The invention features compositions and methods for the increased production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, isoprenoids, and/or acetyl-CoA-derived products in recombinant microorganisms by engineering the microorganisms to comprise one or more acetylating proteins such that the expression and/or activity of the one or more acetylating proteins is modulated.

The disclosure relates to a method of making at least one serrulatane comprising contacting a terpene or a terpenoid substrate with at least one of a cis-prenyl transferase, a terpene synthase, and a cytochrome P45Q. The disclosure also relates to an expression system comprising one or more expression cassettes, each expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid segment encoding at least one of: a cis-prenyl transferase, a terpene synthase, and a cytochrome P450. The disclosure also relates to a host cell comprising an expression system comprising one or more expression cassettes, each expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid segment encoding at least one of: a cis-prenyl transferase, a terpene synthase, and a cytochrome P450.

A bacterial strain comprising one or more vectors encoding a) one or more enzymes to produce one or more terpene precursors; and b) a fungal terpene synthase (FTPS). The present invention also relates to a method of producing a terpenoid comprising a) culturing the bacterial strain described herein in an expression medium; and b) isolating the terpenoid from said expression medium.

The disclosure provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a 7-epizingiberene synthase, a chimeric gene comprising said nucleic acid molecule, vectors comprising the same, as well as isolated 7-epizingiberene synthase proteins themselves. In addition, transgenic plants and plant cells comprising a gene encoding a 7-epizingiberene synthase, optionally integrated in its genome, and methods for making such plants and cells, are provided. Especially Solanaceae plants and plant parts (seeds, fruit, leaves, etc.) with enhanced insect pest resistance are provided.

This invention provides recombinant cells and methods for producing terpenes and terpenoids by increasing production or accumulation or both of isoprenoid precursors thereof.

The present invention provides a method for enhancing the overall pathway of polyisoprenoid biosynthesis. The present invention further provides an isoprenoid-producing plant having an overall enhanced pathway of polyisoprenoid biosynthesis, and a method for producing polyisoprenoids using such an isoprenoid-producing plant. The present invention relates to a method for regulating by a light-responsive transcription factor the expression of at least one protein selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase, cis-prenyltransferase, and small rubber particle protein.

A fusion chimeric protein is described herein that can assemble a functional carboxysome core, which is able to fix carbon by taking atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into useful carbon-containing compounds such as 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA).

Described herein are devices and methods for enhancing the physiological properties of plants. For example, the devices and methods described herein increase the production of lycopene, which has industrial and economic value. The lycopene produced by the devices and methods does not require the ultra purification that is common in conventional or commercial methods. The devices and methods described herein also enhance the growth rate of plants.

In various aspects and embodiments, the invention relates to bacterial strains and methods for making terpene and terpenoid products. The invention provides bacterial strains with improved carbon flux through the MEP pathway, to thereby increase terpene and/or terpenoid product yield by fermentation with carbon sources such as glucose.

Producing an isoprenoid compound by: 1) culturing an isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism in the presence of a growth promoting agent at a sufficient concentration to grow the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism; 2) decreasing a concentration of the growth promoting agent to induce formation of the isoprenoid compound by the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism; and 3) culturing the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism to form the isoprenoid compound, is characterized in that the growth phase of the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism is separated from the formation phase of the isoprenoid compound.