Conversion of prenyl derivatives to isoprene

• US 8,476,049 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Danisco USA Incorporated (International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated)
• Inventors: McAuliffe, Joseph C., Rathnayake, Samira, Sanford, Karl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kosson, Rosanne
• Application Number:
  US12/560,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20100113846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 435/167, 585/16
• US Class Current: 435/167
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/2078 by a transformation in which at least one -C(=O)-O- moiety is eliminated
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/24 by elimination of water
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/14 Hydrolases (3)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/16 acting on ester bonds (3.1)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/88 Lyases (4.)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/90 Isomerases (5.)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/007 containing one or more isoprene units, i.e. terpenes carotenes C12P23/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 301/03 Phosphoric monoester hydrolases (3.1.3)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 301/07 Diphosphoric monoester hydrolases (3.1.7)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 306/01 in phosphorus-containing anhydrides (3.6.1)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 503/03002 Isopentenyl-diphosphate DELTA-isomerase (5.3.3.2)

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for producing derivatives from cultured cells. In addition, the present invention provides methods for conversion of prenyl deerivatives, obtained from biological or petrochemical sources, to isoprene by employing chemical or biological catalysts. The present invention also provides compositions that include the cultured cells or isoprene or prenyl derivatives produced there from.

Claims

1. A method of producing isoprene, the method comprising

(a) culturing recombinant cells in culture medium for the production of isoprene, wherein said culture medium comprises a prenyl derivative of Formula (I):

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are bacterial cells or yeast cells.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, Pantoea citrea, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma reesei, Yarrowia lipolytica, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prenyl derivative comprises one or more of prenol (3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol), isoprenol (3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol), 3-methyl-3-buten-1-yl acetate, and 3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl acetate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells further comprise one or more of an isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase (IDI) polypeptide and a non-mevalonate (DXP) pathway enzyme.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells further comprise an isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase (IDI) polypeptide.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells further comprise an endogenous gene encoding a polypeptide having prenol kinase activity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway are encoded by heterologous nucleic acids.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway are encoded by endogenous nucleic acids.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein R¹ is hydrogen.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, Trichoderma reesei, Yarrowia lipolytica, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypeptides of the MVA pathway comprise acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (AACT), HMG-CoA synthase (HMGS), HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR), mevalonate kinase (MVK), phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK), and diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase (MVD).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypeptides of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway comprise acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (AACT), HMG-CoA synthase (HMGS), HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR), mevalonate kinase (MVK), phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMDC), and isopentenyl phosphate kinase (IPK).

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more vectors comprise the heterologous nucleic acids of the MVA pathway.