Ut-Battelle, Inc.

Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Dartmouth College

Triad National Security, LLC

Enchi Corporation

Adam Michael Guss

Gregg Tyler Beckham

Christopher W Johnson

Joshua R Elmore

Thelhawadigedara Lahiru Niroshan Jayakody

Isabel Pardo Mendoza

Jay D Huenemann

Thomas David Mand

Lauren A Riley

Nicky Caiazza

Arthur J Shaw, Iv

Johannes Pieter Van Dijken

Lee R Lynd

Janet Westpheling

Ramesh K Jha

Daniel G Olson

Shihui Yang

Christopher D Herring

D Aaron Argyros

Steven D Brown

Allison Jean Zimont Werner

Taraka Dale

Xiongjun Shao

Thomas Rydzak

Jonathan Lo

Tatiana Karpinets

Peter Corbin St John

Davinia Salvachua Rodriguez

Gayle Joann Bentley

George Lee Peabody, V

Davinia Salvachua

Niju Narayanan

Disclosed herein are engineeredKT2440 co-expressing PETase and MHETase enzymes that selectively degrades PET into monomers, ethylene glycol and terephthalate (TPA). In another embodiment, disclosed herein are methods for making and using a highly efficient EG metabolizingKT2440 strain. Given that nativedoes not have a TPA metabolic pathway, nor the proteins to transport TPA into the cell, the next metabolic engineering challenge for developing syntheticstrain to plastic upcycling was enabling TPA catabolisminKT2440. TPA transporters and catabolic pathway have been characterized in several microorganisms includingsp. strain E6 andRHA1.

Engineered microorganisms for the deconstruction of polymers

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for catalytic glycolysis to deconstruct PET to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET). For BHET conversion to terephthalate and ethylene glycol, we engineerKT2440 with PETase and MHETase enzymes from. We further engineerto convert terephthalate to a performance-advantaged bioproduct, β-ketoadipic acid, and for improved utilization of ethylene glycol, a byproduct of BHET catabolism. In a bioreactor, we produce 15.1±0.6 g/L of β-ketoadipic acid (βKA) from BHET at 76±3% molar yield. Lastly, we demonstrate conversion of catalytically depolymerized PET to βKA. Overall, this work highlights the potential of tandem catalytic deconstruction and biological conversion as a means to upcycle waste PET.

This disclosure describes recombinantmicrobes designed to include increased consumption of acetate, increased carbon flux to butyryl-CoA and/or hexanoyl-CoA, increased production of butyrate and/or hexanoate, or a combination thereof, than a comparable control. This disclosure also describes methods that generally include growing such recombinant microbes under conditions effective for the recombinant microbes to consume greater amounts of acetate, produce increased amounts of butyryl-CoA and/or hexanoyl-CoA, produce increased amounts of butyrate and/or hexanoate, or a combination thereof.

Microbial approach for the production of long chain compounds

The present disclosure relates to a non-naturally occurring microorganism that includes an endogenous genetic deletion that eliminates the expression of at least a pyruvate kinase, where the genetically modified prokaryotic microorganism is capable of producing 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate.

Engineered microorganisms for the production of intermediates and final products

This disclosure provides a genetically-modified bacterium from the genusthat comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase that produces butanol as the final product. The disclosure further provides methods for producing butanol using such genetically-modified bacterium.

Genetically-modified bacteria for conversion of organic compounds to butanol and methods of use

This disclosure provides a genetically-modified bacterium from the genusthat comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enoyl-CoA reductase and an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acyl-CoA reductase that produces medium chain length alcohols. The disclosure further provides methods for producing medium chain alcohols using such genetically-modified bacterium. This disclosure provides a renewable, bio-based production platform for valuable mcl-alcohols that have a wide range of industrial applications. Current production of mcl-alcohols typically occurs through the hydrogenation of plant oils and waxes. This process leads to issues of deforestation and is largely unsustainable. Utilizing waste lignin streams as the carbon source provides a more sustainable feedstock that can be generated from plant waste like corn stover. Along with this, the use of lignin avoids competition with food resources as traditional starch and sugar feedstocks.

Engineered microbes for conversion of organic compounds to medium chain length alcohols and methods of use

The present invention provides for the manipulation of cofactor usage in a recombinant host cell to increase the formation of desirable products. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a mutation in one or more native enzymes such that their cofactor specificity is altered in such a way that overall cofactor usage in the cell is balanced for a specified pathway and there is an increase in a specific product formation within the cell. In some embodiments, endogenous enzymes are replaced by enzymes with an alternate cofactor specificity from a different species.

Engineering an increase in ethanol production by altering cofactor specificity

This disclosure provides a genetically-modified bacterium from the genusthat produces itaconate or trans-aconitate. The disclosure further provides methods for producing itaconate or trans-aconitate using a genetically-modified bacterium from the genus

Production of itaconic acid and related molecules from aromatic compounds

The present disclosure is directed to genetically engineered bacteria strains with enhanced biofuel-producing capabilities from cellulosic substrates. The bacteria strains of the present disclosure comprise an inactivated Type I glutamine synthetase gene. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of producing biofuels from cellulosic biomass using the genetically engineered bacteria strains.

Gene modification in clostridium for increased alcohol production

The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode a mutant acetaldehyde-CoA/alcohol dehydrogenase or mutant alcohol dehydrogenase and confer enhanced tolerance to ethanol. The invention also provides related expression vectors, genetically engineered microorganisms having enhanced tolerance to ethanol, as well as methods of making and using such genetically modified microorganisms for production of biofuels based on fermentation of biomass materials.

Nucleic acid molecules conferring enhanced ethanol tolerance and microorganisms having enhanced tolerance to ethanol

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Adam Michael Guss