The present invention relates to the field of biotechnology; specifically the production of a flavor compound (raspberry ketone) in a host cell.

An object of the invention is to improve the crystallization speed of a PHA copolymer which is to be slowly crystallized, and improve the melt workability and productivity. A microorganism is used which has genes encoding two or more different PHA synthases derived from the genus Aeromonas. The genes encoding the PHA synthases derived from the genus Aeromonas preferably include genes encoding at least two PHA synthases which are capable of synthesizing a copolymer PHA including, as monomer unit species, 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid, and which are different in substrate specificity toward 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid from each other. When this microorganism is cultured, a PHA mixture can be produced which includes three or more PHA species different in melting point from each other.

Methods for the improved acylation of chemical substrates using LovD acyltransferases, thioesters having acyl groups, and (i) thiol scavengers and/or (ii) precipitating agents are presented. An improved method for the production of simvastatin using (i) activated charcoal as a thiol scavenger and/or (ii) ammonium hydroxide as a precipitating agent is also presented.

The present invention relates to a process for producing ethyl esters of polyunsaturated fatty acids, comprising transesterifying triacylglycerols in extracted plant lipid.

Transgenic plant species engineered to inhibit aflatoxin production in Aspergillus species, methods of producing such transgenic plant species that can inhibit aflatoxin production, and compositions for such transgenic plant production. The transgenic plants harbor an RNAi cassette expressing dsRNA for an enzyme, such as aflC, that is required for aflatoxin biosynthesis. The dsRNA may include at least one, at least two, at least three, or more than three sections of the target enzyme gene.

In an aspect, the disclosure provides methods for making neurotransmitters in a host organism. The neurotransmitters can be cannabinoids and derivatives of cannabinoids. The host cells can be microalgae, fungi or other host cells. In a related aspect, the disclosure provides host cells engineered to have biochemical pathways for making neurotransmitters such as cannabinoids.

Provided herein, inter alia, is a modular-functional technology for the expression of a functional heterologous polyketide synthases (PKS) system in a photosynthetic cyanobacteria.

The use of microorganisms to make alpha-functionalized chemicals and fuels, (e.g. alpha-functionalized carboxylic acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, amines, and their beta-, and omega-functionalized derivatives), by utilizing an iterative carbon chain elongation pathway that uses functionalized extender units. The core enzymes in the pathway include thiolase, dehydrogenase, dehydratase and reductase. Native or engineered thiolases catalyze the condensation of either unsubstituted or functionalized acyl-CoA primers with an alpha-functionalized acetyl-CoA as the extender unit to generate alpha-functionalized -keto acyl-CoA. Dehydrogenase converts alpha-functionalized -keto acyl-CoA to alpha-functionalized -hydroxy acyl-CoA. Dehydratase converts alpha-functionalized -hydroxy acyl-CoA to alpha-functionalized enoyl-CoA. Reductase converts alpha-functionalized enoyl-CoA to alpha-functionalized acyl-CoA. The platform can be operated in an iterative manner (i.e. multiple turns) by using the resulting alpha-functionalized acyl-CoA as primer and the aforementioned alpha-functionalized extender unit in subsequent turns of the cycle. Termination pathways acting on any of the four alpha-functionalized CoA thioester intermediates terminate the platform and generate various alpha-functionalized carboxylic acids, alcohols and amines with different -reduction degree.

Herein are reported modified mammalian cells wherein the expression of the MYC gene and one or more of the BAK, BAX, SIRT-1 and ICAM-1 genes has been reduced or eliminated as well as methods for the recombinant production of a heterologous polypeptide using a modified mammalian cell according to the current invention. Further reported are use of the reduction of the expression of the genes for increasing volumetric productivity, increasing cell volume, increasing viability and increasing the possible cultivation time without cell split.

Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, are vectors encoding biosynthetic enzymes from gut microbiome-derived bacterium (e.g., Clostridia enzymes), engineered cells comprising the vectors, and methods of using biosynthetic enzymes from gut microbiome-derived bacterium (e.g., Clostridia enzymes) to produce fatty acid amides.