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.

This document relates to using bidirectional, multi-enzymatic scaffolds to biosynthesize cannabinoids in recombinant hosts.

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.

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.

The invention relates to engineered microorganisms (e.g., E. coli) and associated improvements for increasing the production cannabinoids (e.g. CBGA) or precursors or derivatives thereof.

Described herein are olivetolic acid cyclases (OAC) including non-natural variants capable of forming a 2,4-dihydroxy-6-alkylbenzoic acid from a 3,5,7-trioxoacyl-CoA or a 3,5,7-trioxocarboxylate substrate. In some examples, the non-natural OAC is capable of forming a 2,4-dihydroxy-6-alkylbenzoic acid from a 3,5,7-trioxoacyl-CoA or a 3,5,7-trioxocarboxylate substrate at a greater rate. In some examples, the non-natural OAC has a higher affinity for a 3,5,7-trioxoacyl-CoA or a 3,5,7-trioxocarboxylate substrate, as compared to the wild type OAC. The non-natural OAC can be used with olivetol synthase (OLS) to form the 2,4-dihydroxy-6-alkylbenzoic acid from malonyl-CoA and acyl-CoA through to a 3,5,7-trioxoacyl-CoAintermediate. The non-natural OAC (and OLS) can be expressed in an engineered cell having a pathway to form cannabinoids, which include CBGA, its analogs and derivatives. CBGA can be used for the preparation of cannabigerol (CBG), which can be used in therapeutic compositions.

Provided herein are processes, such as commercially viable processes, of producing alkyl resorcinols, such as olivetol and olivetolic acid, and analogs of each thereof. Certain of these processes utilize a recombinant, heterologous host microorganism. Certain of the heterologous microorganisms include a Cannabis sativa olivetol synthase (which is a tetraketide synthase, csOLS). Certain of the heterologous microorganisms include a Cannabis sativa olivetolic acid cyclase (csOAC). Certain of the heterologous microorganisms include a Cannabis sativa acyl activating enzyme (csAAE), such as, without limitation, csAAE1. In certain of these processes, glucose is fermented. In certain of these processes, the fermentation further comprises a carboxylic acid, RCO.sub.2H where R is defined as herein, or a salt thereof. Certain of these processes provide olivetol and olivetolic acid in a combined amount of at least 3 g/liter.

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.

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.

The present disclosure relates to the production of cannabinoids in yeast. In as aspect there is provided a genetically modified yeast comprising: one or more GPP producing genes and optionally, one or more GPP pathway genes; two or more olivetolic acid producing genes; one or more cannabinoid precursor or cannabinoid producing genes; one or more Hexanoyl-CoA producing genes, and at least 5% dry weight of fatty acids or fats.