IP Library Granted Patent US 8,697,421
Granted Patent B2
US 8,697,421 · App. 13/615,168 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Methods and organisms for utilizing synthesis gas or other gaseous carbon sources and methanol

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,697,421
App. No.
13/615,168
Granted
Apr 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an acetyl-CoA pathway and the capability of utilizing syngas or syngas and methanol. In one embodiment, the invention provides a non-naturally occurring microorganism, comprising one or more exogenous proteins conferring to the microorganism a pathway to convert CO, CO 2 and/or H 2 to acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), methyl tetrahydrofolate (methyl-THF) or other desired products, wherein the microorganism lacks the ability to convert CO or CO 2 and H 2 to acetyl-CoA or methyl-THF in the absence of the one or more exogenous proteins. The invention additionally provides a method for producing acetyl-CoA, for example, by culturing an acetyl-CoA producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acetyl-CoA pathway enzyme or protein in a sufficient amount to produce acetyl-CoA, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce acetyl-CoA.

Claims (20)

1. A non-naturally occurring microbial organism, comprising exogenous proteins conferring to said microorganism a pathway to convert methanol and CO 2 , CO or H 2 , or a combination thereof, to acetyl-CoA, said pathway comprising methanol-methyltransferase activity comprising methanol methyltransferase, corrinoid protein, and methyltetrahydrofolate:corrinoid protein methyltransferase; and acetyl-CoA synthase/carbon monoxide dehydrogenase activity comprising methyltetrahydrofolate:corrinoid protein methyltransferase, corrinoid iron-sulfur protein, nickel-protein assembly protein, ferredoxin, acetyl-CoA synthase, and carbon monoxide dehydrogenase.

2. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism is in a substantially anaerobic culture medium.

3. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase.

4. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises hydrogenase.

5. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase and hydrogenase.

6. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 2 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase.

7. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 2 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises hydrogenase.

8. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 2 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase and hydrogenase.

9. A method for producing acetyl-CoA, comprising culturing the non-naturally occurring microbial organism of claim 1 under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce acetyl-CoA.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises hydrogenase.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism is cultured in the presence of nitrate.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase and hydrogenase.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises hydrogenase.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase and hydrogenase.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism is in a substantially anaerobic culture medium.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises hydrogenase.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism further comprises pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase and hydrogenase.

Assignments (3)
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 →