Provided herein are variant uridine-5-diphosphate glycosyltransferase polypeptides capable of producing steviol glycosides, yeast cells capable of producing steviol glycosides, and methods of making such cells. Also provided are fermentation compositions including the disclosed host cells, and related methods of producing and recovering steviol glycosides generated by the yeast cells.

Provided herein are genetically modified host cells, compositions, and methods for improved production of steviol glycosides. The host cells are genetically modified to contain a heterologous nucleic acid that expresses novel and optimized variants of UGT76G1. The host cell further contains one or more heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding further enzymes of a pathway capable of producing one or more steviol glycosides in the host cell. The host cells, compositions, and methods described herein provide an efficient route for the heterologous production of rebaudioside M.

Disclosed is yeast cells having peroxisomally localized GPP synthase and a peroxisomally localized enzyme that converts GPP into a monoterpenoids, cannabinoids, monoterpene indole alkaloids and prenylated aromatic compounds; or a precursor therefore, which yeast cells are capable of producing improved amounts of monoterpenoids, cannabinoids, monoterpene indole alkaloids and prenylated aromatic compounds, compared with the same yeast cells where the GPP synthase and the enzyme that converts GPP are located in the cytoplasm. Further disclosed is the use of the yeast cell for producing monoterpenoids, cannabinoids, monoterpene indole alkaloids and prenylated aromatic compounds.

The present disclosure relates generally to methods and compositions for activating gamma-delta (GD) T cells. Such methods and compositions can be used to treat cancer.