IP Library Granted Patent US 11,525,149
Granted Patent B2
US 11,525,149 · App. 15/600,479 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Microorganisms and methods for the biosynthesis of fumarate, malate, and acrylate

Inventors: Mark J. Burk (San Diego, CA); Anthony P. Burgard (Bellefonte, PA); Priti Pharkya (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
C12P7/46C12N9/88C12P7/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,525,149
App. No.
15/600,479
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-naturally occurring eukaryotic or prokaryotic organism includes one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding enzymes imparting increased fumarate, malate or acrylate production in the organism when the gene disruption reduces an activity of the enzyme. The one or more gene disruptions confers increased production of acrylate onto the organism. Organisms that produce acrylate have an acrylate pathway that at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acrylate pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce acrylate, the acrylate pathway comprising a decarboxylase. Methods of producing fumarate, malate or acrylate include culturing these organisms.

Claims (15)

1. A non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism, comprising one or more endogenous gene disruptions, said one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding enzymes selected from the group consisting of

(a) a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a pyruvate decarboxylase, a soluble fumarate reductase, a mitochondrial fumarase, and a cytosolic fumarase; or

(b) a malic enzyme, a pyruvate kinase, a soluble fumarate reductase, a mitochondrial fumarase, and a cytosolic fumarase; and

wherein said one or more gene disruptions confers enhanced production of malate onto said non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism compared to a wild-type strain.

2. The non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said organism is in culture medium comprising dissolved oxygen in an amount that is less than 10% of saturation, or wherein said microbial organism is in culture medium wherein the culture medium is in an atmosphere of less than 1% oxygen.

3. The non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said one or more gene disruptions comprises a deletion of said one or more genes.

4. The non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism of claim 1 , further comprising an endogenous gene disruption of an encoded glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

5. The non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism of claim 4 , further comprising an endogenous gene disruption of an encoded cytosolic NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase.

6. A method for producing malic acid, comprising culturing the non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism according to claim 1 .

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said culturing is conducted in a culture medium comprising dissolved oxygen in an amount that is less than 10% of saturation, or wherein said microbial organism is in culture medium wherein the culture medium is in an atmosphere of less than 1% oxygen.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said one or more gene disruptions comprises a deletion of said one or more genes.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said one or more gene disruptions encode enzymes selected from the group consisting of a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a pyruvate decarboxylase, a soluble fumarate reductase, a mitochondrial fumarase, and a cytosolic fumarase.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism further comprises an endogenous gene disruption of an encoded glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-naturally occurring eukaryotic microbial organism further comprises an endogenous gene disruption of an encoded cytosolic NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein said one or more gene disruptions encode enzymes selected from the group consisting of a malic enzyme, a pyruvate kinase, a soluble fumarate reductase, a mitochondrial fumarase, and a cytosolic fumarase.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2026
From: GENOMATICA, INC.
To: AGAIN BIO APS
Reel/Frame 074708/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2025
From: GENOMATICA, INC.
To: NOVO HOLDINGS A/S, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073915/0027 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2025
From: GENOMATICA, INC.
To: OXFORD FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 071471/0770 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 14716767 · May 19, 2015
Continuation 13372332 · Feb 13, 2012
Continuation 12486724 · Jun 17, 2009
Provisional Application 61088628 · Aug 13, 2008
Provisional Application 61077127 · Jun 30, 2008
Provisional Application 61073348 · Jun 17, 2008
Related Publication 20180363012A1 · Dec 20, 2018