Microbial fermentation for the production of terpenes
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Publication Number
US-12286660-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides a method for producing a terpene or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation. Typically, the method involves culturing a recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate whereby the bacterium produces a terpene or a precursor thereof, such as mevalonic acid, isopentenyl pyrophosphate, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, isoprene, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, and/or farnesene. The bacterium may comprise one or more exogenous enzymes, such as enzymes in mevalonate, DXS, or terpene biosynthesis pathways.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to recombinant C1-fixing microorganisms engineered to produce terpenes or precursors by providing a C1 compound selected from carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into contact with the microorganism. The microorganisms are selected from Clostridium or Moorella and comprise a nucleic acid encoding exogenous enzymes including thiolase, HMG-CoA synthase, HMG-CoA reductase, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase, and isoprene synthase, to allow production from the C1 compound.
A central aspect is the use of mevalonate pathway enzymes together with downstream terpene-forming components to enable conversion of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide to isoprene. The described enzyme group links C1 compound utilization with production steps through intermediate conversion involving isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase and isoprene synthase, where the recombinant microorganism provides production capability.
The disclosed approach further includes fermentation under anaerobic conditions with CO-containing gaseous substrates, including industrial off-gas use, to obtain isoprene production. The documented material characterizes expression or confirmation of pathway activity and identifies products such as isoprene or alpha-farnesene.
Claims Coverage
The document presents one independent claim covering a method that combines C1-compound feeding to a recombinant Clostridium or Moorella with expression of a specified exogenous enzyme group to produce isoprene, followed by conversion of the isoprene into synthetic rubber tires. A single dependent claim further specifies an additional gas feed component comprising hydrogen.
Recombinant C1-fixing microorganism expressing exogenous enzyme group
Providing at least one C1 compound selected from carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into contact with a recombinant C1-fixing microorganism comprising a nucleic acid encoding exogenous enzymes including thiolase, HMG-CoA synthase, HMG-CoA reductase, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase, and isoprene synthase, wherein the microorganism is Clostridium or Moorella.
Isoprene production from C1 compound
Allowing the microorganism to produce isoprene from the C1 compound.
Conversion of isoprene into synthetic rubber tires
Converting the isoprene into synthetic rubber tires.
Hydrogen-containing gas feed
Further providing the microorganism with a hydrogen-containing gas.
Across the independent claim, the main inventive coverage is the use of a recombinant Clostridium or Moorella C1-fixing microorganism with a nucleic acid encoding a specified exogenous enzyme group for producing isoprene from carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, coupled to conversion of the produced isoprene into synthetic rubber tires; the dependent claim adds providing a hydrogen-containing gas.
Stated Advantages
Safer anaerobic operation for flammable products (isoprene).
Documented Applications
A method for producing isoprene from a C1 compound (carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide) using a recombinant C1-fixing microorganism, and converting the produced isoprene into synthetic rubber tires.
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