Production of carotenoids in oleaginous yeast and fungi

• US 8,288,149 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Bailey, Richard B., Madden, Kevin T., Trueheart, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Joike, Michele K
• Application Number:
  US12/903,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/255.1
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 31/00 Edible extracts or preparations of fungi; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 31/10 Yeasts or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/16 for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/12 of the kidneys
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/00 Drugs for disorders of the metabolism of the blood or the extracellular fluid A61P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/06 Antihyperlipidemics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/04 specific for metastasis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/08 Antiallergic agents antiasthmatic agents A61P11/06; ophthalmic antiallergics A61P27/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/02 Antithrombotic agents; Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/04 Inotropic agents, i.e. stimulants of cardiac contraction; Drugs for heart failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/12 Antihypertensives
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/80 for fungi
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 23/00 : Preparation of compounds containing a cyclohexene ring having an unsaturated side chain containing at least ten carbon atoms bound by conjugated double bonds, e.g. carotenes containing heterorings C12P17/00

Abstract

The present invention provides systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that express carotenoids.

Claims

1. A method of producing a carotenoid, the method comprising cultivating a genetically engineered Yarrowia fungus under conditions that allow production of the carotenoid;

wherein the genetically engineered Yarrowia fungus is characterized by;

i. the fungus is oleaginous in that it can accumulate lipid to at least about 20% of its dry cell weight; and

ii. as a result of the genetic engineering, the Yarrowia fungus produces at least one carotenoid, and can accumulate the produced carotenoid to at least about 1% of its dry cell weight.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises a second step of isolating the produced carotenoid.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of isolating comprises fractionating the cultivation medium to obtain at least one carotenoid-enriched fraction.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of cultivating comprises cultivating the fungus under conditions that allow accumulation of the carotenoid in cytoplasmic oil bodies; and

the step of isolating comprises isolating oil derived from the cytoplasmic oil bodies.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the carotenoid is selected from the group consisting of astaxanthin, β

-carotene, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the carotenoid comprises astaxanthin.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the carotenoid comprises β

-carotene.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the carotenoid comprises canthaxanthin.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the carotenoid comprises zeaxanthin.

10. The carotenoid produced by the method of claim 1.