IP Library Granted Patent US 12,221,644
Granted Patent B2
US 12,221,644 · App. 17/271,439 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Production of non-native monounsaturated fatty acids in bacteria

Inventors: Andreas W. Schirmer (South San Francisco, CA); Katherine Ann Murphy (South San Francisco, CA); Erin Frances Perry (South San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
C12P7/6481C12N9/0006C12N9/0008C12N9/001C12N9/1029C12N9/16C12N9/88C12P7/6418C12Y101/03013C12Y102/01003C12Y103/01038C12Y203/01041C12Y402/01059
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,221,644
App. No.
17/271,439
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to the field of specialty chemicals and methods for their synthesis. In embodiments, the disclosure provides viable bacterial cells which comprise heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerases, etc. The disclosure further provides monounsaturated fatty acid derivative molecules produced by the viable bacterial cells which are non-native to the bacterial cells. The disclosure further provides methods for the preparation and production of non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative molecules such as e.g., an ω3-monounsaturated fatty acid derivative, an ω5-monounsaturated fatty acid derivative, an ω9-monounsaturated fatty acid derivative, an ω11-monounsaturated fatty acid fatty acid derivative, etc.

Claims (35)

1. A viable recombinant bacterium comprising a heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase, wherein:

the viable recombinant bacterium produces a non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative when cultured;

the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative has a double bond in a position characteristic of the heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase;

the viable recombinant bacterium is a bacterium of taxonomic classification: Class gamma-proteobacteria;

the heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase is derived from a bacterium of taxonomic classification: Class gamma-proteobacteria;

the heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase is a Fab A homolog or a FabA-type dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase; and

the heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase replaces the native dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase.

2. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , further comprising a heterologous thioesterase.

3. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative comprises at least 30% of total monounsaturated fatty acid derivatives.

4. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the viable recombinant bacterium comprises non-native monounsaturated acyl-thioesters.

5. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the viable recombinant bacterium further comprises a heterologous 3-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase (FabZ).

6. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 5 , further comprising a heterologous β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (FabB).

7. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 5 , further comprising a heterologous trans-2-enoyl-ACP reductase.

8. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 5 , further comprising a heterologous thioesterase and a heterologous omega-hydroxylase.

9. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein:

the viable recombinant bacterium produces omega-hydroxy (ω-hydroxy) fatty acid derivatives when cultured; and

the ω-hydroxy fatty acid derivatives comprise non-native monounsaturated ω-hydroxy fatty acid derivatives.

10. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 9 , further comprising an alcohol dehydrogenase, an alcohol oxidase, or an aldehyde dehydrogenase, wherein the viable recombinant bacterium produces non-native monounsaturated fatty diacids when cultured.

11. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the viable recombinant bacterium is a viable recombinant E. coli.

12. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase is homologous to the FabA protein of E. coli.

13. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 12 , wherein the heterologous dual 3-hydroxy-acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase that is homologous to the FabA protein of E. coli is a FabA protein from a Marinobacter species.

14. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 13 , wherein the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative has the double bond in the omega-9 (ω-9) position.

15. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 14 , wherein the viable recombinant bacterium further comprises a heterologous 3-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase (FabZ) from a Marinobacter species and a heterologous thioesterase, and wherein the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative with the double bond in the ω-9 position comprises greater than 50% of the total monounsaturated fatty acid derivatives.

16. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative has the double bond in the omega-3 (ω-3) position, omega-4 (ω-4) position, omega-5 (ω-5) position, omega-6 (ω-6) position, omega-8 (ω-8) position, omega-9 (ω-9) position, omega-10 (ω-10) position, omega-11 (ω-11) position, or omega-12 (ω-12) position.

17. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 5 , further comprising:

a thioesterase, a carboxylic acid reductase, and an alcohol dehydrogenase; or

an acyl-ACP reductase and an alcohol dehydrogenase; or

an acyl-CoA synthetase, an acyl-CoA reductase, and an alcohol dehydrogenase;

wherein the viable recombinant bacterium produces a non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative that is a fatty alcohol when cultured.

18. The viable recombinant bacterium of claim 17 , wherein the non-native monounsaturated fatty alcohol has a double bond in the omega-5 (ω-5) position.

19. A method for producing a non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative, the method comprising culturing the viable recombinant bacterium of claim 1 , and optionally isolating the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

the viable recombinant bacterium further comprises a heterologous 3-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase;

the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative is a fatty acid, a fatty ester, a fatty alcohol acetate ester, a fatty alcohol, a fatty aldehyde, a fatty amine, an omega-hydroxy fatty acid, a bifunctional fatty acid derivative, a 3-hydroxy fatty acid derivative, a hydrocarbon, a ketone, a terminal olefin, or an internal olefin; and

the non-native monounsaturated fatty acid derivative has a double bond in the omega-3 (ω-3) position, omega-4 (ω-4) position, omega-5 (ω-5) position, omega-6 (ω-6) position, omega-8 (ω-8) position, omega-9 (ω-9) position, omega-10 (ω-10) position, omega-11 (ω-11) position, or omega-12 (ω-12) position.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2021
From: SCHIRMER, ANDREAS W.; MURPHY, KATHERINE ANN; PERRY, ERIN FRANCES
To: GENOMATICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 055757/0582 →