IP Library Granted Patent US 11,781,107
Granted Patent B2
US 11,781,107 · App. 17/184,580 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Microorganisms engineered for muconate production

Inventors: Gregg Tyler Beckham (Golden, CO); Christopher W. Johnson (Denver, CO); Allison Jean Zimont Werner (Denver, CO); Davinia Salvachúa Rodríguez (Golden, CO); Daniel A. Jacobson (Oak Ridge, TN); Erica Teixeira Prates (Oak Ridge, TN); Elsayed Tharwat Tolba Mohamed (Helsingborg, SE); Adam Michael Feist (Oakland, CA)
Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC; UT-Battelle, LLC
C12N1/205C12N15/78C12R2001/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,781,107
App. No.
17/184,580
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are the genetically modified Pseudomonas with improved tolerance to hydroxycinnamic acids.

Claims (32)

1. A genetically modified Pseudomonas comprising:

a mutation of a gene encoding a cell membrane protein wherein:

the mutation improves tolerance to a hydroxycinnamic acid, and

the gene encodes for a protein that is at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.

2. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 capable of converting hydroxycinnamic acid to muconate.

3. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 wherein the mutation of a gene encoding a cell membrane protein decreases the time that the Pseudomonas spends in a lag phase when exposed to a solution of hydroxycinnamic acid compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

4. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 wherein the mutation increases a growth rate of the Pseudomonas when exposed to a solution of hydroxycinnamic acid compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

5. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 , wherein the gene is at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.

6. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxycinnamic acid is selected from the group consisting of coumarate and ferulate.

7. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 , wherein the Pseudomonas is P. putida K2440.

8. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 , wherein the Pseudomonas demonstrates at least a 3.3-fold increased tolerance to p-coumaric acid (pCA) compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

9. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 , wherein the Pseudomonas has at least a 37 hour decrease in lag phase when exposed to 20 g/L pCA compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

10. The genetically modified Pseudomonas of claim 1 , wherein the Pseudomonas has at least a 2.4-fold increased growth rate when exposed to 20 g/L pCA compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

11. A method for lignin valorization, the method comprising:

converting a hydroxycinnamic acid to muconate by contacting the hydroxycinnamic acid with a genetically modified Pseudomonas , wherein:

the Pseudomonas comprises a mutation of a gene encoding a cell membrane protein,

the modification increases the uptake of the hydroxycinnamic acid compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas , and

the gene encodes for a protein that is at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mutation decreases the time in a lag phase of the Pseudomonas when the Pseudomonas is exposed to a solution of hydroxycinnamic acid compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the mutation increases a growth rate of the Pseudomonas when exposed to a solution of hydroxycinnamic acid compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the mutation is to a gene that is at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the hydroxycinnamic acid is selected from the group consisting of coumarate, and ferulate.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the Pseudomonas has at least a 3.3-fold increased tolerance to pCA, at least a 37 hour decrease in lag phase, and a 2.4-fold increased growth rate when exposed to 20 g/L pCA compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas.

17. A genetically modified Pseudomonas comprising:

a deletion of a gene encoding a cell membrane protein, wherein:

the deletion improves tolerance to a hydroxycinnamic acid, and

the deleted gene encodes for the expression of protein PP_3350.

18. A method for lignin valorization, the method comprising:

converting a hydroxycinnamic acid to muconate by contacting the hydroxycinnamic acid with a genetically modified Pseudomonas , wherein:

the Pseudomonas comprises a deletion of a gene encoding a cell membrane protein,

the modification increases the uptake of the hydroxycinnamic acid compared to a non-genetically modified Pseudomonas , and

the deleted gene encodes for the expression of protein PP_3350.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2025
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073993/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2023
From: FEIST, ADAM; MOHAMED, ELSAYED THARWAT TOLBA
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 063328/0503 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2022
From: JACOBSON, DANIEL A.; PRATES, ERICA TEIXEIRA
To: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
Reel/Frame 061335/0361 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Dec 13, 2021
From: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
To: U. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 058369/0255 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 26, 2021
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 056041/0422 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: BECKHAM, GREGG TYLER; JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER W.; SALVACHUA RODRIGUEZ, DAVINIA; ZIMONT WERNER, ALLISON JEAN
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 055521/0047 →