Viridos, Inc.

Synthetic Genomics, Inc.

Saheed Imam

Eric R Moellering

Luke Peach

Kathleen Kwok

John Verruto

Imad Ajjawi

Andrew Schultz

Moena Aqui

Nicholas Bauman

Roberto Spreafico

William F Lambert

Shaun Bailey

Fedor I Kuzminov

Randor R Radakovits

Sarah Potts

Jennifer Nominati

Jessica N Weir

Ryan Kalb

Wiilliam F Lambert

The invention provides recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain. The genetic modification of one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity (as measured by total organic carbon). The genetic modification can be a gene attenuation or functional deletion. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.

Methods for producing a composition containing lipids from recombinant algae having high lipid productivity

The invention involves the provision of recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trehalose biosynthetic enzyme, and/or a genetic modification to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA binding domain And in some embodiments either of these algal mutants can further have a genetic mutation to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Attenuation of one, two, or all three of these genes results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity. It was also discovered that one, two, three, or more genetic mutations can be accumulated or 'stacked' in a particular mutant cell or organism to result in further increases in the production of lipid products. The lipid products of these mutants are useful as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products.

Recombinant algae having high lipid productivity

The invention provides recombinant algal organisms that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding an RNA binding domain. In some embodiments the genetic modification can be a functional deletion or attenuation of the gene. The genetic modification results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or to manufacture other specialty products. The recombinant mutants can also, optionally, have a genetic modification to a gene encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.

The invention involves the provision of recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trehalose biosynthetic enzyme, and/or a genetic modification to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA binding domain. And in some embodiments either of these algal mutants can further have a genetic mutation to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Attenuation of one, two, or all three of these genes results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity. It was also discovered that one, two, three, or more genetic mutations can be accumulated or 'stacked' in a particular mutant cell or organism to result in further increases in the production of lipid products. The lipid products of these mutants are useful as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products.

Disclosed herein are mutant photosynthetic microorganisms having an attenuated SGI1 gene. The mutants have reduced chlorophyll and increased productivity with respect to wild type cells. Also disclosed are methods of using such mutants for producing biomass or bioproducts, and methods of screening for such mutants.

High productivity algal mutants having reduced photosynthetic antenna

Disclosed herein are mutant photosynthetic microorgnaisms having an attenuated SGI1 gene. The mutants have reduced chlorophyll and increased productivity with respect to wild type cells. Also disclosed are methods of using such mutants for producing biomass or bioproducts, and methods of screening for such mutants.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Saheed Imam