The present invention relates to microbial cells comprising triacylglycerol (TAG) with short chain fatty acids (SCFA), as well as methods of using these cells to produce lipid comprising TAG with SCFAs.

Disclosed are transformed cells comprising one or more genetic modifications that affect the lipid content of the cell, e.g., by increasing the concentration of oleic acid in the cell relative to an unmodified cell of the same type. Also disclosed are methods for modifying the lipid content of a cell by increasing the activity of one or more proteins in the cell and/or by decreasing the activity of one or more proteins in the same cell.

Disclosed are transformed cells comprising one or more genetic modifications that affect the lipid content of the cell, e.g., by increasing the concentration of oleic acid in the cell relative to an unmodified cell of the same type. Also disclosed are methods for modifying the lipid content of a cell by increasing the activity of one or more proteins in the cell and/or by decreasing the activity of one or more proteins in the same cell.

Provided herein are methods for producing one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids. The methods include the steps of providing a microorganism capable of producing polyunsaturated fatty acids, providing a medium comprising a high concentration of one or more carbon sources, low pH, or both, and culturing the microorganism in the medium under sufficient conditions to produce the one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids. Also provided are methods of culturing one or more microorganisms. The methods include culturing the microorganisms in a medium comprising a first amount of one or more carbon sources at a first concentration level, monitoring a carbon source concentration until the carbon source concentration is reduced below the first concentration level, and adding to the medium a second amount of one or more carbon sources to increase the carbon source concentration to a second concentration level.

Provided herein are methods for producing one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids. The methods include the steps of providing a microorganism capable of producing polyunsaturated fatty acids, providing a medium comprising a high concentration of one or more carbon sources, low pH, or both, and culturing the microorganism in the medium under sufficient conditions to produce the one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids. Also provided are methods of culturing one or more microorganisms. The methods include culturing the microorganisms in a medium comprising a first amount of one or more carbon sources at a first concentration level, monitoring a carbon source concentration until the carbon source concentration is reduced below the first concentration level, and adding to the medium a second amount of one or more carbon sources to increase the carbon source concentration to a second concentration level.

The application generally relates to bioproduction of molecules of interest in microorganisms, more particularly in microalgae. In particular, the application relates to methods for increasing triacylglycerol production in micro-organisms, in particular in microalgae, using recombinant micro-organisms which have been genetically engineered to express or overexpress a mutant of a bubblegum-type acyl-CoA synthase, and uses thereof.

Provided are non-natural or variant beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase (KAS) II enzymes (KASII), polynucleotides encoding such variant KASII, host cells expressing such variant KASII, oils and oil products produced by such cells, and methods of making and using such variant KASII.

Provided are non-natural or variant beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase (KAS) II enzymes (KASII), polynucleotides encoding such variant KASII, host cells expressing such variant KASII, oils and oil products produced by such cells, and methods of making and using such variant KASII.

The present invention relates to a process for producing enriched algal biomass having high lipid productivity. More particularly, the present invention provides a process for obtaining an enriched biomass with omega-3 fatty acids by using a microalgal strain Schizochytrium MTCC 5980 in a unique media composition and substrate residual band in a steady state continuous fermentation. The process of the present invention results in high biomass and lipid productivity.

The disclosure provides methods using mixed substrate cofeeding for bioproduct synthesis, which enables faster, more efficient, and higher yield carbon conversion in various organisms.