IP Library Granted Patent US 12,371,727
Granted Patent B2
US 12,371,727 · App. 18/338,958 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Microorganisms and methods for the continuous co-production of tandem repeat proteins and chemical products from C1-substrates

Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson (Evanston, IL); Michael Koepke (Chicago, IL); James MacAllister Clomburg (Chicago, IL); Juniper Dee Gramling (Skokie, IL); Stephanie Rhianon Jones (Evanston, IL); Jaeyoung Jung (San Francisco, CA); Timothy James Politano (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
C12P21/00C07K14/43504C07K14/43568C07K14/43586C12P5/026C12P7/065
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,371,727
App. No.
18/338,958
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Microorganisms are genetically engineered to continuously co-produce amino acids, proteins, microbial biomass, chemicals, or any combination thereof by microbial fermentation, particularly by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate. The microorganisms are C1-fixing. The production of ethylene, microbial biomass, and heterologous tandem repeat proteins can be improved. This can be effected by improved promoters or nutrient limiting means.

Claims (13)

1. A genetically engineered microorganism capable of co-producing at least one heterologous protein, at least one chemical product, and microbial biomass from a gaseous substrate through a gas fermentation process, wherein the at least one heterologous protein is squid ring teeth (SRT) protein having at least 85% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the following SEQ ID No: 1, SEQ ID. No: 2, and SEQ ID No: 3, and wherein the microorganism is selected from Clostridium and Cupriavidus bacteria.

2. The genetically engineered microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the at least one chemical product is ethylene.

3. The genetically engineered microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the at least one chemical product is terpenes.

4. The genetically engineered microorganism of claim 1 , further comprising a disruptive mutation in one or more genes.

5. A method of co-producing at least one heterologous protein having one or more tandem repeats and at least one chemical product by culturing the genetically engineered microorganism of claim 1 in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising one or more of CO, CO 2 , and H 2 , wherein the culturing is a continuous fermentation process.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the gaseous substrate comprises a C1-carbon source comprising one or more of CO, CO 2 , and H 2 .

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the gaseous substrate comprises syngas or industrial waste gas.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the chemical product is one or more of ethylene, ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, or any combination thereof.

9. The microbial biomass of claim 1 , further comprising at least one excipient.

10. The microbial biomass of claim 9 , wherein the microbial biomass is suitable as animal feed.

11. The microbial biomass of claim 10 , wherein the animal feed is suitable for feeding to one or more of beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, mules, donkeys, deer, buffalo/bison, llamas, alpacas, reindeer, camels, bantengs, gayals, yaks, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, guinea fowl, squabs/pigeons, fish, shrimp, crustaceans, cats, dogs, and rodents.

12. The genetically engineered microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is suitable as a single cell protein (SCP).

13. The genetically engineered microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is suitable as a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2023
From: SIMPSON, SEAN DENNIS; KOEPKE, MICHAEL; CLOMBURG, JAMES MACALLISTER; GRAMLING, JUNIPER DEE; JONES, STEPHANIE RHIANON; JUNG, JAEYOUNG; POLITANO, TIMOTHY JAMES
To: LANZATECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 064302/0601 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63366756 · Jun 21, 2022
Related Publication 20230407362A1 · Dec 21, 2023
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