodified recombinant host cell;

wherein at least a portion of the steviol glycoside is transported from the recombinant host into the cell culture; and

wherein the host cell is a plant cell, a fungal cell, or a bacterial cell.

2. The recombinant host cell of claim 1 , wherein the transporter polypeptide comprises an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter polypeptide.

3. The recombinant host cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) one or more genes encoding a sucrose transporter (SUC1) polypeptide and a sucrose synthase (SUS1) polypeptide;

(b) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) and isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP);

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:149;

(c) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing ent-copalyl diphosphate from GGPP;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:150;

(d) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing ent-kaurene from ent-copalyl pyrophosphate;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:152;

(e) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing ent-kaurenoic acid from ent-kaurene;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:151;

(f) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing steviol from ent-kaurenoic acid;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:154;

(g) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of reducing cytochrome P450 complex;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:153 or 155;

(h) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-13 hydroxyl group;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:156;

(i) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:158;

(j) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:157; and/or

(k) a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside;

wherein the polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:159 or 148;

wherein at least one of the genes in items (a)-(k) is a recombinant gene; and

wherein the steviol glycoside is Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside D and/or Rebaudioside M or an isomer thereof.

4. The recombinant host cell of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the genes in items (a)-(k) is codon optimized for expression in the recombinant host cell.

5. The recombinant host cell of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the genes in items (a)-(k) is codon optimized for expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

6. The recombinant host cell of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial cell comprises Escherichia bacteria cells, Lactobacillus bacteria cells, Lactococcus bacteria cells, Cornebacterium bacteria cells, Acetobacter bacteria cells, Acinetobacter bacteria cells, or Pseudomonas bacterial cells.

7. The recombinant host cell of claim 1 , wherein the fungal cell is a yeast cell.

8. The recombinant host cell of claim 7 , wherein the yeast cell is a cell from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida glabrata, Ashbya gossypii, Cyberlindnera jadinii, Pichia pastoris, Kluyveromyces lactis, Hansenula polymorpha, Candida boidinii, Arxula adeninivorans, Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous , or Candida albicans species.

9. A method of producing a steviol glycoside in a cell culture, comprising culturing the recombinant host cell of claim 1 in a culture medium, under conditions in which one or more of the genes are expressed;

wherein the at least one endogenous transporter gene is expressed;

wherein culturing includes inducing expression of one or more of the genes or constitutively expressing one or more of the genes; and

wherein the steviol glycoside is produced by the recombinant host cell.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

(a) Rebaudioside A is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-13 hydroxyl group; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside;

(b) Rebaudioside B is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-13 hydroxyl group; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside;

(c) Rebaudioside D is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or the steviol glycoside at its C-13 hydroxyl group; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; and/or

(d) Rebaudioside M is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylation of the 13-OH of steviol; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the steviol glycoside is produced at a concentration of at least 500 mg/L of the cell culture.

12. A method of increasing production or transport of a steviol glycoside into a culture medium, comprising culturing the recombinant host cell of claim 1 in a culture medium, under conditions in which one or more of the genes are expressed;

wherein at the least one endogenous transporter gene encoding the transporter polypeptide, the at least one endogenous transcription factor gene encoding the transcription factor polypeptide that regulates expression of the at least one endogenous transporter gene, or both are expressed;

wherein culturing includes inducing expression of one or more of the genes or constitutively expressing one or more of the genes wherein the steviol glycoside is produced by the recombinant host cell; and

wherein the steviol glycoside is RebA, RebB, RebD or RebM or an isomer thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the steviol glycoside is Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside D and/or Rebaudioside M or an isomer thereof.

14. The method of claim 9 , that further comprises isolating the Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside from the cell culture.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the isolating step comprises separating a liquid phase of the cell culture from a solid phase of the cell culture to obtain a supernatant comprising Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside, and:

(a) contacting the supernatant with one or more adsorbent resins in order to obtain at least a portion of Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside; or

(b) contacting the supernatant with one or more ion exchange or reversed-phase chromatography columns in order to obtain at least a portion of Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside; or

(c) crystallizing or extracting Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside;

thereby isolating Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside.

16. The method of claim 9 , that further comprises recovering a steviol glycoside composition comprising Rebaudioside M, alone or together with at least one other steviol glycoside from the cell culture.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the recovered steviol glycoside composition is enriched for Rebaudioside M relative to a steviol glycoside composition of Stevia plant and has a reduced level of Stevia plant-derived components relative to a steviol glycoside composition obtained from a plant-derived Stevia extract.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cell culture comprises:

(a) the steviol glycoside produced by the recombinant host cell;

(b) glucose, fructose, sucrose, xylose, rhamnose, uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose, UDP-rhamnose, UDP-xylose, and/or N-acetyl-glucosamine; and/or

(c) supplemental nutrients comprising trace metals, vitamins, salts, yeast nitrogen base (YNB) and/or amino acids.

19. The method of claim 9 , wherein the recombinant host cell is grown in a fermentor at a temperature for a period of time, wherein the temperature and the period of time facilitate the production of the steviol glycoside composition.

20. A cell culture, comprising the recombinant host cell of claim 1 , the cell culture further comprising:

(a) the steviol glycoside produced by the recombinant host cell;

(b) glucose, fructose, sucrose, xylose, rhamnose, uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose, UDP-rhamnose, UDP-xylose, and/or N-acetyl-glucosamine; and

(c) supplemental nutrients comprising trace metals, vitamins, salts, YNB, and/or amino acids;

wherein the steviol glycoside is present at a concentration of at least 1 mg/liter of the cell culture.

21. The recombinant host cell of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant host cell is a Yarrowia lipolytica cell.

22. The method of claim 9 , wherein the recombinant host cell is a Yarrowia lipolytica cell.

23. The method of claim 9 , wherein Rebaudioside A is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-13 hydroxyl group; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside.

24. The method of claim 9 , wherein Rebaudioside D is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or the steviol glycoside at its C-13 hydroxyl group; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside.

25. The method of claim 9 , wherein Rebaudioside M is produced in the recombinant host cell expressing the polypeptide capable of glycosylation of the 13-OH of steviol; the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside; the polypeptide capable of glycosylating steviol or a steviol glycoside at its C-19 carboxyl group; and the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose of a steviol glycoside.