This application describes methods, including non-naturally occurring methods, for biosynthesizing unsaturated pentahydrocarbons, such as isoprene and intermediates thereof, via the mevalonate pathway, as well as non-naturally occurring hosts for producing isoprene.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for producing terpenoids in a host cell. In some cases, the terpenoids are cannabinoids.

The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

The present invention relates to a recombinant methanotroph having an ability to produce isoprene and a method for producing isoprene using the same, and more particularly to a recombinant methanotroph having an ability to produce isoprene wherein a gene encoding an isoprene synthase having a homology of at least 70% to the amino acid sequence of Ipomoea batatas isoprene synthase is introduced into the recombinant methanotroph, and a method for producing isoprene using the recombinant methanotroph. The use of a recombinant methanotroph according to the present invention enables isoprene to be produced in high yield by using methane gas or methanol which is obtained from waste such as natural gas, biomass, municipal waste or the like as a carbon source.

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.

Cells comprising a heterologous metabolic pathway are configured to produce a terpene product containing non-multiples of five carbon, particularly wherein the pathway comprises heterologous Lepidoptera insect juvenile hormone biosynthetic pathway enzymes of the insect's mevalonate pathway.

Methods and compositions for synthesizing dienes and derivative thereof, such as isoprene, in Cupriavidus necator are provided.

The invention provides a polypeptide capable of using 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP) as a substrate to produce isoprene, a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, and a vector and a cell comprising the nucleic acid. In addition, the invention also provides a method for producing isoprene using the polypeptide, and a method for preparing the polypeptide.

The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells wherein the cells in the stationary phase. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells and/or increased amount of isoprene. The invention also provides for systems that include a non-flammable concentration of isoprene in the gas phase. Additionally, the invention provides isoprene compositions, such as compositions with increased amount of isoprene or increased purity.

The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.