Host cells and methods for producing isopentenol from mevalonate

1. A polypeptide having a phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMD) enzymatic activity, and encoding an amino acid sequence comprising (a) at least 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:1, and (b) wherein (i) amino acid residue at position 74 is histidine, (ii) amino acid residue at position 145 is phenylalanine, or (iii) amino acid residue at position 74 is histidine and amino acid residue at position 145 is phenylalanine, corresponding to the numbering of SEQ ID NO:1.

2. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence comprises (i) a histidine at position 74, (ii) a phenylalanine at position 145, or (iii) a histidine at position 74 and a phenylalanine at position 145.

3. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence comprises the following amino acid residues: E at position 71, S at position 108, N at position 110, A at position 119, S at position 120, S at position 121, A at position 122, S at position 155, Rat position 158, S at position 208, and D at position 302 corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1.

4. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence comprises at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO:1.

5. The polypeptide of claim 4 , wherein the amino acid sequence comprises at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO:1.

6. A vector encoding the polypeptide of claim 1 , and which is operatively linked to a promoter.

7. A genetically modified host cell comprising the vector of claim 6 , wherein the genetically modified host cell is capable of expressing the polypeptide, and the genetically modified host cell is a bacterial or fungal cell.

8. The genetically modified host cell of claim 7 , wherein the genetically modified host cell is a species of the genus Escherichia, Enterobacter, Azotobacter, Erwinia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsielia, Proteus, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, Rhizobia, Vitreoscilla, Paracoccus , or Clostridia.

9. The genetically modified host cell of claim 8 , wherein the genetically modified host cell is a species of the genus Escherichia.

10. The genetically modified host cell of claim 9 , wherein the genetically modified host cell is Escherichia coli.

11. The genetically modified host cell of claim 7 , wherein the genetically modified host cell is a yeast cell.

12. The genetically modified host cell of claim 11 , wherein the yeast cell is a species of the Saccharomyces genus.

13. The genetically modified host cell of claim 12 , wherein the yeast cell is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

14. A method for producing 3-methyl-3-butenol, comprising:

(a) providing a genetically modified host cell of claim 9 wherein the genetically modified host cell is capable of producing mevalonate; and

(b) culturing the genetically modified host cell under a condition wherein the polypeptide is expressed and 3-methyl-3-butenol is produced.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK) and/or NudB phosphatase (NudB).

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of PMK.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of NudB.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the (b) culturing step is under an anaerobic or microaerobic condition.

19. The method of claim 14 , comprising (c) recovering the 3-methyl-3-butenol.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the genetically modified host cell comprises one or more further enzymes capable of converting 3-methyl-3-butenol into a third compound.

21. The method of claim 20 , comprising (c) recovering the third compound.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the third compound is isoprene.

23. The method of claim 22 , comprising (c) recovering the isoprene.