Cargill Inc.

Catherine B Poor

Hans H Liao

Steffen Schaffer

Ana Negrete-Raymond

Eileen Spindler

Erin Kathleen Marasco

Wendy Kathleen Ribble

Michael Tai Man Louie

Tanya Lipscomb

Travis Robert Wolter

Liv Reinecke

Katrin Grammann

Jan Wolter

Ronald J Evans

Brittany Robinson

Brittany Prather

Dave A Hogsett

David A Hogsett

Brittany L Prather

Tanya Warnecke Lipscomb

Eileen C Spindler

Genes encoding mutant 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthases are introduced into host cells. Certain of the mutants enhance the production of shorter-chain fatty acids and derivatives by the cell than do the wild-type (unmutated) enzymes. In other cases, the chain length is not significantly affected, but productivity is enhanced. In specific cases, both a shift toward lower chain length and higher productivity is seen. Cells producing the mutant 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthases are especially suitable for producing C6-C10 fatty acids and derivatives.

Genetically modified cells that produce C6-C10 fatty acid derivatives

A microbial cell is used for producing at least one fatty acid ester, wherein the cell is genetically modified to contain (i) at least one first genetic mutation that enables the cell to produce at least one fatty acid and/or acyl coenzyme A (CoA) thereof by increased enzymatic activity in the cell relative to the wild type cell of malonyl-CoA dependent and malonyl-ACP independent fatty acyl-CoA metabolic pathway, wherein the fatty acid contains at least 5 carbon atoms; and (ii) a second genetic mutation that increases the activity of at least one wax ester synthase in the cell relative to the wild type cell and the wax ester synthase has sequence identity of at least 50% to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1-8 and combinations thereof or to a functional fragment of any of the polypeptides for catalyzing the conversion of fatty acid and/or acyl coenzyme A thereof to the fatty acid ester.

Production of fatty acids esters

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Catherine B Poor