A method for site-selective deuteration of amino acids using a protein system having an aminotransferase (e.g., DsaD) and/or a small partner protein (e.g., DsaE). A non-deuterated amino acid is contacted with deuterium and an aminotransferase or a combination of an aminotransferase and a partner protein, to yield a Cα-deuterated or a Cα- and Cβ-deuterated amino acid. Cβ-deuterated amino acids can be accessed by contacting a Cα- and Cβ-deuterated amino acid with non-deuterium hydrogen and an aminotransferase to wash out the deuterium at the Ca carbon atom by the non-deuterium hydrogen.

Photosynthetic microorganisms with broadened light absorption capability and increased photosynthetic activity are described. Broadened light absorption is achieved by modifying the microorganism to utilize non-native bilins. Increased photosynthetic activity results from the broadened light absorption and can also result from a decrease in self-shading. The microorganisms include Cyanobacteria, including modified Cyanobacteria.

Enzymes and recombinant host cells for the biosynthesis of clinically important prenylated polyketides of the cannabinoid family are provided. Using readily available starting materials, heterologous enzymes (e.g., bacterial CoA-transferases and CoA-ligases) are used to direct cannabinoid biosynthesis in host cells such as recombinant yeast cells.

The present disclosure provides a poly nucleotide comprising: (a) a nucleic acid sequence encoding an olivetol synthase (OLS): and (b) a heterologous regulatory element operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence. The present disclosure further relates to an engineered cell comprising an olivetol synthase (OLS). Also provided are a cell extract or cell culture medium or a composition comprising 3.5.7- trioxododecanoyl-CoA, olivetol, olivetolic acid, a cannabinoid, and/or an isomer, analog, or derivative thereof, and a method of making 3.5.7-trioxododecanoyl-CoA, olivetol, olivetolic acid, a cannabinoid, and/or an isomer, analog, or derivative thereof. Also provided is a cannabinoid produced by the engineered cell, isolated from the cell extract or cell culture medium, and/or made by the method described herein. The present disclosure also provides a non-natural olivetol synthase (OLS).

The present invention relates to engineered microbial host cells comprising exogenous genes coding for proteins responsible for converting histidine and cysteine into ergothioneine in greater efficiency than the wild-type cells. Also provided in this invention are methods for producing ergothioneine using the engineered microbial host cells of the present invention.

Photosynthetic microorganisms with broadened light absorption capability and increased photosynthetic activity are described. Broadened light absorption is achieved by modifying the microorganism to utilize non-native bilins. Increased photosynthetic activity results from the broadened light absorption and can also result from a decrease in self-shading. The microorganisms include Cyanobacteria, including modified Cyanobacteria.