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).

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.

Describes is a fermentation method for producing a hydrocarbon compound comprising the culturing of an organism in a liquid fermentation medium, wherein said organism produces a desired hydrocarbon compound by an enzymatic pathway, said enzymatic pathway comprising an intermediate which evaporates into the gaseous phase and wherein said intermediate is recovered from the gaseous phase and is reintroduced into the liquid fermentation medium.

This application describes methods, including non-naturally occurring methods, for biosynthesizing unsaturated pentahydrocarbons, such as isoprene and intermediates thereof, via the mevalonate pathway, as well as non-naturally occurring hosts for producing isoprene.

A transgenic strain for producing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid is provided. The transgenic strain comprises a host cell with an anabolic pathway for converting carbon sources into acetyl-CoA and a plurality of exogenous genes. These exogenous genes comprise genes encoding acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (AtoB) or acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (NphT7), and genes encoding hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthetase (MvaS), a gene encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaconyl-CoA dehydratase (LiuC), a gene encoding 3-methylglutaryl-CoA decarboxylase (AibAB), a gene encoding thioester hydrolase (YciA, TesB, MenI or YqiA). A method for producing 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid using the above genetically modified strain is also provided.

The present invention is directed towards methods for treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a patient and determining prognosis of NAFLD in a patient.

The invention provides a method for producing a terpene or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation. Typically, the method involves culturing a recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate whereby the bacterium produces a terpene or a precursor thereof, such as mevalonic acid, isopentenyl pyrophosphate, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, isoprene, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, and/or farnesene. The bacterium may comprise one or more exogenous enzymes, such as enzymes in mevalonate, DXS, or terpene biosynthesis pathways.

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.