IP Library Granted Patent US 8,288,147
Granted Patent B2
US 8,288,147 · App. 13/027,517 · Granted Oct 16, 2012

Host cells for production of isoprenoid compounds

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,288,147
App. No.
13/027,517
Granted
Oct 16, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.

Claims (48)

1. A transformed host cell that synthesizes an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor via a mevalonate pathway,

wherein the transformed host cell is a prokaryote that does not normally synthesize isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) through the mevalonate pathway, wherein the transformed host cell comprises one or more nucleic acids heterologous to the host cell, wherein the one or more heterologous nucleic acids comprises nucleotide sequences that encode mevalonate pathway enzymes comprising:

(a) an enzyme that condenses two molecules of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA as the first step in the synthesis of the isoprenoid or isoprenoid precursor;

(b) an enzyme that condenses acetoacetyl-CoA with acetyl-CoA to form 3 hydroxy 3 methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA);

(c) an enzyme that converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate;

(d) an enzyme that phosphorylates mevalonate to mevalonate 5-phosphate;

(e) an enzyme that converts mevalonate 5-phosphate to mevalonate 5-pyrophosphate; and

(f) an enzyme that converts mevalonate 5-pyrophosphate to isopentenyl pyrophosphate,

wherein culturing of said transformed host cell in a suitable medium provides for synthesis of the isoprenoid or isoprenoid precursor in a recoverable amount of at least about 5 mg/L.

2. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heterologous nucleic acids is integrated into the chromosome of the host cell.

3. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heterologous nucleic acids is contained in at least one extrachromosomal expression vector.

4. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heterologous nucleic acids is present in a single expression vector.

5. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein said nucleotide sequences are present in two or more operons.

6. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein the transformed host cell overproduces the isoprenoid or isoprenoid precursor by at least about 5 fold as compared to a control host cell that is not transformed with the one or more heterologous nucleic acids.

7. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein the transformed host cell further comprises a heterologous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence coding isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase.

8. The transformed host cell of claim 7 , wherein the isoprenoid precursor is IPP, and wherein the IPP is further modified enzymatically by the action of the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase to generate dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP).

9. The transformed host cell of claim 8 , wherein the transformed host cell further comprises a heterologous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more polyprenyl pyrophosphate synthases.

10. The transformed host cell of claim 9 , wherein the DMAPP is further modified enzymatically with the one or more polyprenyl pyrophosphate synthases to provide an isoprenoid.

11. The transformed host cell of claim 10 , wherein the isoprenoid is a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a diterpene, a triterpene, a tetraterpene, or a steroid.

12. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein the transformed host cell is of a genus selected from Escherichia, Enterobacter, Azotobacter, Erwinia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, Rhizobia, Vitreoscilla, and Paracoccus.

13. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein said transformed host cell also synthesizes IPP via a deoxyxylulose-5 phosphate (DXP) pathway.

14. The transformed host cell of claim 1 , wherein said transformed host cell comprises an inactivated deoxyxylulose-5 phosphate (DXP) pathway.

15. A transformed Escherichia coli host cell that synthesizes an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor via a mevalonate pathway,

wherein the transformed host cell is a prokaryote that does not normally synthesize isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) through the mevalonate pathway, wherein the transformed host cell comprises one or more nucleic acids heterologous to the host cell, wherein the one or more heterologous nucleic acids comprises nucleotide sequences that encode mevalonate pathway enzymes comprising:

(a) an enzyme that condenses two molecules of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA as the first step in the synthesis of the isoprenoid or isoprenoid precursor;

(b) an enzyme that condenses acetoacetyl-CoA with acetyl-CoA to form 3 hydroxy 3 methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA);

(c) an enzyme that converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate;

(d) an enzyme that phosphorylates mevalonate to mevalonate 5-phosphate;

(e) an enzyme that converts mevalonate 5-phosphate to mevalonate 5-pyrophosphate; and

(f) an enzyme that converts mevalonate 5-pyrophosphate to isopentenyl pyrophosphate,

wherein culturing of said transformed host cell in a suitable medium provides for synthesis of the isoprenoid or isoprenoid precursor in a recoverable amount of at least about 5 mg/L.

16. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein said transformed host cell comprises an inactivated deoxyxylulose-5 phosphate (DXP) pathway.

17. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the transformed host cell further comprises a heterologous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence coding isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase.

18. The transformed host cell of claim 17 , wherein the isoprenoid precursor is IPP, and wherein the IPP is further modified enzymatically by the action of the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase to generate dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP).

19. The transformed host cell of claim 18 , wherein the transformed host cell further comprises a heterologous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more polyprenyl pyrophosphate synthases.

20. The transformed host cell of claim 19 , wherein the DMAPP is further modified enzymatically with the one or more polyprenyl pyrophosphate synthases to provide an isoprenoid.

21. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is a monoterpene.

22. The transformed host cell of claim 21 , wherein the monoterpene is selected from limonene, citranellol, and geraniol.

23. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is a sesquiterpene.

24. The transformed host cell of claim 23 , wherein the sesquiterpene is selected from periplanone B, artemisinin, ginkgolide B, forskolin, and farnesol.

25. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is a diterpene.

26. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the diterpene is selected from casbene and paclitaxel.

27. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is a triterpene.

28. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is a tetraterpene.

29. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is a steroid.

30. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is lycopene.

31. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is casbene.

32. The transformed host cell of claim 15 , wherein the isoprenoid is amorphadiene.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2023
From: NAXYRIS S.A.
To: AMYRIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062760/0753 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2019
From: STEGODON CORPORATION
To: AMYRIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050206/0606 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2019
From: AMYRIS, INC.
To: NAXYRIS S.A.
Reel/Frame 050081/0106 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: HERCULES CAPITAL INC.
To: STEGODON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039048/0251 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2016
From: AMYRIS, INC.
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 038878/0381 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2014
From: MAXWELL (MAURITIUS) PTE LTD
To: AMYRIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032578/0357 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2014
From: TOTAL ENERGIES NOUVELLES ACTIVITES USA, SAS (F/K/A TOTAL GAS & POWER USA, SAS)
To: AMYRIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032554/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2014
From: TOTAL ENERGIES NOUVELLES ACTIVITIES USA, SAS (F/K/A TOTAL GAS & POWER USA, SAS)
To: AMYRIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032551/0828 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2013
From: AMYRIS, INC.
To: TOTAL ENERGIES NOUVELLES ACTIVITES USA
Reel/Frame 031607/0314 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2013
From: AMYRIS, INC.
To: MAXWELL (MAURITIUS) PTE LTD
Reel/Frame 031478/0933 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 9, 2013
From: AMYRIS, INC.
To: TOTAL GAS & POWER USA, SAS
Reel/Frame 030389/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2011
From: KEASLING, JAY; MARTIN, VINCENT; PITERA, DOUGLAS; KIM, SEON-WON; WITHERS II, SYDNOR T.; YOSHIKUNI, YASUO; NEWMAN, JACK; KHLEBNIKOV, ARTEM VALENTINOVICH
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Reel/Frame 026601/0877 →