The invention features compositions and methods for the increased production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids in microorganisms via the heterologous expression of the mvaE and mvaS genes from the organisms Listeria grayi DSM 20601, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus gallinarum EG2, and Enterococcus casseliflavus.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods of producing carotenoids and carotenoid derivatives.

The present invention provides methods for enhancing the polyisoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. The present invention further provides isoprenoid-producing plants having an enhanced polyisoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, and methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using such an isoprenoid-producing plant. The present invention relates to methods for regulating the expression of specific protein(s) by a specific transcription factor; isoprenoid-producing plants into which has been introduced a gene encoding a specific transcription factor; and methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using such an isoprenoid-producing plant.

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

The invention features compositions and methods for the increased production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids in microorganisms by engineering a microorganism for increased carbon flux towards mevalonate production in the following enzymatic pathways: (a) citrate synthase, (b) phosphotransacetylase, (c) acetate kinase, (d) lactate dehydrogenase, (e) malic enzyme, and (f) pyruvate dehydrogenase such that one of more of the enzyme activity is modulated. In addition, production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids can be further enhanced by the heterologous expression of the mvaE and mvaS genes (such as, but not limited to, mvaE and mvaS genes from the organisms Listeria grayi DSM 20601, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus gallinarum EG2, and Enterococcus casseliflavus).

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing ambrein, which can easily obtain the ambrein. The object can be solved by a mutated tetraprenyl--curcumene cyclase wherein a fourth amino acid residue of a DXDD motif, aspartic acid, is substituted with an amino acid other than aspartic acid, (a) having a QXXXGX(W/F) motif, and a QXXXX(G/A)X(F/W/Y) motif on the N-terminal side, and a QXXXGX(F/W/Y) motif, and a QXXXGXW motif and a QXXXGX(F/W) motif on the C-terminal side, and not having a QXXXGXW motif at a position separated by 170 amino acid residues or more on the C-terminal side, with respect to the DXDD motif, (b) having 40% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 13, (c) exhibiting ambrein production activity using squalene as a substrate.

The present invention relates to recombinant yeast, in which the productivity of ginsenoside is enhanced by overexpressing CPR5, PDI1, or ERO1 in yeast having the productivity of ginsenosides; a method for preparing the yeast; and a method for producing ginsenosides using the yeast.

This application describes methods, including non-naturally occurring methods, for biosynthesizing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coA and intermediates thereof, as well as non-naturally occurring hosts for producing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coA. This application also describes methods, including non-naturally occurring methods, for biosynthesizing isoprene and intermediates thereof, as well as non-naturally occurring hosts for producing isoprene.

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.