PROCESS OF PRODUCING MONOTERPENES
The present invention relates to a process of producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a host microorganism genetically engineered to express a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS); and b) contacting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) with said bacterial mTS to produce said monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof. The present invention also relates to a microorganism for use in producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof and a recombinant microorganism adapted to conduct the step of converting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) into a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof by expression of a bacterial mTS. It was shown to produce 1,8 cineole using 1,8 cineole synthase and to produce linalool using linalool synthase, both from Streptomyces clavuligerus.
1 . A process of producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof in a host microorganism comprising the following steps:
(a) providing a host microorganism genetically modified to express a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS); and
(b) contacting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) with said bacterial mTS to produce said monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof.
2 . The process according to claim 1 wherein the host microorganism comprises E. coli.
3 . The process according to claim 1 wherein the bacterial mTS comprises a Streptomyces mTS.
4 . The process according to claim 1 wherein the bacterial mTS comprises a Streptomyuces clavuligerus mTS.
5 . The process according to claim 1 wherein the bacterial mTS comprises cineole-1,8 synthase or linalool synthase.
6 . The process according to claim 1 wherein the process results in a monoterpene yield of at least 100 mg/L org −1 .
7 . The process according to claim 1 wherein the process results in a monoterpene yield of at least 300 mg/L org −1 .
8 . A microorganism for use in producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof according to the process of claim 1 .
9 . A recombinant microorganism adapted to conduct the following step: converting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) into a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof by expression of a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS).
10 . The use of a bacterial mTS to improve the yield and/or purity of a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof obtained from GPP.