Described in this application are proteins and host cells involved in methods of producing isoprenoid precursors and/or isoprenoids.

The present disclosure relates to the transformed Synechococcus elongatus strain of capable of mass production of farnesene. The transformed Synechococcus elongatus strain of the present disclosure is characterized by having the ability to mass produce farnesene using carbon dioxide as an independent carbon source. In particular, the Synechococcus elongatus strain is economically effective because it uses carbon dioxide present in light and air as a carbon source. There is an eco-friendly effect since it can be used for eliminating or reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere using microorganisms. Further, the strain of the present disclosure has a rapid growth rate and excellent ability to fix carbon dioxide compared with other microorganisms, thereby being utilized in various fields such as food, medicine, pharmacy, biofuel, and chemistry.

Genetically engineered hosts and methods for their production and use in synthesizing hydrocarbons are provided.

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.

A method for producing natural rubber by using a recombinant microorganism is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) manufacturing an expression vector capable of expressing a gene encoding a cis-prenyltransferase, which is a guayule-derived natural rubber synthetase represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a Hevea brasiliensis-derived natural rubber synthetase represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, and an expression vector capable of expressing a gene coding for a natural rubber precursor synthetase; (b) transforming a host microorganism with the expression vector; (c) culturing the transformed host microorganism; and (d) separating natural rubber from the cultured transformed host microorganism. The natural rubber obtained by the method has a white powder form identical to that of natural rubber, and shows an FT-IR spectrum pattern extremely similar to that of natural rubber.

The present specification discloses a transformed Synechococcus elongatus strain which may directly produce squalene from carbon dioxide, and a method for producing squalene and a method for removing carbon dioxide, using the same. In an aspect, the strain may produce squalene using carbon dioxide as a carbon source. The Synechococcus elongatus strain is economically efficient because a high-value added squalene is produced using light and carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere as a carbon source, and the method for producing squalene is eco-friendly because the strain may be utilized to remove or reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by using microorganisms. The strain of the present disclosure may produce only squalene, which is a desired target material with high purity, and has an advantage in that squalene may be continuously mass-produced.

The invention provides for methods for the production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids in cells via the heterologous expression of phosphoketolase enzymes.

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.

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

Ways of making and using a recombinant organism configured to produce a cannabinoid are provided. The recombinant organism can include a eukaryotic microorganism expressing a recombinant construct including a geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS2), an isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI), an isopentenyl phosphate kinase (IPK), and a 5-(hydroxyethyl)-methyl thiazole kinase (ThiM). A cannabinoid can be produced by a process that includes growing the recombinant organism configured to produce the cannabinoid in a growth medium and separating the cannabinoid from the recombinant organism and the growth medium. A biosynthetic system for producing a cannabinoid is provided that includes a bioreactor, the recombinant organism configured to produce the cannabinoid, and a growth medium for the recombinant organism.