IP Library Granted Patent US 11,920,171
Granted Patent B1
US 11,920,171 · App. 16/898,009 · Granted Mar 5, 2024

Synthesis and oxidation of methane

Inventor: Steven Mansoorabadi (Auburn, AL)
Assignee: Auburn University
C12N9/88C12N9/0095C12N9/93C12N15/52C12N15/62C12N15/74C12P5/023C12Y499/01003C12Y603/02013C12Y603/05011
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,920,171
App. No.
16/898,009
Granted
Mar 5, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

The present disclosure describes genes and proteins of the coenzyme F430 synthetic pathway. The genes and proteins in the pathway find uses as isolated nucleic acids, transformation vectors, a transformation media, genetically modified cells, methods of modulating methanogenesis, methods of modulating methane oxidation, methods of making a tetrapyrrole compound, methods of oxidizing methane, methods of biogenic methane synthesis is provided, methods of assaying an organism for potential methanogenic or methanotrophic activity, and isolated proteins.

Claims (20)

1. A genetically modified cell comprising: a first nucleotide sequence encoding a first Cfb polypeptide, and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a second Cfb polypeptide having at least 70% sequence identity to the first Cfb polypeptide, wherein the first and second Cfb polypeptides are both one of a CfbA (sirohydrochlorin cobaltochelatase), CfbB (cobyrinic acid a,c-diamide synthetase), CfbC (nitrogenase iron protein), CfbD (nitrogenase molybdenum-iron protein), and CfbE (UDP-N-acetylmuramoylalanine:D-glutamate ligase) polypeptide.

2. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a first CfbA polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 1-31), and wherein the second Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a second CfbA polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 1-31).

3. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a first CfbB polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 32-62), and wherein the second Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a second CfbB polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 32-62).

4. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a first CfbC polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 63-93), and wherein the second Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a second CfbC polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 63-93).

5. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a first CfbD polypeptide shown in Table 1B (SEQ ID NO: 94-124), and wherein the second Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a second CfbD polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 94-124).

6. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a first CfbE polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 125-155), and wherein the second Cfb polypeptide has at least 70% sequence identity with a second CfbE polypeptide shown in Table 1A (SEQ ID NO: 125-155).

7. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 80% sequence identity with the second Cfb polypeptide.

8. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 90% sequence identity with the second Cfb polypeptide.

9. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has at least 95% sequence identity with the second Cfb polypeptide.

10. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide has 100% sequence identity with the second Cfb polypeptide.

11. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the first Cfb polypeptide and the second Cfb polypeptide are both operatively linked to a common promoter.

12. The cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide is a heterologous polynucleotide.

13. The cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide is operatively linked to a heterologous promoter.

14. The cell of claim 1 , comprising: a third nucleotide sequence encoding a third Cfb polypeptide having at least 70% sequence identity to the first Cfb polypeptide.

15. The cell of claim 1 , comprising: a third nucleotide sequence encoding a third Cfb polypeptide having at least 70% sequence identity to the first Cfb polypeptide; and a fourth nucleotide sequence encoding a fourth Cfb polypeptide having at least 70% sequence identity to the first Cfb polypeptide.

16. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the cell is a methanogenic archaeal cell.

17. A method of methane generation, comprising maintaining a culture of the cell of claim 16 under methanogenic conditions.

18. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the cell is a methanotrophic cell.

19. A method of methane removal, comprising providing methane to a culture of the cell of claim 18 under methanotrophic conditions.

20. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the cell has increased coenzyme F430 biosynthetic activity compared to wild-type.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: MANSOORABADI, STEVEN
To: AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 066249/0876 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 10, 2020
From: AUBURN UNIVERSITY
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 053753/0071 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15588396 · May 5, 2017
Provisional Application 62332658 · May 6, 2016