IP Library Granted Patent US 12,577,591
Granted Patent B2
US 12,577,591 · App. 17/770,233 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Microorganisms and methods for increasing co-factors

Inventors: Harish Nagarajan (San Diego, CA); Gionata Scalcinati (Carlsbad, CA); Tae Hoon Yang (Encinitas, CA)
Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
C12P7/18C12N9/0006C12N9/0008C12N9/0036C12N9/1205C12Y101/01036C12Y102/01009C12Y106/01002C12Y207/01023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,577,591
App. No.
17/770,233
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides microbial organisms having increased availability of co-factors, such as NADPH, for increasing production of various products, including 1,3-BDO, MMA, (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate, amino acids, 3HB-CoA, adipate, caprolactam, 6-ACA, HMD A, or MAA, and products made from any of these. Also provided are one or more exogenous nucleic acids encoding an enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to increase availability of NADPH, where the exogenous nucleic acid includes one or more of ATP-NADH kinase, pntAB, nadK, and gapN. Also provided are one or more gene attenuations occurring in genes, such as NDH-2, that result in an increased ratio of NADPH to NADH. Various combinations of the exogenous nucleic acids and gene deletions are also provided in the present disclosure. The present disclosure also provides methods of making and using the same, including methods for culturing cells, and for the production of the various products.

Claims (52)

1 . A non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an increased availability of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), comprising

(a) two exogenous nucleic acids encoding an NAD(P) transhydrogenase subunit alpha part 2 and an ATP NAD+ kinase expressed in an amount to increase availability of NADPH as compared to the microbial organism without the two exogenous nucleic acids, and

(b) a gene attenuation occurring in a gene encoding a non-proton-translocating NADH dehydrogenase II that results in an increased ratio of NADPH to NADH present in the cytosol of said non-naturally occurring microbial organism following said attenuation,

as compared to the microbial organism without (a) and (b).

2 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , further comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding: (a) an ATP-NADH kinase; or (b) a NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

3 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , further comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an ATP-NADH kinase and a NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

4 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said microbial organism comprises three exogenous nucleic acids, wherein optionally said three exogenous nucleic acids encode: (a) an ATP-NADH kinase, a NAD (P) transhydrogenase subunit alpha part 2 and an ATP NAD+ kinase and an ATP NAD+ kinase; or (b) a NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a NAD (P) transhydrogenase subunit alpha part 2 and an ATP NAD+ kinase.

5 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said microbial organism comprises four exogenous nucleic acids, wherein optionally said four exogenous nucleic acids encode a NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an ATP-NADH kinase, a NAD (P) transhydrogenase subunit alpha part 2 and an ATP NAD+ kinase, and an ATP NAD+ kinase.

6 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said microbial organism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding ATP-NADH kinase, and wherein said ATP-NADH kinase is a variant ATP-NAD+ kinase.

7 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein:

(i) said exogenous nucleic acids are regulated by a promoter selected from the group consisting of an endogenous promoter, a constitutive promoter, and an inducible promoter;

(ii) said microbial organism is a species of bacteria, yeast, or fungus; or

(iii) said non-naturally occurring microbial organism is in a substantially anaerobic culture medium.

8 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said microbial organism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and wherein said NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase: (a) is expressed at a higher level than an endogenous glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A, and optionally a ratio of said NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase to an endogenous glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A plus said NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is at least about 10% to about 90%; (b) increases production of NADPH; (c) is from a methanotrophic bacteria; or (d) is from Bacillus methanolicus.

9 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 8 , wherein endogenous glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A comprises an attenuated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A, and wherein optionally said attenuated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A comprises reduced expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A.

10 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said gene attenuation in the gene encoding non-proton-translocating NADH dehydrogenase II comprises a deletion of non-proton-translocating NADH dehydrogenase II and/or a decrease in NADPH consumption as compared to the microbial organism without said attenuation.

11 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , further comprising a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway, a methyl methacrylate (MMA) pathway, a (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate pathway, an amino acid production pathway, a 3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A (3HB-CoA) pathway, an adipate pathway, a caprolactam pathway, a 6-aminocaproic acid (6-ACA) pathway, a hexametheylenediamine (HMDA) pathway, or a methacrylic acid (MAA) pathway.

12 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises an 1,3-BDO pathway, wherein optionally said 1,3-BDO pathway comprises an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (CoA-dependent, aldehyde forming); a 3-oxobutyraldehyde reductase (ketone reducing); a 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde reductase; an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (CoA-dependent, alcohol forming); a 3-oxobutyraldehyde reductase (aldehyde reducing); a 4-hydroxy, 2-butanone reductase; an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (ketone reducing); a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming); and a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming).

