Renewable Diesel and Jet Fuel from Microbial Sources

• US 20090047721A1
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corbion Biotech, Inc. (Corbion NV)
• Original Assignee: Solazyme Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, Scott, Day, Anthony G., Dillon, Harrison F., Trimbur, Donald E., Im, Chung-Soon, Coragliotti, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 8,802,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/167
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 21/04 with deoxyribosyl as saccharide radical
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/026 for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0484 Vegetable or animal oils
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/026 for diesel engines, e.g. automobiles, stationary, marine
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/04 for turbines, planes, power generation
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 3/00 Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom sulfonated fats or oils C07C309/62; factice C08H; drying oils C09F
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/32 Processes using, or culture media containing, lower alkanols, i.e. C1 to C6
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/79 Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0006 acting on CH-OH groups as donors (1.1)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0008 acting on the aldehyde or oxo group of donors (1.2)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/1205 Phosphotransferases with an alcohol group as acceptor (2.7.1), e.g. protein kinases
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/14 Hydrolases (3)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/16 acting on ester bonds (3.1)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/20 Triglyceride splitting, e.g. by means of lipase
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2408 acting on alpha -1,4-glucosidic bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2431 Beta-fructofuranosidase (3.2.1.26), i.e. invertase
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/88 Lyases (4.)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 21/06 produced by the hydrolysis of a peptide bond, e.g. hydrolysate products preparing foodstuffs by protein hydrolysis A23J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/02 : acyclic C12P5/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6409 : Fatty acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6458 : by transesterification, e.g. interesterification, ester interchange, alcoholysis or acidolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6463 : obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/649 : Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 302/01026 : Beta-fructofuranosidase (3.2.1.26), i.e. invertase
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 : using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

The invention provides methods of manufacturing alkanes from triglyceride oils produced through fermentation of oil-bearing microbes. The processes provided herein can utilize a variety of carbohydrate feedstocks including cane bagasse, sugar beet pulp, corn stover, glycerol, corn starch, sorghum, molasses, waste glycerol, and other renewable materials. These processes further comprise hydrotreating, hydrocracking, isomerization, distillation, and other petrochemical processes for use with oil-bearing microbes and products derived therefrom to manufacture fuels. Particular embodiments include the manufacture of ASTM D975 and ASTM D1655 compliant fuels. Genetically engineered microbes provided herein can be used in the manufacture of renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel.

Claims

1. A method of producing renewable diesel, comprising:

(a) culturing a population of microorganisms in the presence of a fixed carbon source, wherein;

(i) the microorganisms accumulate at least 10% of their dry cell weight as lipid; and

(ii) the fixed carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, depolymerized cellulosic material, sucrose, molasses, glucose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, fructose, arabinose, mannose, acetate, and any combination of the foregoing;

(b) isolating lipid components from the cultured microorganisms; and

(c) subjecting the isolated lipid components to one or more chemical reactions to generate straight chain alkanes,

whereby renewable diesel is produced.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a microalgae.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the microalgae listed in Table 1.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the microorganism is a species of the genus Chlorella.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata, Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii, Chlorellafusca, Chlorellafusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorella infusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorella simplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica, Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf viridis, Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is an oleaginous yeast.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the oleaginous yeast is selected from the group consisting of Cryptococcus curvatus, Cryptococcus terricolus, Candida sp., Lipomyces starkeyi, Lipomyces lipofer, Endomycopsis vernalis, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula gracilis, and Yarrowia lipolytica.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a fungus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of a species of the genus Mortierella, Mortierrla vinacea, Mortierella alpine, Pythium debaryanum, Mucor circinelloides, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Pennicillium iilacinum, a species of the genus Hensenulo, a species of the genus Chaetomium, a species of the genus Cladosporium, a species of the genus Malbranchea, a species of the genus Rhizopus, and a species of the genus Pythium.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous sucrose utilization gene.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sucrose utilization gene encodes a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a hexokinase, a glucokinase, or a fructokinase.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous gene encoding a lipid pathway enzyme.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the lipid pathway enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase, a glycerolipid desaturase, a pyruvate dehydrogenase, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an acyl carrier protein, and a glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase.

