The present invention relates a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity, which polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with a kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase comprising the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one substitution of an amino acid corresponding to any of amino acids at positions 136, 248, 336 or 403, said positions being defined with reference to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the polypeptide has one or more modified properties as compared with a reference polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity. A polypeptide of the invention may be used in a recombinant host for the production of steviol or a steviol glycoside.

The present invention relates a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity, which polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with a kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase comprising the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one substitution of an amino acid corresponding to any of amino acids at positions 136, 248, 336 or 403, said positions being defined with reference to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the polypeptide has one or more modified properties as compared with a reference polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity. A polypeptide of the invention may be used in a recombinant host for the production of steviol or a steviol glycoside.

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms, plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the degree of glycosylation of a composition comprising steviol glycosides, which method comprises: a. contacting said composition comprising steviol glycosides with a recombinant microorganism, a cell free extract derived from such a microorganism or an enzyme preparation derived from either thereof; and b. thereby to increase the degree of glycosylation of the composition comprising steviol glycosides, wherein the recombinant microorganism comprises one or more nucleotide sequence(s) encoding: a polypeptide having ent-copalyl pyrophosphate synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene oxidase activity; a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity; and one or more polypeptides having UDP-glucosyltransferase activity whereby expression of the nucleotide sequence(s) confer(s) on the microorganism the ability to produce at least one steviol glycoside. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising steviol glycosides obtainable by such a method.

The invention provides methods for making steviol glycosides, including RebM and glycosylation products that are minor products in stevia leaves, and provides enzymes, encoding polynucleotides, and host cells for use in these methods. The invention provides engineered enzymes and engineered host cells for producing steviol glycosylation products, such as RebM, at high purity and/or yield. The invention further provides methods of making products containing steviol glycosides, such as RebM, including food products, beverages, oral care products, sweeteners, and flavoring products.

The invention provides methods for making steviol glycosides, including RebM and glycosylation products that are minor products in stevia leaves, and provides enzymes, encoding polynucleotides, and host cells for use in these methods. The invention provides engineered enzymes and engineered host cells for producing steviol glycosylation products, such as RebM, at high purity and/or yield. The invention further provides methods of making products containing steviol glycosides, such as RebM, including food products, beverages, oral care products, sweeteners, and flavoring products.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of a diterpene or a glycosylated diterpene, which method comprises: a. fermenting a recombinant microorganism of the genus Yarrowia in a suitable fermentation medium at a temperature of about 29 C. or higher, wherein the microorganism comprises one or more nucleotide sequence(s) encoding: a polypeptide having ent-copalyl pyrophosphate synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene oxidase activity; and a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity and whereby expression of the nucleotide sequence(s) confer(s) on the microorganism the ability to produce at least steviol; and b. recovering the diterpene or glycosylated diterpene.

The invention provides methods for making steviol glycosides, including RebM and glycosylation products that are minor products in stevia leaves, and provides enzymes, encoding polynucleotides, and host cells for use in these methods. The invention provides engineered enzymes and engineered host cells for producing steviol glycosylation products, such as RebM, at high purity and/or yield. The invention further provides methods of making products containing steviol glycosides, such as RebM, including food products, beverages, oral care products, sweeteners, and flavoring products.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of a diterpene or a glycosylated diterpene, which method comprises: a. fermenting a recombinant microorganism of the genus Yarrowia in a suitable fermentation medium at a temperature of about 29 C. or higher, wherein the microorganism comprises one or more nucleotide sequence(s) encoding: a polypeptide having ent-copalyl pyrophosphate synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene oxidase activity; and a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity and whereby expression of the nucleotide sequence(s) confer(s) on the microorganism the ability to produce at least steviol; and b. recovering the diterpene or glycosylated diterpene.

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms, plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.