13 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises an (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate pathway, wherein optionally said (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate pathway comprises a (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate ester forming enzyme; a (3R)-hydroxybutyryl-CoA: (R)-1,3-butanediol alcohol transferase; a (3R) hydroxybutyl 3-oxobutyrate ester forming enzyme; an acetoacetyl-CoA: (R)-1,3-butanediol alcohol transferase; a (3R)-hydroxybutyl 3-oxobutyrate reductase; a (3R)-hydroxybutyryl-ACP: (R)-1,3-butanediol ester synthase, and an acetoacetyl-ACP: (R)-1,3-butanediol ester synthase.

14 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises an 1,3-BDO pathway or an (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate pathway, and wherein said microbial organism comprises a nucleic acid encoding an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase.

15 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 14 , wherein said acetoacetyl-CoA reductase is a mutant acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, and wherein optionally said mutant acetoacetyl-CoA reductase uses NADH as a substrate.

16 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises a 3HB-CoA pathway, wherein optionally said 3HB-CoA pathway comprises an acetyl-CoA thiolase, and a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase.

17 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises a first MMA pathway and optionally a second MMA pathway,

wherein said first MMA pathway optionally comprises:

(a) a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase, a crotonase, a 2-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA mutase, a 2-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA dehydratase, and a methacrylic acid (MAA)-CoA: methanol transferase; or

(b) a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase, a crotonase, a 2-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA mutase, a 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA: methanol transferase, and a methyl-2-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydratase, and

wherein said second MMA pathway optionally comprises:

(i) a methacrylic acid (MAA)-CoA: methanol transferase, a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA mutase, and a 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA dehydratase; or

(ii) a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA mutase, a 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA: methanol transferase, and a methyl-3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydratase.

18 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises an amino acid production pathway, wherein optionally said amino acid production pathway comprises a tryptophan production pathway, a threonine production pathway, a lysine production pathway, or a glutamate production pathway.

19 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises a 6-ACA pathway, wherein optionally said 6-ACA pathway comprises a 2-amino-7-oxosubarate keto-acid decarboxylase, a 2-amino-7-oxoheptanoate decarboxylase, a 2-amino-7-oxoheptanoate oxidoreductase, a 2-aminopimelate decarboxylase, a 6-aminohexanal oxidoreductase, a 2-amino-7-oxoheptanoate decarboxylase, or a 2-amino-7-oxosubarate amino acid decarboxylase.

20 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises a caprolactam pathway, wherein optionally said caprolactam pathway comprises a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase, a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA reductase, a 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA dehydratase, a 5-carboxy-2-pentenoyl-CoA reductase, an adipyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), a 6-aminocaproate transaminase, a 6-aminocaproate dehydrogenase, a 6-aminocaproyl-CoA/acyl-CoA transferase, and a 6-aminocaproyl-CoA synthase.

21 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises an adipate pathway, wherein optionally said adipate pathway comprises a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase, a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA reductase, a 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA dehydratase, a 5-carboxy-2-pentenoyl-CoA reductase, an adipyl-CoA hydrolase, an adipyl-CoA ligase, an adipyl-CoA transferase and a phosphotransadipylase/adipate kinase.

22 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises a hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) pathway, wherein optionally said HMDA pathway comprise a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase, a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA reductase, a 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA dehydratase, a 5-carboxy-2-pentenoyl-CoA reductase, an adipyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), a 6-aminocaproate transaminase, a 6-aminocaproate dehydrogenase, a 6-aminocaproyl-CoA/acyl-CoA transferase, a 6-aminocaproyl-CoA synthase, a 6-aminocaproyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), a HMDA transaminase, and a HMDA dehydrogenase.

23 . The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 11 , wherein said microbial organism comprises a MAA pathway, wherein optionally said MAA pathway comprises:

(a) (i) a succinyl-CoA transferase, ligase, or synthetase;

(ii) a methylmalonyl-CoA mutase;

(iii) a methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase;

(iv) a methylmalonyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming);

(v) a methylmalonate semialdehyde reductase; and

(vi) a 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydratase;

(b) (i) a succinyl-CoA transferase, ligase, or synthetase;

(ii) a methylmalonyl-CoA mutase;

(iii) a methylmalonyl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming);

(iv) a methylmalonate semialdehyde reductase; and

(v) a 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydratase; or

(c) (i) a succinyl-CoA transferase, ligase, or synthetase;

(ii) a methylmalonyl-CoA mutase;

(iii) a methylmalonyl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming); and

(iv) a 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydratase.

24 . A method for increasing the availability of NADPH in a non-naturally occurring microbial organism, comprising culturing the non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to increase the availability of NADPH.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein increasing the availability of NADPH yields an increase in one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 1,3-BDO, MMA, (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate, amino acids, 3HB-CoA, adipate, caprolactam, 6-ACA, HMDA, and MAA.

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 Nov 17, 2022
From: NAGARAJAN, HARISH; SCALCINATI, GIONATA; YANG, TAE HOON
To: GENOMATICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 061816/0537 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62925150 · Oct 23, 2019
Related Publication 20220403420A1 · Dec 22, 2022
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