Lanzatech New Zealand Limited

Alexander Paul Mueller

Michael Koepke

Shilpa Nagaraju

Christophe Daniel Mihalcea

Loan Phuong Tran

Rasmus Overgaard Jensen

Ryan Edward Hill

James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff

Kathleen Frances Smart

Michael James Harry Mawdsley

David Jeffrey Fraser Walker

Michael Kopke

Darmawi Juminaga

The invention provides a recombinant, carboxydotrophicbacterium that expresses one or more of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (EC 1.2.7.1), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), and acetolactate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.5). The invention further provides a method of producing a fermentation product by fermenting the recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising CO to produce one or more of ethanol, butanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, higher alcohols, butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, succinate, isoprenoids, fatty acids, biopolymers, and mixtures thereof.

Recombinant microorganisms exhibiting increased flux through a fermentation pathway

The invention relates to a genetically engineered bacterium having an enzyme that converts acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA, an enzyme that converts acetoacetyl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyrate. The bacterium may also have enzymes to produce other downstream products, such as 3-hydroxybutyryaldehyde, and 1,3-butanediol. Typically, the bacterium is capable of producing these products from a gaseous substrate, such as syngas or an industrial waste gas.

Genetically engineered bacterium for the production of 3-hydroxybutyrate

Carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganisms do not produce MEK and/or 2-butanol. They lack the biosynthesis pathways to make these products. In addition, they produce the intermediate (R,R)-2,3-butanediol whereas the production of MEK and 2-butanol requires production of the intermediate (R,S)-2,3-butanediol. Nonetheless, the production of MEK and/or 2-butanol can be accomplished using recombinant microorganisms adapted to express or overexpress key enzymes in the MEK and/or 2-butanol biosynthesis pathways. Such microorganisms, such as the carboxydotrophic acetogen, can ferment substrates comprising CO. The overall scheme involves the production of 2-butanol from (R,S)-2,3-butanediol and the conversion of (R)-acetoin to (S)-2,3-butanediol. These steps are involved in the production of both MEK and 2-butanol. Such fermentation methods offer a means of using carbon monoxide from industrial processes which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and pollute the environment.

Recombinant microorganisms and uses therefor

A methods for altering the metabolite profile of a fermentation, by increasing flux through acetolactate. The methods comprises increasing production of one or more products derived from acetolactate. Further provided is a method for increasing the production of 2,3-butandiol by microbial fermentation of gaseous substrates, the method comprising providing a compound which inhibits one or more enzymes which convert acetolactate to branched chain amino acids to the fermentation. The present invention further provides methods for increasing the production of 2,3-butandiol relative to other fermentation products such as ethanol and acetic acid.

Fermentation process

The present provides selection markers, methods, nucleic acids, and vectors of use in the preparation of recombinantspp.

Recombinant microorganisms and methods of use thereof

The invention provides a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism with increased overall utilization of NADPH relative to a parent microorganism. Further, the invention provides a method of producing a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism which exhibits increased NADPH utilization relative to a parental microorganism. In particular, the invention relates to increasing the overall utilization of NADPH in a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism in order to increase the production of at least one fermentation product by the microorganism.

Recombinant microorganisms comprising NADPH dependent enzymes and methods of production therefor

A stereospecific enzyme inpermits the conversion of racemic propanediol to acetone and/or propionaldehyde. Entantiomeric starting materials lead to different products. If desired, the products may be reduced to form alcohols. The reaction can be performed in various host cells, so that various materials may be used as carbon and/or energy sources.

Growing community of inventors

Auckland, New Zealand

Alexander Paul Mueller