University of Kentucky Research Foundation

Joe Chappell

Shigeru Okada

Shuiqin Wu

Tom D Niehaus

Xun Zhuang

David S Watt

Thomas D Niehaus

Timothy P Devarenne

Tim Devarenne

Michel Schalk

Wu Shuiqin

Athony Clark

Brian Greenhagen

Kristin Linscott

Anthony Clark

A method is provided for producing modified mutant yeast and the resulting yeast that can be used as a platform for terpene production. The method includes chemical mutagenesis to effect ergosterol dependent growth in yeast. Subsequently, these yeast are subjected to an erg9 knockout mutation to thereby produce ergosterol dependent growth/erg9 knockout mutation yeast cell lines. The resulting yeast are well suited for use in the production of terpenes.

Method and system for terpene production platforms in yeast

A system and method is provided for producing linear and branched hydrocarbons and in particular triterpenes in plant cells. The system and method includes a transformed plant cell with an isolated nucleic acid encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) and with an isolated nucleic acid encoding a triterpene synthase.

Systems and methods for the production of linear and branched-chain hydrocarbons

A method is provided for modifying yeast to express mutant avian farnesyl disphospate synthase and the resulting modified yeast. The yeast advantageously includes additional mutants including but not limited to having ergosterol dependent growth and being erg-. The modified yeast are beneficial for the production of various terpenes including diterpenes.

Method and System for diterpene production platforms in yeast

A compound is provided which comprises at least a portion of an amino acid linker-domain from squalene synthase. In alternative forms, the compound can include the amino-acid linker-domain from various fungus, includingor the compound can be the functional equivalent and/or mimics an amino acid linker-domain from squalene synthase. A pharmaceutical composition includes the compound and may further include a pharmaceutical carrier. A method is provided for treating or controlling cholesterol metabolism and ergosterol metabolism in non-fungal organisms. One method includes a therapeutic treatment in humans by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound or pharmaceutical composition, to a patient in need of treatment, therefrom.

Compounds and method of use as anti-infection compounds and therapeutic agents to regulate cholesterol metabolism

A method and system are provided for the production of triterpene including methylated triterpenes. The method and system include isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding triterpene methyltransferases such as triterpene methyltransferases 1, 2, 3. Advantageously, the method and system includes transgenic plant cells via an expression vector for triterpene methyltransferase and optionally various triterpene synthase and prenyltransferase all with tags directing these enzymes to the chloroplast of the transgenic plant cells for using the chloroplast methyl erythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in the triterpene biogenesis.

Method and system for producing triterpenes

This application relates to the polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, vectors, transfected cells, and methods for synthesis of triterpenes, including botryococcene.

Polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, and methods for synthesis of triterpenes

This application relates to the functional identification and characterization of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a triterpene synthase, in particular botryococcene synthase. Also described are host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules of this invention, proteins encoded by the nucleic acid molecules and methods for using the nucleic acid molecules, transformed hosts and encoded proteins to produce high levels of triterpene hydrocarbons.

[object Object]

The present invention relates to transformed plants with an altered terpene content, preferably over-accumulating a mono- or sesqui-terpene. By transformation of plants with genes encoding terpene synthases (TS), and prenyl transferases (PRT), plants accumulating at least 1000 ng/per g of fresh leaf of a specific terpene were obtained. The present invention provides an advantageous system for production of terpenes in that any desired mono- or sesqui-terpene at the choice of the skilled person can be produced in plants. Preferably, the transformed plants contain at least one recombinant plastid targeted TS and PRT.

Transformed plants accumulating terpenes

The invention relates to sesquiterpene synthases and methods for their production and use. Particularly, the invention provides nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence of citrus valencene synthase (CVS) which codes for at least one CVS. The invention further provides nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence coding for amino acid residues forming the tier 1 and tier 2 domains of CVS. The invention also provides for methods of making and using the nucleic acids and amino acids of the current invention.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Joe Chappell