27. A composition of liquid hydrocarbons made according to the method of claim 1, wherein the composition conforms to the specifications of ASTM D975.

28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the microorganism is a microalgae.

29. The composition of claim 28, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the microalgae listed in Table 1.

30. The composition of claim 29, wherein the microorganism is a species of the genus Chlorella.

31. The composition of claim 30, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata, Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii, Chlorellafusca, Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorella infusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorella simplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica, Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf viridis, Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

32. The composition of claim 27, wherein the microorganism is an oleaginous yeast.

33. The composition of claim 32, wherein the oleaginous yeast is selected from the group consisting of Cryptococcus curvatus, Cryptococcus terricolus, Candida sp., Lipomyces starkeyi, Lipomyces lipofer, Endomycopsis vernalis, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula gracilis, and Yarrowia lipolytica.

34. The composition of claim 27, wherein the microorganism is a fungus.

35. The composition of claim 34, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of a species of the genus Mortierella, Mortierrla vinacea, Mortierella alpine, Pythium debaryanum, Mucor circinelloides, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Pennicillium iilacinum, a species of the genus Hensenulo, a species of the genus Chaetomium, a species of the genus Cladosporium, a species of the genus Malbranchea, a species of the genus Rhizopus, and a species of the genus Pythium.

36. The composition of claim 27, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous sucrose utilization gene.

37. The composition of claim 36, wherein the sucrose utilization gene encodes a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a hexokinase, a glucokinase, or a fructokinase.

38. The composition of claim 27, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous gene encoding a lipid pathway enzyme.

39. The composition of claim 38, wherein the lipid pathway enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase, a glycerolipid desaturase, a pyruvate dehydrogenase, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an acyl carrier protein, and a glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase.

14. A method of producing jet fuel, comprising:

(a) culturing a population of microorganisms in the presence of a fixed carbon source, wherein;

(i) the microorganisms accumulate at least 10% of their dry cell weight as lipid; and

(ii) the fixed carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, depolymerized cellulosic material, sucrose, glucose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, fructose, arabinose, mannose, acetate, and any combination of the foregoing;

(b) isolating lipid components from the cultured microorganisms; and

(c) subjecting the isolated lipid components to one or more chemical reactions to generate straight chain alkanes,

whereby jet fuel is produced.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the microorganism is a microalgae.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the microalgae listed in Table 1.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the microorganism is a species of the genus Chlorella.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata, Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii, Chlorellafusca, Chlorellafusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorella infusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorella simplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica, Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf viridis, Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the microorganism is an oleaginous yeast.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the oleaginous yeast is selected from the group consisting of Cryptococcus curvatus, Cryptococcus terricolus, Candida sp., Lipomyces starkeyi, Lipomyces lipofer, Endomycopsis vernalis, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula gracilis, and Yarrowia lipolytica.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the microorganism is a fungus.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of a species of the genus Mortierella, Mortierrla vinacea, Mortierella alpine, Pythium debaryanum, Mucor circinelloides, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Pennicillium iilacinum, a species of the genus Hensenulo, a species of the genus Chaetomium, a species of the genus Cladosporium, a species of the genus Malbranchea, a species of the genus Rhizopus, and a species of the genus Pythium.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous sucrose utilization gene.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sucrose utilization gene encodes a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a hexokinase, a glucokinase, or a fructokinase.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous gene encoding a lipid pathway enzyme.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the lipid pathway enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase, a glycerolipid desaturase, a pyruvate dehydrogenase, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an acyl carrier protein, and a glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase.

40. A composition of liquid hydrocarbons produced according to the method of claim 14, wherein the composition conforms to the specifications of ASTM D1655.

