A microbial cell is used for producing at least one fatty acid ester, wherein the cell is genetically modified to contain (i) at least one first genetic mutation that enables the cell to produce at least one fatty acid and/or acyl coenzyme A (CoA) thereof by increased enzymatic activity in the cell relative to the wild type cell of malonyl-CoA dependent and malonyl-ACP independent fatty acyl-CoA metabolic pathway, wherein the fatty acid contains at least 5 carbon atoms; and (ii) a second genetic mutation that increases the activity of at least one wax ester synthase in the cell relative to the wild type cell and the wax ester synthase has sequence identity of at least 50% to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1-8 and combinations thereof or to a functional fragment of any of the polypeptides for catalyzing the conversion of fatty acid and/or acyl coenzyme A thereof to the fatty acid ester.

The present disclosure provides a gene encoding a protein having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity having at least 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, the protein encoded by the gene, a method of producing a transformant by transforming a host with the gene, a transformant that is transformed with the gene, and a method of producing a lipid, especially, a lipid containing a medium chain fatty acid or ester thereof, by culturing the transformed host that expresses the gene. In some embodiments, the transformant also has a gene encoding an acyl-ACP thioesterase.

Recombinant DNA techniques are used to produce oleaginous recombinant cells that produce triglyceride oils having desired fatty acid profiles and regiospecific or stereospecific profiles. Genes manipulated include those encoding stearoyl-ACP desturase, delta 12 fatty acid desaturase, acyl-ACP thioesterase, ketoacyl-ACP synthase, and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase. The oil produced can have enhanced oxidative or thermal stability, or can be useful as a frying oil, shortening, roll-in shortening, tempering fat, cocoa butter replacement, as a lubricant, or as a feedstock for various chemical processes. The fatty acid profile can be enriched in midchain profiles or the oil can be enriched in triglycerides of the saturated-unsatturated-saturated type.

The present invention relates to beta-ketoacyl ACP synthase genes of the KASI/KASIV type and proteins encoded by these genes. The genes can be included in nucleic acid constructs, vectors or host cells. Expression of the gene products can alter the fatty acid profile of host cells. The KAS genes can be combined with a FATA or FATB thioesterase gene to create a cell that produces an increased amount of C8-C16 fatty acids. Suitable host cells include plastidic cells of plants or microalgae. Oleaginous microalga host cells with the new genes are disclosed.

A method of improving lipid productivity, containing the steps of: enhancing the expression of a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B), and improving the productivity of medium-chain fatty acids or lipids containing these fatty acids as components produced in a cell of a transformant, or the total amount of all fatty acids produced in a cell of a transformant:
(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and
(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 64% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A), and having glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.

Provided is a cyanobacterium with improved productivity of fatty acid. A method for producing a modified cyanobacterium, comprising causing loss of functions of an AbrB-like transcriptional regulator and acyl-ACP synthetase in a cyanobacterium.

The present disclosure describes a genetically engineered a KASIII-independent fatty acid biosynthetic pathway that makes use of the promiscuous nature of the rest of the FAS enzymes (3-ketoacyl-ACP synthetase, 3-ketoacyl-ACP reductase, 3-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydrase, enoyl-ACP reductase) to bypass the KASIII step by providing a Co-A precursor of two or higher than two carbons (such as the four carbon butyryl-CoA) as the starting molecule. Since many CoA-based starter molecules can be supplied for the fatty acid synthesis, much more diversified products can be obtained with various carbon-chain lengths. As such, this disclosure will serve as a powerful and efficient platform to produce low to medium chain length products carrying many different functional groups.

The disclosure relates to variant carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) enzymes for the improved production of fatty alcohols in recombinant host cells.

A method of producing a lipid, containing the steps of: culturing a transformant obtained by introducing a gene encoding the following protein (a) or (b) into cyanobacteria, and producing a lipid: (a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (a), and having -ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity.

The present invention relates to beta-ketoacyl ACP synthase genes of the KASI/KASIV type and proteins encoded by these genes. The genes can be included in nucleic acid constructs, vectors or host cells. Expression of the gene products can alter the fatty acid profile of host cells. The KAS genes can be combined with a FATA or FATB thioesterase gene to create a cell that produces an increased amount of C8-C16 fatty acids. Suitable host cells include plastidic cells of plants or microalgae. Oleaginous microalga host cells with the new genes are disclosed.