Roche Vitamins Inc.

Dsm Assets B.v.

Noribumi Tomiyama

Tatsuo Hoshino

Masako Shinjoh

Setsuko Ojima

Akira Asakura

Taro Miyazaki

Christine Toepfer

The present invention relates to newly identified genes that encode proteins that are involved in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (hereinafter also referred to as Vitamin C). The invention also features polynucleotides comprising the full-length polynucleotide sequences of the novel genes and fragments thereof, the novel polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, as well as their functional equivalents. The present invention also relates to the use of the polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of Vitamin C from microorganisms, whereby a modification of the polynucleotides and/or encoded polypeptides has a direct or indirect impact on yield, production, and/or efficiency of production of the fermentation product in the microorganism. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms. The invention also relates to genetically engineered microorganisms and their use for the direct production of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C production in a microorganism, gluconobacter

The present invention is directed to a recombinant enzymes having alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity which comprises one or mom recombinant polypeptides selected from the group consisting of polypeptides which are identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and chimeric recombinant polypeptides that are a chimeric combination of at least two of the following amino acid sequences identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and functional derivatives of the polypeptides identified above which contain addition, insertion, deletion and/or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, wherein said enzymatic polypeptides have said alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. DNA molecules encoding the recombinant polypeptides, vectors comprising such DNA molecules, host cells transformed by such vectors and processes for the production of such recombinant enzymes are provided. Furthermore the recombinant enzymes having alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity are used for obtaining aldehydes, ketones or carboxylic acids, and specifically, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid an intermediate for the production of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase

Polynucleotides encoding proteins with D-sorbitol dehydrogenase activity or which function to activate D-sorbitol dehydrogenase proteins, in vivo, vectors and recombinant organisms which contain such polynucleotides, and methods of making D-sorbitol dehydrogenase and L-sorbose.

D-sorbitol dehydrogenase gene

This invention is directed to cytochrome c polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides.

Cytochrome c and polynucleotides encoding cytochrome c

This invention is directed to cytochrome c.sub.551 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides.

Growing community of inventors

Fujisawa, Japan

Noribumi Tomiyama