41. The composition of claim 40, wherein the microorganism is a microalgae.

42. The composition of claim 41, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the microalgae listed in Table 1.

43. The composition of claim 42, wherein the microorganism is a species of the genus Chlorella.

44. The composition of claim 43, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata, Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii, Chlorellafusca, Chlorellafusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorella infusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorella simplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica, Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf viridis, Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

45. The composition of claim 40, wherein the microorganism is an oleaginous yeast.

46. The composition of claim 45, wherein the oleaginous yeast is selected from the group consisting of Cryptococcus curvatus, Cryptococcus terricolus, Candida sp., Lipomyces starkeyi, Lipomyces lipofer, Endomycopsis vernalis, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula gracilis, and Yarrowia lipolytica.

47. The composition of claim 40, wherein the microorganism is a fungus.

48. The composition of claim 47, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of a species of the genus Mortierella, Mortierrla vinacea, Mortierella alpine, Pythium debaryanum, Mucor circinelloides, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Pennicillium iilacinum, a species of the genus Hensenulo, a species of the genus Chaetomium, a species of the genus Cladosporium, a species of the genus Malbranchea, a species of the genus Rhizopus, and a species of the genus Pythium.

49. The composition of claim 40, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous sucrose utilization gene.

50. The composition of claim 49, wherein the sucrose utilization gene encodes a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a hexokinase, a glucokinase, or a fructokinase.

51. The composition of claim 40, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous gene encoding a lipid pathway enzyme.

52. The composition of claim 51, wherein the lipid pathway enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase, a glycerolipid desaturase, a pyruvate dehydrogenase, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an acyl carrier protein, and a glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase.

53. A method of producing hydrocarbons, comprising:

(a) culturing a population of microorganisms in the presence of a fixed carbon source, wherein;

(i) the microorganisms accumulate at least 10% of their dry cell weight as lipid; and

(ii) the fixed carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, depolymerized cellulosic material, sucrose, molasses, glucose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, fructose, arabinose, mannose, acetate, and any combination of the foregoing;

(b) isolating lipid components from the cultured microorganisms; and

(c) subjecting the isolated lipid components to deoxygenation,

whereby hydrocarbons are produced.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the microorganism is a microalgae.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the microalgae listed in Table 1.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the microorganism is a species of the genus Chlorella.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata, Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii, Chlorellafusca, Chlorellafusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorella infusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorella simplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica, Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf viridis, Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous sucrose utilization gene.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the sucrose utilization gene encodes a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a hexokinase, a glucokinase, or a fructokinase.

60. The method of claim 53, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous gene encoding a lipid pathway enzyme.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the lipid pathway enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase, a glycerolipid desaturase, a pyruvate dehydrogenase, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an acyl carrier protein, and a glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase.

62. A method of producing hydrocarbons, comprising:

(a) culturing a population of microorganisms in the presence of a fixed carbon source, wherein;

(i) the microorganisms accumulate at least 10% of their dry cell weight as lipid; and

(ii) the fixed carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, depolymerized cellulosic material, sucrose, molasses, glucose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, fructose, arabinose, mannose, acetate, and any combination of the foregoing;

(b) isolating lipid components from the cultured microorganisms; and

(c) subjecting the isolated lipid components to hydrotreating,

whereby hydrocarbons are produced.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the microorganism is a microalgae.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the microalgae listed in Table 1.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the microorganism is a species of the genus Chlorella.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata, Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii Chlorellafusca, Chlorellafusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorella infusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var. Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorella simplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica, Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgarisf viridis, Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous sucrose utilization gene.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the sucrose utilization gene encodes a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a hexokinase, a glucokinase, or a fructokinase.

69. The method of claim 62, wherein the microorganism contains at least one exogenous gene encoding a lipid pathway enzyme.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the lipid pathway enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase, a glycerolipid desaturase, a pyruvate dehydrogenase, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an acyl carrier protein, and a glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase.