Enzymes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis are recombinantly expressed in a host cell. The host cell may be a prokaryote (e.g. Escherichia coli) or a eukaryote (e.g. Yarrowia lipolytica). The enzymes include a heterologous cannabigerolic acid synthase as well as additional enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of cannabinoid precursors such as geranyl diphosphate, olivetol, olivetolic acid, divarin and/or divarinic acid. Methods are provided for producing C5-cannabinoids and/or C3-cannabinoids by fermentation of the recombinant host cell. Alternatively, cannabinoids can be produced by biotransformation of cannabinoid precursors in recombinant cells or by disrupted recombinant cells.

The disclosure relates to a non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase comprising at least one amino acid variation as compared to a wild type flavin-dependent oxidase, wherein the non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase does not comprise a disulfide bond, and wherein the non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase is capable of oxidative cyclization of a prenylated aromatic compound into a cannabinoid. The disclosure also relates to a nucleic acid, an expression construct, and an engineered cell for making the non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase. Also provided are compositions comprising the non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase; isolated non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase and methods of making the same; cell extracts comprising the non-natural flavin-dependent oxidase; and methods of making cannabinoids.

Provided herein are processes, including semi-synthetic, and synthetic processes for preparing cannabinoids, and cannabinoid compositions provided thereby.

A genetically engineered microorganism for the production of a cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway product is described. The genetically engineered microorganism comprises at least one nucleic acid molecule encoding at least one cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway enzyme. The disclosure also relates to methods for producing a cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway product using a genetically engineered microorganism.

The present disclosure provides genetically modified host cells that produce a cannabinoid, a cannabinoid derivative, a cannabinoid precursor, or a cannabinoid precursor derivative. The present disclosure provides methods of synthesizing a cannabinoid, a cannabinoid derivative, a cannabinoid precursor, or a cannabinoid precursor derivative.

The present disclosure relates to recombinant prenyltransferase enzymes with increased thermostability and activity and the use of these enzymes in compositions and methods for biosynthesis involving prenylation reactions, including compositions and methods for the preparation of cannabinoids.

Exemplary embodiments provided herein include genetically engineering microorganisms, such as yeast or bacteria, to produce cannabinoids by inserting genes that produce the appropriate enzymes for the metabolic production of a desired compound.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for producing cannabinoids in photosynthetic microorganisms, e.g., cyanobacteria.

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.

Nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides having polyketide synthase activity have been identified and characterized. Expression or over-expression of the nucleic acids alters levels of cannabinoid compounds in organisms. The polypeptides may be used in vivo or in vitro to produce cannabinoid compounds.