University of California

Other

The Texas A&m University System

Food Industry Research and Development Institute

Industrial Technology Research Institute

University of Washington

James Liao

Kwang Myung Cho

Shota Atsumi

Kechun Zhang

Igor Bogorad

Anthony F Cann

Yajun Yan

Kevin M Smith

Michael R Connor

Roa Pu Claire Shen

David Baker

James Michael Thompson

Justin Bloomfield Siegel

Chih-Ming Ho

Pei-Ching Chang

Wai Shun Mak

Stephen Tran

Ryan Marcheschi

Yixin Huo

Steve Bertolani

Yitong Zhao

2-ketoacid decarboxylase enzymes, compositions encoding for 2 ketoacid decarboxylase enzymes, and host cells comprising such enzymes or compositions are provided.

Discovery of enzymes from the alpha-keto acid decarboxylase family

Provided are microorganisms that catalyze the synthesis of chemicals and biochemicals from a methanol, methane and/or formaldehyde. Also provided are methods of generating such organisms and methods of synthesizing chemicals and biochemicals using such organisms.

Recombinant microorganisms having a methanol elongation cycle (MEC)

The present invention is directed to methods, compositions, and systems for the production of fatty acids (FAs). Specifically, the disclosed methods, compositions, and systems incorporate algal cell lysates, providing a cell-free environment that generates high levels of FAs for extended periods of time with the addition of liquid media and a carbon source.

Fatty acid production in cell-free systems

Provided herein are metabolically-modified microorganisms useful for producing biofuels. More specifically, provided herein are methods of producing high alcohols including isobutanol, 1-butanol, 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-phenylethanol from a suitable substrate.

Biofuel production by recombinant microorganisms

Healthcare costs are a significant worldwide, with many patients being denied medications because of their high prices. One approach to addressing this problem involves the biosynthesis of chiral drug intermediates, an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to generate pharmaceuticals at much lower costs than conventional techniques. In this context, embodiments of the invention comprise methods and materials designed to allow microorganisms to biosynthesize the nonnatural amino acid L-homoalanine. As is known in the art, L-homoalanine is a chiral precursor of a variety of pharmaceutically valuable compounds including the anticonvulsant medications levetiracetam (sold under the trade name Keppra&#xae;) and brivaracetam, as well as ethambutol, a bacteriostatic antimycobacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis. Consequently, embodiments of the invention can be used in low cost, environmentally friendly processes to generate these and other valuable compounds.

Composition and methods for the production of L-homoalanine

The disclosure provides a process that converts COto higher alcohols (e.g. isobutanol) using electricity as the energy source. This process stores electricity (e.g. from solar energy, nuclear energy, and the like) in liquid fuels that can be used as high octane number gasoline substitutes. Instead of deriving reducing power from photosynthesis, this process derives reducing power from electrically generated mediators, either Hor formate. Hcan be derived from electrolysis of water. Formate can be generated by electrochemical reduction of CO. After delivering the reducing power in the cell, formate becomes COand recycles back. Therefore, the biological COfixation process can occur in the dark.

Electro-autotrophic synthesis of higher alcohols

Provided herein are metabolically modified microorganisms characterized by having an increased keto-acid flux when compared with the wild-type organism and comprising at least one polynucleotide encoding an enzyme that when expressed results in the production of a greater quantity of a chemical product when compared with the wild-type organism. The recombinant microorganisms are useful for producing a large number of chemical compositions from various nitrogen containing biomass compositions and other carbon sources. More specifically, provided herein are methods of producing alcohols, acetaldehyde, acetate, isobutyraldehyde, isobutyric acid, n-butyraldehyde, n-butyric acid, 2-methyl-1-butyraldehyde, 2-methyl-1-butyric acid, 3-methyl-1-butyraldehyde, 3-methyl-1-butyric acid, ammonia, ammonium, amino acids, 2,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol, 2-methyl-1,4-butanediamine, isobutene, itaconate, acetoin, acetone, isobutene, 1,5-diaminopentane, L-lactic acid, D-lactic acid, shikimic acid, mevalonate, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), isoprenoids, fatty acids, homoalanine, 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA), succinic acid, malic acid, citric acid, adipic acid, p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid, tetrahydrofuran, 3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, gamma-butyrolactone, pyrrolidinone, n-methylpyrrolidone, aspartic acid, lysine, cadeverine, 2-ketoadipic acid, and/or S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) from a suitable nitrogen rich biomass.

Biofuel and chemical production by recombinant microorganisms via fermentation of proteinaceous biomass

Provided herein are metabolically-modified microorganisms useful for producing 1,4-butanediol.

Production of 1,4-butanediol by recombinant microorganisms

Provided herein are metabolically-modified microorganisms useful for producing biofuels. More specifically, provided herein are methods of producing high alcohols including isobutanol, 1-butanol, 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 2-phenylethanol from a suitable substrate and a recombinant acetolactate synthase having both synthase and decarboxylase activity.

Acetolactate synthase having 2-ketoisovalerate decarboxylase activity and uses thereof

Compositions and methods for the production of L-homoalanine

The invention provides recombinant microorganisms capable of producing isobutyraldehyde using COas a carbon source. The invention further provides methods of preparing and using such microorganisms to produce isobutyraldehyde.

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

James Liao